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American vehicle safety authorities have opened an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.