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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after several crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

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

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the technology.

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

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, 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 “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.