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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations after multiple accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to remain attentive and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA represents the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars driving through red traffic lights and moving against the wrong way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “came to an junction with a red light, proceeded to travel into the crossroads despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and display the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

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

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the agency started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.