A state agency said the electric carmaker had misled the public in describing its driver-assistance service as autonomous.
NHTSA will take a broad look at whether the electric carmaker’s driver-assistance system can increase the risk of crashes.
Automakers and technology companies say they are making driving safer, but verifying these claims is difficult.
Our documentary explores Tesla’s difficulty in making automated driving a reality.
Some drivers have complained that cars using the company’s Autopilot system have been slowing down suddenly even when there are no hazards ahead.
Tesla told the federal regulator that rolling stops were allowed only at intersections when no cars, pedestrians or bicyclists were detected but agreed to disable the feature.
The recalls, which Tesla initiated on Dec. 21, affect about 350,000 Model 3s and 120,000 Model S cars.
“We are aware of driver concerns and are discussing the feature with the manufacturer,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement.
The feature raises fresh questions about whether Tesla is compromising safety as it rushes to add new technologies.
A Harris County sheriff’s constable said in April that evidence at the scene of the accident suggested that no one was driving the car when it crashed.