US Authorities Begin Probe into Self-Driving Teslas After Series of Crashes

American vehicle safety authorities have opened an examination into Tesla vehicles featuring the full self-driving technology due to safety regulation breaches following multiple accidents.

Regulatory Body Identifies Safety Regulation Violations

The NHTSA stated that the electric carmaker's self-driving assistance system, which demands drivers to stay alert and take control when necessary, had “induced vehicle behaviour that breached traffic safety laws”.

This initial assessment by the NHTSA marks the first step before possibly requesting a recall of the vehicles if the authority concludes they present a danger to public safety.

Alarming Incident Reports

The agency reported it had documented reports of 2.88 million Tesla vehicles running red lights and moving against the incorrect way during lane changes while operating the system.

NHTSA confirmed it has six documented cases in which a Tesla vehicle, using FSD activated, “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, proceeded to drive into the intersection despite the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other cars in the intersection”.

The agency reported that four crashes had caused injuries to occupants.

Further Safety Concerns

The NHTSA announced it has identified 18 reports and one media report alleging that Tesla cars, operating at an intersection with FSD engaged, “failed to remain stationary for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or did not properly recognize and display the correct light status in the car's display”.

Some complainants also claimed that FSD “failed to give alerts of the system's planned behaviour as the car was coming to a red light”.

Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny

Tesla's FSD, which is more sophisticated than its basic autopilot feature, has been being examined by NHTSA for twelve months.

In late 2024, the authority began an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD after four documented crashes in conditions of poor visibility, such as sun glare, mist or airborne dust. One such accident, in 2023, was fatal.

Company's Official Stance

The company's official position indicates that FSD is “intended for use with a fully attentive motorist, who has their hands on the wheel and is prepared to assume control at any time. While these features are engineered to improve over time, the currently enabled functions do not make the car self-driving.”

Self-driving car systems continue to face increased scrutiny from safety agencies as the technology advances and real-world testing reveals potential challenges with existing deployments.