The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software following reports that the system caused vehicles to run red lights and cross into oncoming lanes.
The probe, which identified over 50 reports of such violations, includes at least four incidents resulting in injuries. It marks one of the first investigations aimed directly at Tesla’s FSD driver-assistance technology.
The NHTSA had previously opened a separate investigation into FSD in October 2024 after receiving reports of crashes in low-visibility conditions. Earlier, in April 2024, the agency closed a probe into Tesla’s Autopilot system, a less advanced version of FSD, after finding 13 fatal crashes linked to software misuse.
This latest investigation comes just days after Tesla released a new version of FSD that CEO Elon Musk has touted as a major breakthrough. The update reportedly incorporates training data from Tesla’s robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas.
According to the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), at least 18 complaints and one media report allege that FSD failed to stop at red lights. In six other cases, Tesla reported crashes to the agency under its Standing General Order for Crash Reporting (SGO), which mandates disclosure of incidents involving autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles.
ODI noted multiple incidents occurred at the same intersection in Joppa, Maryland, prompting collaboration with local authorities to determine if the failures are repeatable. Tesla reportedly took steps to address that issue.
The agency also cited 18 complaints, two media reports, and two SGO reports describing FSD entering opposing lanes, crossing double-yellow lines, or attempting wrong-way turns.
“Some of the reported incidents appeared to involve FSD executing a lane change into an opposing lane of travel with little notice to a driver or opportunity to intervene,” the NHTSA wrote.
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The investigation, classified as a Preliminary Evaluation, is one of the first steps toward a potential recall. The agency aims to complete such evaluations within eight months, though current federal government staff cuts may delay progress.
Tesla’s FSD technology has long faced scrutiny from regulators and safety experts for overpromising “self-driving” capabilities while still requiring active driver supervision.
