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

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla cars running red traffic lights and traveling against the incorrect direction during lane changes while using the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stationary for the entire time of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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

In October 2024, the agency started an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.