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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an probe into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations after several collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

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

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling against the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “approached an junction with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, 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 features do not render the vehicle self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.