NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 — Crash Reporting for ADS and Level 2 ADAS
United States · NHTSA SGO 2021-01
Manufacturers and operators of vehicles equipped with SAE Level 2 driver-assistance (Tesla Autopilot, GM Super Cruise) or Level 3-5 automated driving systems must report crashes to NHTSA on a strict timeline — within one day for serious crashes. The data drives recall actions including Tesla's Dec. 2023 over-the-air Autopilot recall.
Technical detail
NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 (Incident Reporting for ADS and Level 2 ADAS-Equipped Vehicles), as amended Aug. 5, 2021 and May 31, 2024. Requires manufacturers and operators to report crashes meeting specified criteria within 1 calendar day for fatal/airbag-deploying crashes and monthly for other reportable crashes.
Who is protected: Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users exposed to AV/ADAS-equipped vehicles
Who must comply: Manufacturers and operators of Level 2 ADAS- and Level 3-5 ADS-equipped vehicles
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | United States |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2021-06-29 |
| Enacted | 2021-06-29 |
| Citation | NHTSA SGO 2021-01 |
| Enforced by | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Civil penalties up to $26,315 per violation per day, capped at $131,564,183 per related series (49 U.S.C. § 30165) |
| Topics | consumer protection · AI disclosure and transparency · automated decision-making |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 (Third Amended, May 2022) ↗ |
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