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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, mist 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 fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.