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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The agency reported that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

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

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.