The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S. has initiated a formal investigation into a tragic crash involving the VinFast VF8 SUV that resulted in the deaths of a family of four. The incident took place in Pleasanton, California on April 24, where the vehicle lost control, crashed into an oak tree, and caught fire. The NHTSA's Special Crash Investigations division will be documenting the circumstances of the crash and the subsequent fire.
The victims, identified as Tarun and Rincy George and their two children, were not the owners of the vehicle. A complaint was filed with the NHTSA shortly after the accident, indicating that the owner had loaned the EV to a co-worker who experienced issues with the car's lane assist feature veering the vehicle to the right. While the NHTSA is conducting an investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board has not opened a separate inquiry, and the Pleasanton Police Department's investigation is ongoing.
VinFast, a Vietnamese EV manufacturer that introduced the VF8 SUV to the U.S. in early 2023, has faced challenges with quality and safety. The company issued a recall in May 2023 due to problems with the dashboard screen and received complaints about unexpected behavior from the driver assistance system, including one incident where the steering wheel turned unexpectedly.
