Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Jul 03, 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.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
×