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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after several crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which requires motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the intersection against the red signal and was subsequently part of a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.