Comma.ai Faces NHTSA Investigation After Fatal Driver Assistance Crashes

Comma.ai, the company behind the openpilot driver assistance system, is facing a federal safety investigation after five reported crashes involving its technology. Two of those crashes resulted in three deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA opened an investigation into the reported incidents.

The investigation is examining reports that Comma.ai devices failed to detect or respond to slow-moving or stopped vehicles in the same lane. The crashes involved injuries to multiple people, including some serious injuries.

Investigation Focuses on Openpilot Driver Assistance System

Comma.ai develops aftermarket devices that can be installed in certain vehicles to assist with functions such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Automated Lane Centring. Its openpilot software is designed to help vehicles steer, accelerate, and brake under specific driving conditions while requiring drivers to remain ready to take control.

NHTSA said some reported crashes may have involved modified versions of Comma.ai’s software, known as software forks. The agency is reviewing whether these versions affected the driver assistance system’s performance.

Fatal Crash Involved Modified Software Version

One fatal crash under review occurred in February 2026 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Investigators said a 2022 Toyota RAV4 operating a third-party version of openpilot called FrogPilot struck a stopped emergency vehicle.

Louisiana State Police said the crash involved a marked police vehicle that was positioned in a lane with emergency lights activated while officers responded to another incident. Two rear-seat passengers in the Toyota died.

Driver Assistance Safety Concerns

Advanced driver assistance systems have struggled to detect stopped vehicles and other stationary objects. Similar safety investigations have previously involved other companies developing driver assistance technologies.

Comma.ai states that openpilot has limitations in certain situations, including when vehicles in the same lane are not moving. The company notes that drivers must be able to take manual control immediately when needed.

The NHTSA investigation will examine the reported crashes and the performance of Comma.ai’s technology as regulators continue reviewing safety issues involving advanced driver assistance systems.