U.S. auto safety officials have launched a probe into Tesla following reports that cars equipped with its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology were involved in traffic violations, such as running red lights, while functioning under the company’s semi-autonomous driving system.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported it has identified 58 incidents involving Tesla’s system, including instances where vehicles traveled the wrong way on roads or ran red lights at intersections. According to a filing on the agency’s website, the preliminary investigation involves approximately 2.9 million vehicles in the U.S.
Some of the reported incidents resulted in crashes and injuries, but no fatalities have been reported. The NHTSA noted that in at least six instances, vehicles using FSD drove through red lights at intersections and crashed into other cars. Moreover, several of these incidents happened at the same intersection in Maryland, prompting Tesla to implement corrective measures.
The investigation broadens NHTSA’s ongoing review of Tesla’s driver-assistance systems, which are already being examined for issues related to the Autopilot system, vehicle door functionality, and adherence to crash-reporting rules. Last year, the agency also began assessing whether the Full Self-Driving system can accurately identify and react to fog and other low-visibility scenarios.
Full Self-Driving remains central to CEO Elon Musk’s vision for achieving fully autonomous vehicles. Although Tesla currently mandates that drivers stay attentive while using the system, Musk has indicated that in certain states, driver supervision might soon no longer be necessary when FSD is engaged.
The investigation seeks to assess how widespread and frequent the reported issues are, as well as any potential safety risks. If significant flaws are identified, it could result in additional regulatory measures.
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