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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

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

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

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.