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US automobile safety regulators have commenced an probe into Tesla cars featuring the autonomous driving system due to safety regulation breaches after multiple accidents.

Safety Agency Finds Traffic Law Violations

The NHTSA declared that the automaker's autonomous driving feature, which requires motorists to remain attentive and intervene if needed, had “induced car behavior that violated traffic safety laws”.

This preliminary evaluation by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the agency determines they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The agency stated it had received reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and traveling in the wrong way during lane switching while using the technology.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, using full self-driving activated, “came to an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to drive into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the junction”.

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

Additional Issues Identified

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an junction with FSD engaged, did not stay stationary for the duration of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the car's display”.

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

Continuing Official Examination

The full self-driving system, which is more advanced than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the agency began an inquiry into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, fog or dust clouds. One such accident, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “designed for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is ready to assume control at any moment. While these features are engineered to become more capable, the currently enabled functions do not make the vehicle autonomous.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from safety agencies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.