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US automobile safety regulators have started an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.