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American vehicle safety authorities have started an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after several accidents.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that violated road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the initial phase before potentially seeking a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Concerning Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles running red traffic lights and traveling against the wrong direction during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six reports in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving engaged, “approached an junction 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 intersection”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

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

Several reporters also stated that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was coming to 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 twelve months.

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

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 steering wheel and is prepared to assume control at any moment. While these features are designed to become more capable, the presently active functions do not render the vehicle autonomous.”

Self-driving vehicle technology continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals possible issues with current implementations.