Earlier this month, we covered a software update issued by Tesla that allowed games to be played on the infotainment screen while the car was in motion. We pointed out at the time that this new capability would likely draw the attention of state and federal regulators. To no one’s surprise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Wednesday announced a formal safety investigation over the update.
According to the NHTSA, the feature has been around since December 2020 for Teslas equipped with “Passenger Play. ” Prior to that, games could only be played on the center screen when the vehicle was in park.
The NHTSA’s investigation covers approximately 580, 000 Tesla Model S, 3, X, and Y vehicles covering model years 2017 through 2021. The agency said it will be evaluating “aspects of typically the feature, including the frequency and use scenarios of Tesla ‘Passenger Play. ‘”