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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after multiple collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.