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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after numerous collisions.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency stated it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four accidents had caused one or more injuries.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the proper light status in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the vehicle 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 existing deployments.