Tesla driver in fatal crash had reported problems before with Autopilot feature

The Tesla logo on a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The US NTSB said Huang had reported issues on prior trips with Autopilot steering the wheel toward an area between a highway ramp and the lane. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: A Tesla driver killed in a March 2018 crash in California, the United States while using the Autopilot driver-assistance system had reported that on prior trips, the car had steered away from the highway, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) disclosed in documents made public on Feb 11.

Walter Huang, a 38-year-old Apple software engineer, was driving his Tesla Model X in Mountain View in autopilot mode at about 70 mph (113 km/h) when it crashed into a safety barrier. The NTSB said Huang had reported issues on prior trips with Autopilot steering the wheel toward an area between a highway ramp and the lane. It is a moving violation to cross into that section of the road, known as the "gore area".