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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.

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

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced 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 “intended 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 presently active features do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.