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NHTSA finalized a rule that requires stronger front-seat belt reminders on new vehicles starting September 1, 2026, with rear-seat reminders following in 2027. For shoppers, the change is already influencing the feature set you may see on 2026 and 2027 model-year vehicles. The practical impact is that more vehicles should come with louder, longer, or more persistent reminder systems, but the exact implementation will vary by manufacturer and model. Buyers should verify the warning behavior on the window sticker, in the owner’s manual, or at delivery because the rule sets minimum performance requirements, not one identical display for every car.

NHTSA says it has opened an Audit Query into Tesla’s Cybercab certification after the robotaxi’s commercial rollout in Austin. The agency is testing whether the vehicle was properly self-certified under federal safety standards, which could shape how quickly automated vehicles face federal scrutiny and what buyers should watch for next.

NHTSA says it opened an Audit Query into Tesla’s certification of the Cybercab after the vehicle was deployed commercially in Austin. The agency is examining whether the new model meets applicable federal safety standards, which matters for buyers because it can affect when and how the vehicle can be sold, operated, or registered if compliance issues are found.