Pleasanton Crash: Feds Investigating EV Car, According To Reports

PLEASANTON, CA — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into the fatal crash of a VinFast VF 8 that killed a Pleasanton family of four in April, according to reports.

The probe follows a complaint filed by the owner of the car, who lent it to his friend and coworker Tarun George to drive. According to the complaint, the electric vehicle had a history of steering issues, which often caused it to automatically veer to the right at least two times before the April 24 crash.

The 2023 VinFast VF 8 has received one recall and nine complaints, according to the NHTSA website. Of the nine complaints, three reported steering issues, and two were about lane departure. In 2023, VinFast recalled hundreds of VF 8 models after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that software errors caused dashboard display glitches that could increase the risk of crashes.

It is currently unknown what exactly caused the car to crash into a pole and a tree before catching fire, though Pleasanton police have said they believe speed may have been a factor.

An NHTSA spokesperson told TechCrunch Monday that its Special Crash Investigations division will “document the crash circumstances and the ensuing fire.”

“VinFast is aware of this tragic accident in Pleasanton and our hearts go out to the family. The authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident and will share their findings when their work is completed,” the Vietnamese company said in a statement.

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