The U.S. government has opened a preliminary inquiry into reports Tesla Inc. vehicles allow occupants to play video games while the car is in motion.

The inquiry has been launched by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation following a complaint filed last month. Tesla customers have been able to play games in “Passenger Play” equipped vehicles since December. However, the functionality is supposed to be available only while a vehicle is parked. According to the NHTSA, the functionality may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

The probe will investigate about 580,000 Tesla Model 3, S, X and Y vehicle models between 2017 and 2022 to evaluate the driver distraction potential while the vehicle is being driven. The ODI will also assess aspects of the feature, including the frequency and use scenarios of Tesla Passenger Play.

The NHTSA document does not list any known crashes or injuries caused by the feature. If it’s determined that it is an issue, the investigation could lead to a recall.

The complaint was filed by Tesla owner Vince Patton from near Portland, Oregon. The Associated Press reported that Patton watched a YouTube video of a Tesla owner who discovered he could play games on his touchscreen while the vehicle was moving and was curious to see for himself. He subsequently took his 2021 Tesla Model 3 to a car park, activated a game and made a few loops.

“I was just dumbfounded that, yes, sure enough, this sophisticated video game came up,” Patton told AP. “Somebody’s going to get killed… it’s absolutely insane.”

The investigation into Tesla follows a recall by Mercedes-Benz earlier this month after it was discovered that a driver could browse the internet or watch television while the vehicle was moving. The company said that it had intended to disable the feature while the cars were in motion.

The investigation into “Passenger Play” is not the only probe currently targeting Tesla. In August, the NHTSA announced an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system following multiple crashes where the Autopilot system was active.

Photo: Jurveston/Flickr