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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA stated that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving in the incorrect way during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of reduced visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.