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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after several accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The agency reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection against the red signal and was later involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Company's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.