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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was later part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The agency noted that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.