Photo: Tesla Motors
Earlier this week we brought you news that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the Tesla Model S over potential fire risks. The announcement came right after Elon Musk said he requested a government probe following the three tesla fires that occurred the past month and a half.
Well, it turns out that Musk never asked the NHTSA to start an investigation for the all-electric sedan, as NHTSA administrator David Strickland revealed a couple of days ago.
“Investigations are independent. We have never — in my recollection, before I got to NHTSA (as a Senate staffer) or as administrator — have actually had an automaker ask for a formal investigation, but it causes a couple of implications: If a manufacturer asks me or asks the agency for a formal investigation, you’ve already made a determination that you may have a defect that imposes an unreasonable risk to safety... I don’t think that would ever happen,” Strickland told The Detroit News.
As a reminder, three Tesla Model S sedans caught fire the past six weeks, causing a lot of commotion in the automotive world. However, no injuries were reported and the drivers claim the flames didn’t reach the cabin.
“Investigations are independent. We have never — in my recollection, before I got to NHTSA (as a Senate staffer) or as administrator — have actually had an automaker ask for a formal investigation, but it causes a couple of implications: If a manufacturer asks me or asks the agency for a formal investigation, you’ve already made a determination that you may have a defect that imposes an unreasonable risk to safety... I don’t think that would ever happen,” Strickland told The Detroit News.
As a reminder, three Tesla Model S sedans caught fire the past six weeks, causing a lot of commotion in the automotive world. However, no injuries were reported and the drivers claim the flames didn’t reach the cabin.
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