Tesla Faces Federal Investigation Over Self-Driving Software

Tesla is currently facing a federal inquiry due to numerous reports indicating that its fully self-driving (FSD) software has violated traffic regulations and been involved in at least six accidents, with four resulting in injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported on October 7 that it had received a minimum of 18 complaints regarding Tesla vehicles using self-driving features improperly, including incidents of running red lights and swerving into oncoming traffic.

In several instances, the software failed to react correctly to red lights—either stopping but not proceeding or not recognizing them at all. One incident highlighted by the NHTSA involved a Tesla that “entered an intersection with a red light, continued through it, and subsequently collided with another vehicle.”

Additional complaints assert that Tesla vehicles crossed double yellow lines, drifted into oncoming traffic, and even attempted to turn the wrong way onto streets. There have also been reports of vehicles going straight through intersections from right-turn lanes or executing right turns from straight-through lanes.

The complaints emphasized that the FSD system did not adequately warn drivers about its operations.

NHTSA stated that the investigation would determine whether Tesla offered sufficient warnings or opportunities for drivers to regain control before sudden car maneuvers occurred.

There are claims suggesting that FSD performed lane changes into oncoming traffic without adequate notice to the driver, leaving little time to intervene, according to NHTSA.

The agency has categorized Tesla’s self-driving mode as a partially autonomous system, meaning drivers must remain fully responsible for vehicle operation and adherence to traffic laws.

According to Tesla’s website, when the self-driving feature is activated, it allows the car to navigate with minimal intervention, but it’s emphasized that active monitoring is essential.

As of now, Tesla has not provided any immediate comments to the requests for a response.

CEO Elon Musk remains ambitious about Tesla’s autonomous driving goals. Recently, the company began testing its long-awaited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, aiming to demonstrate the capabilities of its latest self-driving software.