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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the wrong way during lane switching while operating the system.

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

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

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

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.