Tesla sued over 'dangerously defective' Autopilot software

April 20, 2017 01:00 AM

Kartikay Mehrotra

Tesla's Autopilot system uses cameras and radar, but not laser-based lidar as some other self-driving systems do. The company said its system would have had trouble distinguishing a white semi-trailer positioned across a road against a bright sky.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tesla Inc. was sued by vehicle owners over claims its Autopilot feature is “dangerously defective” when engaged.

Drivers relying on the electric carmaker’s autonomous driving technology have “become beta testers of half-baked software that renders Tesla vehicles dangerous,” according to a complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif.

Consumers allege their cars -- purchased for $81,000 to $113,000 -- veer off lanes while often “lurching, slamming on the brakes for no reason, and failing to slow or stop when approaching other vehicles" when Autopilot is activated.

The case was filed seeking class-action status on behalf of owners of 47,000 Model S and Model X cars sold in 2016 and 2017.