As you probably have heard, a recent update to all Tesla cars enabled passengers to play video games on the main infotainment display, including when the car was moving. NHTSA believes the feature can distract drivers who can easily override all warnings and play as they drive.
The software update that brought the functionality to Tesla cars came out in summer, but has only recently attracted public interest. Apparently, the system warns users that only passengers are allowed to play games while on the road, but no safeguards are in place to prevent reckless drivers from dismissing the warning. NHTSA points out that a concerned Tesla owner contacted its Defects Investigation and Analysis department with the complaint that prompted the currently ongoing investigation.
The organization believes the issue potentially concerns around 580,000 cars produced over the past four years where this feature is active. Earlier software versions only allowed games to be played while parked.
It remains to be seen how the probing affects Tesla. A ruling could be issued to remove the feature altogether or at least limit its use to safe situations.