The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reached out to Tesla for more details on its newly released 'Mad Max' mode in the Full Self-Driving system, amid ongoing probes into traffic violations. The mode, which enables higher speeds and frequent lane changes, has drawn scrutiny for potentially defying speed limits and safety laws. This development follows Tesla's revival of a feature first teased by Elon Musk in 2018.
Tesla introduced the 'Mad Max' speed profile earlier this month as part of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software update, despite an existing NHTSA investigation into FSD for incidents like running red lights and driving the wrong way. The mode, named after the action film franchise, allows vehicles to exceed speed limits and perform more aggressive maneuvers than the previous 'Hurry' profile. Tesla's release notes state: 'Introduced new speed profile MAD MAX, which comes with higher speeds and more frequent lane changes than HURRY.'
The NHTSA confirmed its inquiry in a statement to Reuters: 'NHTSA is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information. The human behind the wheel is fully responsible for driving the vehicle and complying with all traffic safety laws.' This contact marks the initial step toward a potential formal investigation.
Early user reports highlight the mode's behavior. One Tesla owner shared a video on X showing their vehicle speeding on an open road and rolling through a stop sign in Mad Max mode, noting it was 'going to speed like crazy.' Another posted a YouTube video of their car reaching 79 miles per hour in a 50-mile-per-hour zone while passing other vehicles.
The feature echoes a 2018 tease from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who said: 'We considered going beyond Mad Max to "LA Freeway" level, but that’s too loco.' Tesla first offered Mad Max that year before FSD was widely available, reviving it now during heightened regulatory attention. Earlier this year, under Musk's involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration reportedly reduced NHTSA staffing, including firing three members of its autonomous vehicle safety team.
The NHTSA's current FSD probe, opened earlier this month, cites the technology inducing 'vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.'