Tesla (TSLA) is facing a federal probe after its Model 3 electric vehicle crashed into a Texas home, killing a 76-year-old woman.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has opened a special crash investigation after the Tesla vehicle killed Martha Avila of Katy, Texas in her own house.
The owner of the Tesla vehicle, Michael Butler, says he was using Tesla’s partially automated driving system when his Model 3 left its lane and plowed into the home outside Houston, Texas.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk went on the defensive, writing on social media that the crash “makes no sense.”
Tesla warns drivers of its Model 3 that, “Full Self-Driving requires you to pay attention to the road and be ready to take over at all times.”
The crash is still under investigation and no conclusions have yet been reached or independently verified, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Washington Post newspaper has reported that Tesla often loses, withholds or makes it difficult for attorneys and investigators to obtain electronic data that is generated when its cars are involved in collisions.
The federal U.S. vehicle safety regulator has opened more than 35 ?special crash investigations involving Tesla’s full self-driving mode and partial automated driving systems since 2016.
A California court recently ruled that Tesla has engaged in false advertising around its autopilot systems, potentially confusing consumers about their limitations.
TeslaDeaths.com, an independent website that tracks Tesla-involved collisions, has found at least 65 fatalities resulting from crashes where Tesla’s autopilot had been mentioned as a factor.
The latest federal probe comes as Musk tries to convince investors that Tesla can become a global leader in autonomous or self-driving vehicles.
TSLA stock has declined 8% this year to trade at $405.05 U.S. per share.
