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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving activated, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red light and was later part of a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the car was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars 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 Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.