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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the technology's planned actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities 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 technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.