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Federal Regulators Launch Probe into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Software Amid Safety Concerns
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a broad investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, focusing on how the semi-autonomous system navigates critical traffic situations, including railroad crossings and adherence to traffic laws. The federal agency’s probe encompasses approximately 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with the FSD software.
This comprehensive investigation follows a surge of complaints from drivers, alongside an NBC News report published in September that highlighted potential flaws in the system. Drivers have reported incidents where FSD-enabled vehicles allegedly drove through red lights or operated on the wrong side of the road. A key area of concern for NHTSA, and a subject of the NBC News investigation, is the software’s performance at railroad crossings, where some Tesla vehicles reportedly failed to stop, even when warning lights were flashing and gate arms were lowering.
NHTSA stated that while many behaviors under scrutiny occur at intersections, its investigation will also cover other scenarios, such as traveling adjacent to opposing traffic lanes and approaching railroad crossings. The agency will assess whether the FSD system provides drivers with sufficient notice and opportunity to intervene when errors occur, noting that some reported incidents offered “little notice to a driver.”
The agency has identified 18 complaints and one media report alleging that Tesla vehicles in FSD mode either failed to remain stopped at a red traffic signal, did not come to a full stop, or inaccurately displayed the traffic signal state to the driver. Six of these incidents reportedly resulted in crashes with other vehicles at intersections, with four cases leading to one or more reported injuries. Notably, multiple incidents were reported at a single intersection in Maryland, prompting Tesla to take action to address the issue there.
Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation.
While Tesla itself cautions drivers that FSD software does not render its vehicles fully autonomous and requires constant driver supervision, Musk has sometimes made stronger claims. In August, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that, with FSD, Tesla vehicles “can drive themselves,” a statement experts contend is not supported by current evidence. FSD is offered to owners and lease-holders as a subscription for $99 a month or a one-time fee of $8,000.
The NHTSA investigation is currently in its preliminary stages. Potential outcomes vary, ranging from no further action by the agency to a mandatory software update or a recall of the FSD software. Earlier this week, Tesla released an update to its FSD software, version 14, though it remains unclear how this new version addresses the issues outlined in NHTSA’s investigation announcement.