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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires drivers to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD engaged, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

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 started an inquiry into over two million Tesla cars using FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.