● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact2 negative
Comma.ai's hands-off driving tech under federal investigation after fatal crashes
Key points
- Comma.ai's tech is under NHTSA investigation.
- Five crashes reported, two fatal with three deaths.
- Devices allegedly failed to detect stopped vehicles.
- Some crashes may involve modified 'openpilot' software.
- 11 people were injured in four of the five crashes.
Federal Investigation Initiated
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has launched a federal investigation into Comma.ai, a startup specializing in aftermarket hands-off driver assistance technology. This action follows five reported crashes involving the company's devices, which resulted in three deaths across two separate incidents.
Alleged System Failures
The ODI's investigation centers on reports that Comma.ai devices failed to detect or respond to slow or stopped vehicles in the same road lane. In addition to the fatalities, four of the reported crashes led to injuries for as many as 11 people, some of whom sustained serious harm.
Software Modification Concerns
The ODI noted that some of the crashes, including at least one fatal incident, might have involved the use of “forked” or modified versions of Comma.ai’s openpilot software. One specific fatal crash in February 2026 in Louisiana, involving a 2022 Toyota RAV4 running a third-party fork called FrogPilot, struck a stopped first responder vehicle, resulting in two passenger deaths.
Comma.ai's Technology Overview
Founded in 2015, Comma.ai produces devices that can be installed in various modern cars. Its software, "openpilot," controls Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Automated Lane Centering (ALC) systems, offering functions similar to Tesla Autopilot and GM Super Cruise. The company states that openpilot can steer, accelerate, and brake automatically for other vehicles within its lane, but also warns drivers to remain capable of immediate manual control.
Updates
- 11 people were injured in four of the five crashes.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Primary sources
GitHub FrogAi/FrogPilotHow outlets covered it
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating comma.ai following five crashes involving its aftermarket driver assistance devices. These incidents resulted in three deaths and 11 injuries, prompting a federal inquiry into the safety of the company's technology.
Comma.ai, a developer of aftermarket hands-off driver assistance technology, is under federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) following five reported crashes, two of which resulted in three fatalities. The investigation focuses on devices failing to detect or respond to slow or stopped vehicles, with some incidents potentially involving modified software versions.