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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches following several accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Traffic Law Breaches

The federal safety agency stated that the electric carmaker's autonomous driving feature, which demands motorists to stay alert and take control when necessary, had caused vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a withdrawal of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD activated, “approached an junction with a red traffic signal, proceeded to travel into the crossroads against the red light and was later involved in a collision with other cars in the junction”.

The authority reported that four accidents had caused injuries to occupants.

Additional Safety Concerns

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 reports and one news account claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD active, did not stay stationary for the entire time of a red light, did not come to complete stop, or did not properly recognize and show the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also claimed that FSD “failed to give warnings of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was approaching a red light”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In October 2024, the authority started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in situations of reduced visibility, such as bright sunlight, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Manufacturer's Stated Position

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for operation by a completely alert driver, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active features do not make the car autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with current implementations.