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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.