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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla cars featuring the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The NHTSA declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a withdrawal of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red signal and was subsequently part of a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had resulted in one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct traffic signal state 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”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

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

Company's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for use with a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not render the car autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.