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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong direction during lane switching while using the system.

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

The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the technology's intended actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles 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 last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled features do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.