Federal auto safety regulators have launched an investigation into Tesla‘s (Nasdaq: TSLA) Full Self-Driving technology following dozens of reports that vehicles using the system violated traffic laws and caused crashes.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed the investigation Thursday, covering approximately 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD software. The agency identified 58 incidents in which the cars ran red lights, drove into oncoming traffic, or committed other safety violations.
Regulators are examining whether the system provides drivers with enough notice to take control when it malfunctions and whether operators have reasonable opportunity to prevent violations. The 58 incidents included 14 crashes that resulted in 23 injuries.
Regulators said they are particularly concerned about the software’s handling of railroad crossings after receiving complaints that Tesla vehicles sometimes fail to stop at train tracks. In coordination with Maryland state police, investigators identified a pattern of repeated failures at one Joppa intersection, though Tesla has since addressed that specific location.
The investigation is one of several ongoing federal probes into Tesla’s driver-assistance features, which CEO Elon Musk has promoted as a pathway to fully autonomous vehicles. Tesla has consistently stated that FSD requires constant driver supervision and that humans must be ready to take control at any time.
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- Federal Judge Approves Tesla Class Action Over Self-Driving Claims
NHTSA typically completes preliminary evaluations within eight months. Such investigations can lead to vehicle recalls.
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