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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

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 late 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.