London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Sep 13, 2025

NHTSA investigating Tesla's front-seat video game feature in 580,000 vehicles

NHTSA investigating Tesla's front-seat video game feature in 580,000 vehicles

Games can be played in driver's view while vehicle is moving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a formal preliminary investigation into a Tesla feature that allows video games to be played on the central touchscreen display in view of the driver while a vehicle is in motion.

The investigation covers approximately 580,000 Tesla Model 3, Y, S and X vehicles built for the 2017 to 2022 model years.

The feature, known as "Passenger Play," became available in December 2020 via an update to the infotainment system and was highlighted in a New York Times article earlier this month that led the NHTSA to reach out to Tesla to discuss it.

At least three games were found to work while a vehicle is moving. They only require the user to acknowledge a warning that says "playing while the car is in motion is only for passengers" and do not actively prevent the driver from participating. The latest Model S and Y are also equipped with a second screen for rear-seat passengers that is out of the driver's view.

The latest Tesla Model S and X have a second screen for the rear seat passengers that is not in view of the driver.


Tesla’s system can play additional games and streaming video on the screen while the vehicle is parked and recently added TikTok and a classic Sonic the Hedgehog game as part of a holiday update.


NHTSA said its Office of Defects Investigation "will evaluate aspects of the feature, including the frequency and use scenarios of Tesla 'Passenger Play.'"

Jeep recently added a screen above the glove compartment that can play video for the front-seat passenger in some models, but it is filtered so that it can not be viewed from the driver's seat.

The Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee are available with a passenger screen that can play video but is filtered so that it can not be seen from the driver's seat.


The NHTSA said, "The Vehicle Safety Act prohibits manufacturers from selling vehicles with design defects posing unreasonable risks to safety" and that it issued recommendations in 2013 that in-vehicle devices with secondary features should be designed to prevent the driver from using them while driving.

Neither Elon Musk nor Tesla, which does not have a formal communications office to field media inquiries, have commented on the investigation.

Comments

Oh ya 4 year ago
Well that gives the driver something to do other than sleep when the car is in remote control driving itself into parked cars and people

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
×