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US automobile safety regulators have started an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation 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 preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the authority determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The agency reported it had received reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving against the incorrect direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six reports in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with full self-driving activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four accidents had resulted in one or more injuries.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, operating at an junction with FSD active, did not stay stopped for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned actions as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Regulatory Scrutiny

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In October 2024, the authority began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist 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 use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any time. While these capabilities are designed to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals possible issues with current implementations.