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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was later part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.