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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 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 traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.