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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after multiple crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the car 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 existing deployments.