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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following multiple crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary 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 vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using 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 “designed for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.