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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after several accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The NHTSA announced that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

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

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, using full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection despite the red signal and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one news account alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority started an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One of these collisions, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with current implementations.