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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority noted that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended actions as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the car self-driving.”

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