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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 several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Traffic Law Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.