U.S. federal auto safety regulators have launched a new investigation into Tesla’s full self-driving technology following numerous incidents involving Tesla vehicles running red lights or driving on the wrong side of the road, resulting in collisions and injuries.
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been 58 incident reports of Tesla vehicles violating traffic laws while operating in full self-driving mode. Many drivers reported that the cars did not provide any warning about their erratic behavior.
The investigation covers a total of 2,882,566 vehicles, encompassing all Teslas equipped with full self-driving technology. This technology includes two types: Level 2 driver-assistance software, which demands the driver’s full attention, and a version that Tesla is still testing, designed to operate without driver intervention as per Elon Musk’s longstanding promise.
This latest probe is part of several ongoing investigations into Tesla’s full self-driving feature, which has been linked to multiple accidents and fatalities. Tesla has reiterated that its system does not enable fully autonomous driving, emphasizing the need for human drivers to be prepared to take control at any moment.
Additionally, Tesla is facing scrutiny from the NHTSA regarding its “summon” feature, which permits drivers to instruct their vehicles to drive autonomously to them, potentially causing minor accidents in parking lots. Last year, a separate investigation was initiated into the driver-assistance functions of 2.4 million Teslas due to incidents, including a fatal pedestrian accident, that occurred in foggy and low-visibility conditions.
In August, the NHTSA initiated another investigation into Tesla’s delayed reporting of crashes to the agency, as required by regulations. Elon Musk is under increasing pressure to demonstrate that recent enhancements to Tesla’s driver-assistance systems have not only resolved these issues but have also advanced to the point where drivers may not even need to monitor the road.
Moreover, Musk has made ambitious commitments to introduce hundreds of thousands of self-driving Tesla cars and Tesla robotaxis onto the streets by the end of the upcoming year. Following these developments, Tesla’s stock declined by 1.4% on Thursday.