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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 after several crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane switching while using 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 drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was later part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing 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 inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the car self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.