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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

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

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned actions as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

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 take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.