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American vehicle safety authorities have started an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

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

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.