The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into nearly 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software.
A report by Reuters and a number of US news agency suggest that the scaling up of the NHTSA’s scrutiny on the EV car brand follows dozens of reports alleging that the driver-assistance system violated traffic laws and was involved in a series of crashes.
The federal safety agency said it has received 58 reports, including 14 crashes and 23 injuries, involving vehicles operating under Tesla’s FSD system. According to the NHTSA, FSD has on occasion “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws,” including proceeding through red traffic lights and travelling against the proper direction of traffic during lane changes.
Potential Recall if Risks Are Found
The probe — classified as a preliminary evaluation — is the first step before regulators could demand a recall if they determine that the vehicles pose an unreasonable safety risk, reported Reuters.
Tesla’s FSD system, which requires drivers to remain attentive and ready to take control, is considered more advanced than its Autopilot system but does not make the vehicle fully autonomous.
The agency confirmed that it is also reviewing incidents in which Teslas reportedly failed to recognise railroad crossings or stop correctly at intersections. Six crashes under review involved cars driving into intersections on red lights, with four resulting in injuries.
Tesla has not commented publicly on the investigation but is reported to have issued a software update to the FSD system this week. Shares in the company fell 2.1% in early trading following Reuters’ report on the probe.
Broader Scrutiny of Automation Claims
The investigation comes amid growing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over the marketing and safety of advanced driver-assistance technologies. Earlier, Democratic senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal urged the NHTSA to review FSD after a rise in reported near-collisions at intersections and railway crossings.
Professor Oliver Carsten, a transport safety expert at the University of Leeds, said the investigation “should serve as a wake-up call for Europe. We are seeing an increasing number of systems that blur the line between assistance and automation.”
The latest probe builds on a series of ongoing NHTSA reviews into Tesla’s driver-assist technologies. In October 2024, the agency opened an inquiry into 2.4 million vehicles equipped with FSD following crashes in conditions of low visibility, including a 2023 fatal accident.
Tesla maintains that FSD “will drive you almost anywhere with your active supervision, requiring minimal intervention,” but stresses that the system does not make the vehicle self-driving.
