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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 several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

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