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

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had caused vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

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

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency stated it had documented accounts of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with 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 junction”.

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

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, 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 failed to accurately detect and show the proper light status in the vehicle interface”.

Some complainants also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's intended behaviour as the car was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for a year.

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation 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 deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “designed for operation by a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle self-driving.”

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