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Tesla’s “Mad Max” Mode Faces Federal Investigation

October 25, 2025Last Updated: October 25, 2025

1 minute read

View from inside a car as a red car overtakes on a tree-lined road with motion blur. — In the summertime, under the sunny sky, a car drives along the country road, creating a mesmerizing motion blur effect. As it speeds ahead, the surrounding environment becomes a blur of colors and shapes. Trees pass by in a rural landscape, accentuating the sense of a long journey. This exhilarating travel experience captures the thrill of speed and the allure of the open road.

▼ Summary

– Tesla recently introduced two new driving modes called “Sloth” and “Mad Max” for its full self-driving feature via a firmware update.
– The “Sloth” mode is designed for relaxed driving with gentle acceleration and lane-keeping, while “Mad Max” aggressively speeds and swerves through traffic.
– The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating reports of FSD Teslas exhibiting this aggressive driving behavior.
– “Mad Max” mode was previously beta-tested in 2018 but was not released due to public outcry, making this a reintroduction of the feature.
– Tesla is promoting “Mad Max” as a sports car-like mode for faster travel despite recently losing a costly wrongful death lawsuit.

Federal regulators have launched a formal inquiry into Tesla’s newly released “Mad Max” driving mode, an aggressive automated driving setting designed to maneuver through traffic at high speeds. This investigation follows numerous public reports of Tesla vehicles operating in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode executing rapid lane changes and sudden acceleration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now scrutinizing the safety implications of this assertive autonomous driving feature.

While presented as a fresh addition in the latest firmware update, the underlying technology for this assertive driving behavior is not without precedent. Tesla previously trialed a comparable system during a 2018 Autopilot beta test. That earlier version was ultimately shelved from public release following significant public concern and criticism over its driving characteristics.

The company’s current decision to deploy this technology comes during a challenging period, shortly after facing a substantial federal wrongful death lawsuit settlement. Tesla’s official description promotes the mode’s capability to navigate congested roads “at an incredible pace, all while remaining remarkably smooth.” Marketing materials suggest the system “handles your vehicle like a high-performance sports car,” explicitly positioning it as the ideal choice for drivers behind schedule. This assertive rollout demonstrates a notable shift in the manufacturer’s approach to deploying controversial driving technologies.

(Source: Ars Technica)