• News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
  • News
  • Guides
  • Reviews
  • Media
  • About
Sign up Now (For Free)

Sign up for our newsletter and receive the latest automotive news in your inbox!

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing!
News
Read Now
  • All News
  • Automakers
  • Automobiles
  • Auto Shows
  • Business
  • EVs & Environment
  • Guides
  • Lawsuits/Legal
  • Regulatory
  • Ride-Sharing
  • Safety & Recalls
  • Technology
Recent
  • Acura’s New Integra Type S Launching with 320 Hp
  • First Look: Ferrari Roma Spider
  • What do Americans Think of EV Ownership Today?
  • Challenger Fain Edges Closer to UAW Presidency
  • Week Ahead: All About the Cars — Except for the UAW Part
  • The Rearview Mirror: Birth of a Sports Car Legend
  • Federal Infrastructure Law Funds Safe Streets 4 All
  • Hagerty Takes Expensive Hit from Hurricane, But Posts Profit
  • New Headaches for VinFast as Three Senior Sales Execs Leave EV Startup
  • Mazda Appoints Moro New CEO
Editor’s Choice
    Reviews
    Read Now
    • All Reviews
      • Feeder
    • Classic Cars
    • Concept Cars
    • Convertibles
    • Coupes
    • Crossovers/CUVs
    • Diesel
    • Hot hatches
    • Hybrids
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Minivans
    • Muscle Cars
    • Pickups
    • Sedans
    • Sports Cars
    • Super Cars
    • SUVs
    Recent Reviews
    • First Drive: 2023 Nissan Ariya e-4orce AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Jeep Compass Limited
    • A Week With: 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series
    • A Week With: 2023 Volvo XC40 AWD Ultimate
    • First Drive: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek
    • First Drive: 2023 Lexus RZ 450e
    • A Week With: 2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Manual
    • First Impression: 2024 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
    • A Week With: 2023 Chevrolet Blazer RS AWD
    • A Week With: 2023 Toyota Sienna XSE AWD
    Editor’s Choice
      Guides
      Car Warranty
      • Endurance Warranty Reviews
      • BMW Extended Warranty
      • Extended Warranty For Cars Over 100k Miles
      • Extended Car Warranty Cost
      • Subaru Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Reviews
      • CarShield Cost
      • Aftermarket Car Warranty
      • CARCHEX Warranty Reviews
      • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
      • Used Car Warranty Companies
      • Best Car Warranty
      • Is CarShield A Scam?
      • Mercedes Extended Warranty
      • CarShield Plans
      Insurance
      • How To Identify A Car Insurance Company
      • Geico Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • How Far Back Does A Car Insurance Company Look
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance For Used Cars
      • State Farm Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance From Progressive
      • Dollar A Day Insurance
      • Auto Insurance For SSI Recipients
      • Car Insurance Rates After A Suspended License
      • Auto Insurance For Salvage Vehicles
      • Average Cost of Dodge Ram 1500 Car Insurance
      • Car Insurance Florida
      • Full Coverage Auto Insurance
      • GrubHub Insurance
      • Amazon Delivery Auto Insurance
      Shipping
      • Car Shipping Companies
      • uShip Reviews
      • Auto Shipping From California To Hawaii
      • Montway Auto Transport Reviews
      • Cheap Car Shipping
      • Easy Auto Ship Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Miami
      • Auto Shipping To Alaska
      • Car Shipping Cost
      • Auto Shipping Hawaii
      • Auto Shipping Puerto Rico
      • Sherpa Auto Transport Reviews
      • Auto Shipping Atlanta
      • Auto Shipping Boston
      • Auto Shipping. Chicago
      About
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
      • Affiliate Disclosure
      • Sitemap
      TheDetroitBureau.com

      More than just “another” place to find news, reviews, spy shots, commentary, features, and guides about the auto industry. TheDetroitBureau doesn’t stop with the press releases or confuse a few lines of opinion with insightful, in-depth reporting.

      Contact Us

      Like what you see? Have some ideas for making The Detroit Bureau.com even better? Let us know, we’d love to hear your voice.

        Media
        Listen Now
        • Headlight News: All Episodes
        More from TheDetroitBureau
        • Guides
        • Latest News
        • Auto Reviews
        • Podcasts
        Headlight News

        TheDetroitBureau.com’s Headlight News offers a look at the past week’s top automotive news stories, as well as what’s coming up in the week ahead. Check out the week’s top story and our latest review…along with a dive into the past with this week in automotive history.

        home > news > Automakers > Consumer Reports Adds to Backlash After Tesla Pulls Radar Out of Models 3 and Y

        Consumer Reports Adds to Backlash After Tesla Pulls Radar Out of Models 3 and Y

        Influential publication drops “Top Ppick” rating for Model 3 sedan.

        Paul A. Eisenstein
        Paul A. Eisenstein , Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
        May 28, 2021

        Tesla is coming under intense fire after announcing it will no longer use radar sensors on its two mainstream product lines, the Model 3 and Model Y, relying solely on camera-based technology for their semi-autonomous Autopilot systems — and ultimately their Full Self-Driving technology.

        Tesla Autopilot view
        This is how Tesla’s Autopilot interprets what its cameras and radar sensors take in. The radar sensors are being pulled from vehicles.

        On Friday, Consumer Reports weighed into the fray, saying that it would no longer give a coveted “Top Pick” rating to versions of the Model 3 produced after April 27, when Tesla made the switch in technology. The automaker’s two smaller models also were downgraded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a result of the change. Other safety groups are expected to follow.

        “It is extremely rare for an automaker to remove safety features from a vehicle during a production run, even temporarily, but this isn’t the first time that Tesla has done this,” Jake Fisher, a senior director of Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

        Officials with the publication also cautioned that consumers could become confused about the capabilities of the Model 3 as a result of the change.

        Autopilot a subject of confusion and controversy

        Confusion about the Autopilot system, in particular, has been an ongoing problem. Safety advocates claim it has led to some owners taking excessive risks — such as texting, watching videos, even sleeping behind the wheel — resulting in crashes, injuries and even some fatalities.

        Tesla, critics say, has not helped the situation. Though the automaker’s website tells drivers to keep hands on the wheel, CEO Elon Musk has frequently hyped Autopilot’s features, and the latest update has been referred as having “full” self-driving capabilities.

        Several recent crashes are currently undergoing review by safety regulators including both the National Transportation Safety Board and NHTSA.

        Elon Musk 2021
        Tesla CEO Elon Musk says radar-based sensors are not needed to achieve full self-driving capability.

        The latter agency on Wednesday said it would no longer describe the Tesla Models 3 and Y as offering some advanced safety features, such as forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning — even though Tesla claims those functions will continue to be available using a modified, camera-only sensing system.

        Not the only change

        Tesla’s latest move has received widespread criticism from consumer and safety groups. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said it plans to reevaluate the two vehicles and will remove its own Top Safety Pick+ ratings for the Model 3 and Model Y.

        Tesla representatives did not respond to a request for comment on the change in technology. The automaker did issue a statement earlier in week acknowledging that some functions may temporarily be limited. These include Autopilot’s ability to keep a vehicle centered in its lane and a parking assist feature. But the carmaker also said they would be restored using over-the-air updates of software “in the weeks ahead.”

        Tesla did bow to some other concerns about the safety of Autopilot, however. The automaker is adding a driver monitoring system designed to ensure motorists are awake, alert and paying attention to the road while the system is operating.

        The announcement comes while federal authorities are investigating a fatal crash in which it was reported the driver may have flipped over into the back seat. Other crashes have been blamed on motorists falling asleep or watching videos when Autopilot either malfunctioned or issued a warning for them to retake control.

        Catching up to the competition

        Tesla rolled out its full-self driving beta version to the delight of fans of the technology last fall.

        Competing systems, such as General Motors’ Super Cruise, already monitor motorists and will take a series of steps to keep them focused on driving, even deactivating and coming to a complete stop.

        The lack of a monitoring system was one of the reasons why Consumer Reports recently rated GM’s Super Cruise as significantly better than Tesla Autopilot.

        Tesla has long taken a minimalist approach to sensing systems, even while boasting that Autopilot is the most capable technology of its type. But that has created problems, including the latest downgrades, as well as challenges in delivering the completely hands-free version CEO Musk has been promising for several years.

        Competitors generally use broader suites of camera, sonar, radar and other sensors. Lucid, the startup planning to launch the all-electric Air sedan later this year, will be the first with a full-range lidar system. Tesla has long said it wouldn’t need the 3D laser technology but prototypes have recently been spotted with distinctive lidar domes. Some observers believe that the automaker has finally recognized it cannot reach the level of autonomy it’s promised without adding lidar.

        How to Care for Your Car

        Cheap Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice

        Best Extended Car Warranty

        Editor's Choice
        Recently Published
        2024 Acura Integra Type S front quarter panel badge REL

        Acura’s New Integra Type S Launching with 320 Hp

        Today

        First Look: Ferrari Roma Spider

        Today
        2023 Lexus RZ 450e - charging REL

        What do Americans Think of EV Ownership Today?

        Today

        One response to “Consumer Reports Adds to Backlash After Tesla Pulls Radar Out of Models 3 and Y”

        1. Jim Lowe says:
          May 28, 2021 at 11:40 am

          This is just crazy. We already know that the cameras can be blinded by the sun when it hits them. The radar added an extra layer of protection.

          Reply

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Share this article:
        © The Detroit Bureau 2023
        • Guides
        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Affiliate Disclosure
        • Contact Us
        • Sitemap
        Follow Us: