Imagine driving down the highway, feeling confident in your vehicle's advanced driver-assistance system, only to have it fail to recognize a red traffic light. This is the reality for some Tesla owners, and it's caught the attention of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency is now investigating 2.88 million Tesla vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software over reports of traffic safety violations and crashes.
The probe is reviewing 58 reports of issues involving traffic safety violations when using FSD, including 14 crashes and 23 injuries. According to the NHTSA, Tesla's FSD system has 'induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.' But what exactly does that mean?
In simple terms, the FSD system has allowed vehicles to drive through red traffic lights and even travel against the proper direction of travel during a lane change. But here's where it gets controversial: some owners have reported that Tesla's system is not recognizing traffic signals, resulting in vehicles proceeding through red lights and stopping at green lights.
One driver in Houston reported to the NHTSA that FSD 'is not recognizing traffic signals. This results in the vehicle proceeding through red lights, and stopping at green lights.' The complaint added that 'Tesla doesn't want to fix it, or even acknowledge the problem, even though they've done a test drive with me and seen the issue with their own eyes.'
The investigation is a preliminary evaluation, which is the first step before the agency could seek a recall of the vehicles if it believes they pose an unreasonable risk to safety. And this is the part most people miss: a recall could follow if NHTSA finds safety risks, which would impact not just Tesla owners but also the broader public.
Tesla's FSD system, which is more advanced than its Autopilot system, has been under investigation by the NHTSA for a year. In October 2024, the agency began an inquiry into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD after four reported collisions in conditions of reduced roadway visibility.
So, what does this mean for Tesla owners and the future of autonomous driving? The NHTSA investigation into Tesla should serve as a wake-up call for the industry as a whole. As Professor Oliver Carsten of the University of Leeds noted, 'We are seeing an increasing number of systems on the market that blur the line between assistance and automation.'
The investigation also raises questions about Tesla's other automated vehicle features, which have drawn agency scrutiny. In January, the NHTSA opened an investigation into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles over reports of crashes involving a feature that lets users move their cars remotely.
What do you think? Should the NHTSA investigate Tesla's FSD system further? Do you think a recall is necessary? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
