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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while using the system.

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

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.