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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following numerous crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

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 regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

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 capabilities are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.