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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

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

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings 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 under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the car autonomous.”

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