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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after several crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Violations

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red signal and was later part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, 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 reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Company'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 moment. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.