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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, 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 vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.