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American vehicle safety authorities have commenced an investigation into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple crashes.

Safety Agency Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The federal safety agency announced that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached road safety regulations”.

This early investigation by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the agency determines they pose a risk to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had received accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and traveling in the incorrect way during lane switching while operating the technology.

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

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

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one news account alleging that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's intended actions as the car was coming to 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 late 2024, the authority started an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, fog or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

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