Tesla Under Federal Investigation Over FSD-Related Traffic Violations and Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a federal investigation into approximately 2.9 million Tesla vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology and have been implicated in 58 traffic safety violations leading to crashes and injuries.
This probe signifies one of the most substantial regulatory challenges Tesla’s autonomous driving ambitions have faced to date. As per NHTSA filings, Tesla vehicles utilizing FSD have been reported for running red lights, driving into oncoming traffic, and making improper lane changes without sufficient driver warning.
The investigation encompasses incidents where FSD “induced vehicle behavior that violated traffic safety laws.” This includes 14 crashes resulting in 23 injuries.
The timing of this probe is critical for Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk has pledged to deploy hundreds of thousands of self-driving Tesla robotaxis by the end of 2026. The company launched FSD version 14.1 this week, integrating data from its limited robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas.
Despite these incidents, Tesla has consistently asserted that FSD requires “a fully attentive driver who is engaged in the driving task at all times.” However, the reported incidents imply that the system might be operating unpredictably.
This preliminary evaluation could potentially lead to a recall if NHTSA determines that the vehicles pose an unreasonable safety risk.