NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ22-001: Recall 22E-016
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ22-001 on April 10, 2022 and closed it on October 30, 2023. NHTSA's investigations file lists the PONY.AI Automated Driving System for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ22-001 (also written RQ22001)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Closed October 30, 2023
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Pony.ai
- Components
- Electrical System — ADAS; Electrical System — ADAS — Autonomous/Self Driving; Electrical System — ADAS — Autonomous/Self Driving — Software
- Vehicles and equipment
- PONY.AI Automated Driving System
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ22-001.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ22-001 to evaluate the scope and remedy of Recall 22E-016. Recall 22E-016 addressed a defect causing the Automated Driving System (ADS) to shut down on a vehicle that was being operated by Pony.ai in a driverless mode. This condition resulted in a single vehicle crash on October 28, 2021. In the submitted recall report, Pony.ai identified the defect as a coding error. They also identified three (3) ADS units effected by the defect. Additionally, they stated that the relevant ADS code was revised to correct the error on the evening of the crash. Pony.ai uploaded the software to the affected units the following day. ODI sought more detailed information surrounding the failure and the failures of redundant ADS safety systems leading to the crash, and steps that Pony.ai has taken to prevent similar failures in the future. In their response, Pony.ai provided additional details regarding the origin and nature of the software error in the primary ADS unit which led to the incident and how Pony.ai became aware of the error. Pony.ai also provided details regarding errors which occurred in the installation of the redundant system installed in the incident vehicle, which led to the failure of that system. After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by Pony.ai, ODI believes that the company has properly identified both the error and the affected vehicles. The software upload completed immediately following the incident described above appears to have resolved the issue. Additionally, Pony.ai identified several process and procedural changes which they have either already undertaken, or plan to undertake, to prevent the recurrence of similar errors in the future. ODI is closing this Recall Query. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ22-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
PONY.AI
PONY.AI Automated Driving System
- model year not given
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for RQ22-001
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.