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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.