The probe comes as the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is in the midst of a series of investigations targeting Tesla, its products and its chief executive officer, Elon Musk. Federal regulators are looking into possible problems with the company’s seat belts, steering wheels and driver-assistance features. 

The Florida collision is the 54th included in NHTSA’s Special Crash Investigation of advanced driver-assistance systems like Tesla’s Autopilot. The broader probe began in 2016 after a fatal accident in Florida involving a Model S that was being operated with its automated driving system activated.

Tesla vehicles have been involved in all but nine of the incidents that have been added to NHTSA’s investigation. The automaker, which has disbanded its media relations department, didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Eoin Treacy's view

There are also pending cases focusing on Tesla’s claims on the range of its vehicles. Tesla has ridden a wave of enthusiasm centred on delivering the first desirable all electric vehicles. The company’s success has prompted both new upstarts and forced legacy companies to alter their business models. They did not have much choice because one of the primary factors that allowed Tesla to survive was its dominance of carbon credit sales.