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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 following numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's planned behaviour as the car was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.