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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after multiple collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was later part of a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.