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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following several collisions.

Safety Agency Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the proper light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the presently active features do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with existing deployments.