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US automobile safety regulators have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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 take over at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.