Tesla’s “full self-driving” program is under investigation for traffic safety violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a site investigation Tesla delved into full self-driving technology after receiving reports that the software caused vehicles to run red lights or travel the wrong lanes.

The investigation, which identified more than 50 reports of these types of violations (four of which resulted in injuries), is one of the first to specifically target Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver-assistance software. NHTSA previously opened an investigation into FSD in October 2024 after receiving reports of Crashes in low visibility conditions.

In April 2024, the Federal Safety Agency closed the investigation into the Tesla case The least capable autopilot system After identifying 13 fatal incidents related to misuse of this software. A separate investigation into the effectiveness of a fix released by Tesla for the Autopilot system remains open.

The new investigation was opened the same week that Tesla released the latest version of the software, which is owned by CEO Elon Musk He spent months exaggerating. This new version is supposed to include training data obtained by Tesla during its limited pilot trial of the robotaxi, which is currently taking place in Austin, Texas.

The safety agency’s Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) said Thursday that it had received at least 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla’s FSD software failed to stop or remain stopped at red lights. Additionally, ODI said it identified six Tesla reports under the agency’s Standing General Crash Reporting Order (SGO), which requires companies to provide information about crashes involving self-driving or partially autonomous cars.

ODI said it has already worked with the Maryland Transportation Authority and state police to determine whether some of the red light issues are reproducible, given that there have been “multiple objective incidents at the same intersection in Joppa, Maryland.” Tesla has already taken “actions to address the issue at this intersection,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

ODI also said Thursday that it identified 18 complaints, two media reports and two SGO reports from Tesla about instances in which the FSD “entered opposing lanes of travel during or after a turn, crossed the double yellow lane markings while going straight, or attempted to turn onto a road in the wrong direction despite the wrong road markings.”

ODI said it identified six complaints, one media report, and four SGO reports where a Tesla with FSD drove straight through an intersection from a turn lane, or swerved from a turn lane.

“Some of the reported incidents appear to involve the FSD executing a lane change to an opposite lane of travel with little notice to the driver or opportunity to intervene,” ODI wrote.

ODI has opened what is known as a “preliminary assessment”, which is one of the first steps that can be taken on the way to a recall request. The agency said it typically tries to complete such investigations within eight months, though it is unclear whether the federal government shutdown will affect the timeline.

Musk’s Government Efficiency Administration earlier this year reportedly made major cuts to NHTSA Vehicle automation safety personnel.