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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.