Article Summary
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla's Full Self-Driving system across 2.9 million vehicles after receiving over 50 crash reports, including incidents where the system failed to obey traffic signals, resulting in injuries and deaths.
- NHTSA investigation covers 2.9 million Tesla vehicles in the United States
- Over 50 crash reports linked to FSD, including at least two fatalities
- Key safety issues: FSD fails to obey traffic lights and stop signs, makes unsafe turns, and reacts slowly to changing conditions
- System relies on cameras rather than radar, leaving it vulnerable in low-visibility conditions like fog, glare, and dust
- Regulators will review whether Tesla's driver monitoring systems provide adequate warnings and if recent software updates improved or worsened safety
Toronto, Ontario -- U.S. federal safety regulators are opening a new investigation into Tesla’s full self-driving system, known as FSD.
The announcement comes after dozens of crashes and traffic violations were reported while the technology was active. The review covers about 2.9 million vehicles -- nearly every Tesla int he country.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the probe will look at whether FSD fails to obey traffic lights or stop signs, makes unsafe turns, or reacts too slowly to changing conditions.
The agency said it has received more than fifty reports of crashes and other incidents linked to FSD, including several cases where cars drove through red lights and hit other vehicles. Some of those crashes caused injuries, and at least two have been linked to deaths.
Tesla has not issued a public press release about the investigation, but the company has repeatedly said that FSD does not make a vehicle autonomous and that drivers must stay alert and ready to take control at all times.
FSD is designed to let cars handle many parts of driving, including steering, braking, lane changes and following navigation routes on city streets. However, the driver remains legally responsible for the vehicle’s actions.
NHTSA’s own statement said the new probe will review whether Tesla’s monitoring systems give drivers enough warning before something goes wrong, and whether recent software updates improved safety or made it worse. A spokesperson said the agency will “take all appropriate action” if it finds the system creates an unreasonable risk to the public.
The investigation adds to years of scrutiny over Tesla’s self-driving claims. Earlier reviews have focused on cars colliding with stopped emergency vehicles or failing to recognize hazards in low-visibility conditions.
Several high-profile crashes have raised questions about the reliability of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system and how well it handles real-world conditions.
One of the most serious cases occurred in Arizona in 2023, when a Tesla using FSD struck and killed a pedestrian walking along the roadside in bright sunlight. Investigators later determined that glare and visibility may have confused the car’s sensors, causing it to misread its surroundings and fail to slow down.
In another series of incidents, Teslas running FSD drove through red lights and collided with cross-traffic. At least six such crashes have been reported across several states, with four resulting in injuries. In one Maryland community, multiple collisions happened at the same intersection, leading investigators to suspect the system may be consistently misreading that traffic signal or the layout of the junction itself.
Regulators have also highlighted four crashes that occurred in reduced-visibility conditions such as fog, heavy glare and airborne dust. In one of those cases, a driver was killed. These events have been tied to FSD’s reliance on cameras rather than radar, which can leave it blind when lighting or weather changes rapidly.
In 2024, a Tesla operating under FSD in Snohomish County, Washington, hit a motorcyclist from behind, killing them instantly. Data logs later confirmed the self-driving system was active at the time. Another fatal incident in California involved a Tesla striking a motorcyclist lying on the road while automation was engaged.
