The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Friday it is reviewing Tesla’s new “Mad Max” driver assistance mode, following reports that vehicles using the feature may exceed posted speed limits and exhibit aggressive driving behaviors.
NHTSA confirmed it has requested additional information from Tesla (TSLA.O) after drivers on social media described the mode—part of the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system—as one that “weaves through traffic” and accelerates rapidly. The agency emphasized that, despite the feature’s name and capabilities, “the human behind the wheel is fully responsible for driving and complying with all traffic safety laws.”
The inquiry expands NHTSA’s ongoing investigation into Tesla’s FSD, which covers 2.9 million vehicles and stems from 58 reports of traffic violations and 14 crashes, including 23 injuries. Regulators are examining whether FSD’s behavior “induces vehicle actions that violate traffic safety laws,” such as running red lights or improper lane changes.
Tesla has not yet commented publicly, but earlier this month it reposted a social media clip praising the Mad Max mode for delivering “sports car-style driving” that remains “super smooth.” The feature is marketed as an aggressive setting of the FSD suite, designed for faster lane changes and assertive driving decisions.
While Tesla says its FSD technology allows cars to “drive almost anywhere with active supervision,” NHTSA maintains that the system is not fully autonomous and requires constant driver oversight. The latest probe adds to a series of investigations into Tesla’s driver assistance systems, including one launched in late 2024 after collisions in poor visibility conditions.
The Washington Post first reported NHTSA’s interest in the new mode, which critics say risks promoting unsafe driving behaviors under the guise of automation.
