The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is once again turning its attention to Tesla — this time over a new driver-assistance feature that sounds straight out of an action movie. The mode in question? “Mad Max.”
According to NHTSA, the agency is seeking information from Tesla about the newly surfaced feature, which appears to allow the brand’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system to operate more aggressively — and at higher speeds — than usual. The name itself comes from Tesla’s internal FSD settings, which already included options like “Chill,” “Average,” and “Assertive.” But now, this latest iteration seems to push things further, raising serious questions about safety and compliance.
What Exactly Is “Mad Max”?
Social media posts by Tesla owners claim that the mode allows the vehicle to exceed posted speed limits and weave through traffic with greater urgency. One viral post even described it as a setting that makes the car “drive like a sports car — smooth but fast — perfect if you’re running late.” Tesla has not released an official statement about the mode, but the company’s official X (Twitter) account recently reposted that description without any clarification, adding fuel to the controversy.
For NHTSA, that’s more than enough reason to step in. “We’re in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information,” the agency said. “The human behind the wheel remains fully responsible for driving the vehicle and complying with all traffic laws.”
An Expanding Investigation
This latest inquiry adds to the growing scrutiny around Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies. Earlier this month, NHTSA opened a formal investigation into 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD system after receiving dozens of reports of traffic-safety violations and crashes. The agency said it is reviewing 58 separate incidents, including 14 collisions and 23 injuries, many of which involved vehicles allegedly running red lights or failing to yield while the system was active.
Tesla’s FSD — which the company insists still requires active driver supervision — is designed to assist with navigation and traffic awareness. But regulators say the system has, in some cases, “induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.”
Between Innovation and Accountability
Tesla markets FSD as an advanced driver-assistance system capable of “driving almost anywhere with minimal intervention.” However, it stops short of making any claims about full autonomy. Critics, meanwhile, argue that the branding itself — names like “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” — mislead drivers into overestimating the technology’s capabilities.
This isn’t the first time Tesla’s systems have been under the microscope. Just last year, NHTSA opened another investigation into 2.4 million vehicles after a series of collisions in low-visibility conditions.
The arrival of “Mad Max” mode only deepens that debate: Is Tesla pushing boundaries in the name of innovation, or blurring the line between assistance and autonomy too far?
As the investigation unfolds, one thing is certain — Tesla’s vision of the future continues to test not just technology, but the rules that govern it.
