Tesla's self-driving system. Photo: Scharfsinn86 | Dreamstime.com
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it has requested information from Tesla on the new driving assistance mode called “Mad Max”, which works at higher speeds than other versions, reports Reuters.
Some drivers said on social media that Tesla vehicles using the more aggressive version of its Fully Autonomous Driving (FSD) system could be operating above posted speed limits.
Others have praised the system and posted videos showing their Tesla cars changing lanes to get through heavy traffic as quickly as possible:
FSD v14.1.2 Mad Max mode is amazing and I love it.
Perfect for LA traffic 🤣 pic.twitter.com/FtHTF1SC1b
— Zack (@BLKMDL3) October 16, 2025
“NHTSA is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information. The person behind the wheel is fully responsible for driving the vehicle and complying with all traffic safety laws,” the US government agency said.
Earlier this month, the NHTSA opened an investigation into 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD system, due to dozens of reports of traffic safety violations and accidents.
It said it was looking into 58 reports of issues related to road safety violations when using the FSD, including 14 accidents and 23 injuries.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but last week reposted a post on social media that described Mad Max mode as accelerating and snaking “through traffic at incredible speed, all while remaining extremely smooth. It drives like a sports car. If you're running late, this is the mode for you.”
Mad Max https://t.co/T3GxhCM1DD
— Tesla (@Tesla) October 16, 2025
NHTSA said earlier this month that FSD — an assist system that requires drivers to pay attention and intervene if necessary — “induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.”
The agency said it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD enabled, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued through the intersection against the red light, and was subsequently involved in an accident with other vehicles.”
Tesla says FSD “will drive you almost anywhere with your active supervision, requiring minimal intervention,” but it doesn't make the car drive itself.
Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.
In October 2024, NHTSA opened an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles with FSD after four low visibility collisions.
Photo: Scharfsinn86 | Dreamstime.com
