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

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer'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 take over at any moment. While these features are designed 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 technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.