- One owner claims the system caused a crash, but the safety agency lacks evidence for now.
- The investigation covers 3,118 units of the electric SUV from 2023 and 2024 model years.
- Depending on findings, VinFast might face a recall if defects are confirmed by the NHTSA.
VinFast’s launch in the Unites States has been far from easy. It had grandiose plans to become a serious player in the local market, went public on Wall Street, and broke ground on a massive assembly plant in North Carolina last year.
However, the rollout of the VF 9 has hit significant snags, with its launch delayed, prices for the existing VF 8 slashed, and the opening of its US plant postponed from July 2024 to 2028. Now, the Vietnamese car manufacturer faces another headache: an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).
Read: VinFast Hits Brakes On US Production, Now Slated To Begin In 2028
The department has received 14 reports from 2023-2024 VF 8 owners in the United States that allege there are issues with the Lane Keep Assist system. They claim this technology suite can activate in error and doesn’t function as it should. It’s also said to have difficulty detecting lanes, provides improper steering inputs, and can be difficult for the driver to override.
A summary of the probe notes that improper steering inputs can increase the likelihood of a crash or injury. In one complaint, an owner alleges the system caused a crash, although the ODI notes it doesn’t yet have any evidence to support this claim.
The investigation encompasses an estimated 3,118 VinFast VF 8s which is presumably all examples sold in the U.S. to this date. The probe will assess the scope, frequency, and severity of the potential problem and determine if a safety-related defect exists. If such a defect is found, VinFast will likely be forced to issue a recall and improve the Lane Keep Assist system.
Two weeks ago, VinFast announced that it had slashed prices for the VF 9 in the U.S. by as much as $16,000 just days before the start of deliveries. While it didn’t provide a reason for the cuts, it likely hopes lower prices will lead to greater sales.
