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US launches probe on nearly 2.9 Million Teslas for FSD traffic violations

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Thursday that they are opening an investigation regarding 2,88 million Tesla cars equipped with the Full Self-Driving System over traffic safety violations following a series crashes.

The auto safety agency stated that FSD, an assistance system which requires drivers to be attentive and intervene when needed, has "induced vehicle behaviors that violated traffic laws".

The agency reported that it had received reports of Tesla cars driving through red lights or driving in the wrong direction during a lane-change while using the system.

If NHTSA finds safety risks, a recall could follow.

NHTSA reported that it had six reports where a Tesla car, with FSD activated, "approached a traffic intersection with a flashing red light, continued into the intersection and was then involved in a collision with other motor vehicle in the intersection."

NHTSA reported that four accidents resulted in injuries.

Tesla didn't immediately respond to our request for a comment.

The agency will first conduct a preliminary assessment before deciding whether to recall the vehicle if they believe it poses an unreasonable safety risk.

NHTSA has said that it has identified 18 complaints, and one media report, alleging Tesla vehicles operating at an intersection where FSD was engaged "failed either to stop completely, or did not accurately detect and display in the vehicle interface the correct traffic sign state."

FSD, according to some complainants, "didn't provide warnings about the system’s intended behavior when the vehicle approached a red signal."

NHTSA has been investigating Tesla's FSD system for over a year. It is far more advanced than Autopilot.

The agency started an investigation in October 2024 into the 2.4 million Tesla cars equipped with FSD. This was after four collisions were reported under conditions of reduced road visibility such as fog, sun glare or airborne dust. One fatal accident occurred in 2023. Reporting by David Shepardson. (Editing by Sharon Singleton, Mark Potter and Mark Potter.

(source: Reuters)