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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla vehicles equipped with the autonomous driving system due to traffic-safety violations following several crashes.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused car behavior that breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly requesting a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red light, continued to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency noted that four crashes had caused one or more injuries.

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, 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 car's display”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give warnings of the system's intended actions as the car was coming to a red light”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the agency started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a completely alert motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not render the car autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.