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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following numerous collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was later part of a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.