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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an examination into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following multiple crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA represents the first step before potentially requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Concerning Incident Reports

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane changes while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the crossroads against the red light and was later involved in a collision with other motor vehicles in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red traffic signal, did not come to complete stop, or failed to accurately detect and show the correct light status in the vehicle interface”.

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

Ongoing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been under investigation by NHTSA for twelve months.

In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

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

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.