U.S. federal authorities are launching an investigation into Tesla’s full self-driving technology due to numerous incidents involving Tesla vehicles running red lights or driving on the wrong side of the road, resulting in crashes and injuries to individuals.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration disclosed that they have received 58 reports of Tesla vehicles violating traffic laws while in full self-driving mode. Many Tesla drivers reported that the cars did not provide any warning about these unexpected behaviors.
The investigation will encompass 2,882,566 vehicles, which includes all Teslas equipped with full self-driving technology. This technology includes two types: Level 2 driver-assistance software, which requires drivers to remain attentive, and a version that Tesla is still testing, designed to operate without driver intervention.
The latest probe adds to a series of investigations into Tesla’s full self-driving feature, which has been linked to various accidents and fatalities. Tesla has emphasized that the system does not replace human drivers and that driver intervention is necessary at all times.
Additionally, Tesla is facing scrutiny for its “summon” technology, which enables drivers to instruct their cars to drive to them, leading to minor accidents in parking lots. Last year, an investigation was initiated into driver-assistance features in 2.4 million Teslas following multiple crashes in low-visibility conditions, including a fatal pedestrian accident.
Further, the NHTSA is examining why Tesla has allegedly not promptly reported crashes to the agency as required. Elon Musk is facing pressure to demonstrate that the latest advancements in Tesla’s driver-assistance features have resolved issues and are reliable enough for drivers to trust them completely.
Musk has also made commitments to deploy hundreds of thousands of self-driving Tesla cars and Tesla robotaxis on the roads by the end of the upcoming year. Following these developments, Tesla’s shares experienced a 1.4% decline on Thursday.
