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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.