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US automobile safety regulators have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declared that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the initial phase before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was later part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.