ASCENSION PARISH — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation is investigating aftermarket devices that augment vehicle advanced driver assistance systems. The agency identified five crashes involving drivers using comma.ai devices, two of which resulted in three deaths.

In the five identified crashes, vehicles equipped with comma.ai devices collided with stopped or slow-moving cars in the same lane. Eleven people were injured in four of the five crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation stated that some crashes may have involved "forked" or modified versions of comma.ai’s software.

Comma.ai was founded by George Hotz. Hotz gained prominence for jailbreaking iOS and hacking Sony PlayStations. George Hotz began developing partially automated driver assists in 2015.

Hotz initially modified his own Acura to create an advanced driver assist system. Hotz intended to sell his system to Tesla to replace Mobileye as the supplier. Mobileye ended its relationship with Tesla the year after Hotz began developing his system.

Why It Matters

The investigation covers events spanning 11 years, from 2015 to 2026. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation is examining how aftermarket modifications interact with vehicle safety systems. The presence of third-party forks like FrogPilot is under review for its implications on software integrity and driver oversight in augmented driving environments.

The fatalities and injuries highlight the potential risks when automated systems encounter unexpected road conditions. The agency’s focus on modified software suggests that alterations to original code may compromise safety features designed to prevent collisions with stationary objects. This probe could influence how regulators view the liability and safety standards for aftermarket automation tools.

Timeline

Comma.ai ceased attempts to sell plug-in devices after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration raised questions in 2016.

By 2020, Consumer Reports rated comma.ai’s software and $999 device higher than any original equipment manufacturer system. George Hotz distanced himself from comma.ai’s day-to-day operations in 2022.

Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition — Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition. This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of defect petition DP22-002, submitted on April 29, 2022, by Mr. Sergio Betancourt (the petitioner) to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). The petition requ.

In the February 2026 Louisiana crash, a 2022 Toyota RAV4 running FrogPilot, a third-party fork of openpilot, struck a stopped first responder vehicle. One fatal crash occurred in February 2026 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana.

What's New

Comma.ai devices control Adaptive Cruise Control and Automated Lane Centering systems. Comma.ai devices use a camera-based driver monitoring system to watch for distracted or sleepy drivers. Comma.ai warns drivers that they must always be capable to immediately retake manual control of the vehicle.

Comma.ai states on its website that openpilot can steer, accelerate, and brake automatically for other vehicles within its lane.