On the Dash:
- NHTSA is investigating 58 incidents involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system, including crashes and red-light violations.
- The probe covers 2.9 million vehicles and expands existing federal scrutiny of Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies.
- Tesla’s FSD remains central to Elon Musk’s vision for driverless cars, despite ongoing safety and regulatory concerns.
U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla after reports that vehicles using its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software ran red lights and committed other traffic violations while operating under the company’s partial automation system.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is aware of 58 incidents involving the system, including cases where Teslas drove in the wrong direction on roads or through intersections against red lights. The preliminary evaluation covers roughly 2.9 million vehicles in the United States, according to a filing posted on the agency’s website.
Several of the reported incidents resulted in crashes and injuries, though no fatalities have been linked to the issue. In at least six cases, vehicles with FSD engaged entered intersections against red lights and collided with other vehicles, NHTSA said. Additionally, multiple incidents occurred at the same intersection in Maryland, where Tesla has since taken corrective action.
The probe expands NHTSA’s ongoing scrutiny of Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies, which are already under investigation for the company’s Autopilot system, door mechanisms, and compliance with crash-reporting requirements. The agency said last year it was also examining whether FSD could detect and respond appropriately to fog and other low-visibility conditions.
However, Full Self-Driving is a key component of CEO Elon Musk’s push toward fully autonomous vehicles. While Tesla requires drivers to remain attentive while using the system, Musk has suggested that in some states, drivers may soon no longer need to monitor the vehicle when FSD is active.
The investigation aims to determine the scope, frequency, and potential safety risks of the reported behavior and could lead to further regulatory action if significant defects are found.
