Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ software under investigation for traffic safety violations

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving tech aft receiving reports that the bundle caused vehicles to tally reddish lights oregon transverse into incorrect lanes.

The probe, which identified much than 50 reports of these kinds of violations (four of which led to injuries), is 1 of the archetypal specifically targeted astatine Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) operator assistance software. The NHTSA antecedently opened an probe into FSD successful October 2024 aft receiving reports of crashes successful low-visibility conditions.

The national information bureau successful April 2024 closed an probe into Tesla’s less-capable Autopilot system aft identifying 13 fatal crashes related to the misuse of that software. A abstracted probe into the efficacy of the hole Tesla issued to Autopilot remains open.

The caller probe was opened the aforesaid week that Tesla released the latest mentation of the software, which CEO Elon Musk has spent months hyping up. This caller mentation is expected to incorporated grooming information that Tesla acquired during its constricted robotaxi pilot, presently underway successful Austin, Texas.

The information agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) said connected Thursday that it has received astatine slightest 18 complaints and 1 media study alleging that Tesla’s FSD bundle failed to halt the car oregon enactment stopped astatine reddish lights. In addition, ODI said it identified six reports from Tesla nether the agency’s Standing General Order for Crash Reporting (SGO), which requires companies to taxable accusation astir crashes involving autonomous oregon partially autonomous cars.

ODI said it has already worked with Maryland’s Transportation Authority and its State Police to find if immoderate of the reddish airy problems are repeatable, since “multiple taxable incidents occurred astatine the aforesaid intersection successful Joppa, Maryland.” Tesla has already “taken enactment to code the contented astatine this intersection,” according to the NHTSA.

ODI besides said connected Thursday it had identified 18 complaints, 2 media reports, and 2 SGO reports from Tesla astir instances successful which FSD “entered opposing lanes of question during oregon pursuing a turn, crossed double-yellow lane markings portion proceeding straight, oregon attempted to crook onto a roadworthy successful the incorrect absorption contempt the beingness of wrong-way roadworthy signs.”

ODI said it has identified six complaints, 1 media report, and 4 SGO reports wherever a Tesla with FSD engaged drove consecutive done an intersection from a crook lane, oregon turned from a done lane.

“Some of the reported incidents appeared to impact FSD executing a lane alteration into an opposing lane of question with small announcement to a operator oregon accidental to intervene,” ODI wrote.

ODI opened what’s known arsenic a “Preliminary Evaluation,” 1 of the archetypal steps it tin instrumentality connected the mode to requiring a recall. The bureau said it typically tries to implicit these investigations wrong 8 months, though it’s unclear if the national authorities shutdown would impact the timeline.

Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency earlier this twelvemonth reportedly made melodramatic cuts to NHTSA’s vehicle automation information staff.