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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following several crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was later part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to 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 late 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared 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 vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.