KEY POINTS
  • The U.S. agency that can mandate vehicle recalls, NHTSA, is evaluating Tesla drivers' complaints of sudden unintended acceleration.
  • Historically, NHTSA receives myriad complaints about possible unintended acceleration incidents in a wide number of vehicles. When investigated, most have been attributed to driver error, such as misapplication of pedals. 
  • Tesla vehicles include new technologies like Autopilot, an advanced driver assistance system, and rapid acceleration.
Tesla Model 3

A division of the U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into driver complaints that Tesla electric vehicles may suddenly accelerate on their own.

CNBC has learned that an independent investor, Brian Sparks, submitted a petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and its Office of Defects Investigations asking them to look into the drivers' claims.