The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary investigation into Tesla vehicles equipped with its full self-driving (FSD) technology after a series of crashes involving traffic-safety violations.
The agency said it had received reports of Teslas driving through red traffic lights and driving against the direction of travel during lane changes while in FSD mode. The system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and ready to intervene, allegedly induced behaviour that violated traffic laws.
NHTSA reported six incidents where a Tesla with FSD engaged entered an intersection against a red light and collided with other vehicles, resulting in injuries in four cases. Additionally, 18 complaints and one media report alleged that FSD failed to stop fully at red lights or did not provide adequate warnings.
The investigation covers approximately 2.88 million vehicles. This follows a separate NHTSA inquiry into 2.4 million Teslas with FSD after four crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one fatal collision in 2023.
Tesla has not commented on the investigation. The company states that FSD is intended for use by a fully attentive driver who is prepared to take over at any moment.
