NHTSA scrutinizes Tesla's Mad Max Autopilot mode amid FSD safety probe

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked Tesla for details about a new Autopilot setting called Mad Max, part of the Full Self-Driving suite. Reports from owners suggest the mode pushes the car to behave more aggressively and exceed posted speeds, which has put the feature squarely on regulators’ radar. Even the name signals an assertive slant—hardly the look a brand wants while under scrutiny.

NHTSA said drivers remain fully responsible for controlling the car and obeying traffic laws. The agency is running a broad investigation covering 2.9 million Teslas equipped with FSD after dozens of incidents involving violations and crashes. So far there are 58 reports of issues, including 14 crashes and 23 injuries.

Tesla has not issued an official comment. Earlier, however, the company amplified a social media post that described Mad Max as a setting where the car accelerates and maneuvers through traffic at very high speed while staying smooth. Smooth or not, framing it this way only makes the feature more likely to draw a closer look.

Regulators emphasize that FSD does not turn a Tesla into a fully autonomous vehicle; it requires constant driver supervision and readiness to step in. The probe, launched in 2024, intensified after accounts of cars running red lights and colliding with other road users.

U.S. authorities are now assessing whether the aggressive Mad Max mode violates federal safety standards or increases the likelihood of crashes.