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US automobile safety regulators have opened an probe into Tesla cars equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after several collisions.

Regulatory Body Finds Safety Regulation Breaches

The federal safety agency declared that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and intervene if needed, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly seeking a recall of the cars if the authority concludes they pose a risk to public safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body stated it had documented reports of nearly 3 million Tesla cars running red lights and moving in the incorrect direction during lane switching while operating the technology.

NHTSA stated it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently part of a collision with other cars in the intersection”.

The authority reported that four crashes had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has found 18 complaints and one media report claiming that Tesla cars, driving through an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stopped 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 vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide alerts of the technology's planned behaviour as the vehicle was coming to a red traffic signal”.

Ongoing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the agency began an investigation into over two million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in situations of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

Tesla's website states that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the steering wheel and is ready to take over at any moment. While these capabilities are engineered to improve over time, the presently active functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Automated car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the technology advances and practical implementation reveals possible issues with existing deployments.