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US automobile safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches after numerous accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Breaches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 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 breached road safety regulations”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before potentially seeking a recall of the cars if the agency concludes they present a danger to road safety.

Alarming Case Findings

The regulatory body reported it had documented accounts of nearly 3 million Tesla vehicles driving through red traffic lights and moving in the wrong direction during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla car, operating with FSD engaged, “came to an intersection with a red light, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was later part of a crash with other cars in the junction”.

The authority noted that four accidents had resulted in injuries to occupants.

Further Issues Identified

The NHTSA stated it has identified 18 complaints and one news account claiming that Tesla vehicles, operating at an intersection with FSD active, “failed to remain stopped for the entire time of a red light, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and show the proper traffic signal state in the vehicle interface”.

Several reporters also stated that FSD “did not provide warnings of the system's planned actions as the vehicle was approaching a red traffic signal”.

Continuing Official Examination

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

In late 2024, the agency started an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla cars using FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or dust clouds. One of these collisions, in last year, was deadly.

Manufacturer's Official Stance

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

Self-driving car systems continue to face growing examination from regulatory bodies as the systems develop and practical implementation reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.