NHTSA opens investigation into Tesla's full self-driving software
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a probe into Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature following reports of vehicles running red lights and entering oncoming lanes. The investigation covers nearly 2.9 million vehicles and stems from dozens of incidents, including crashes and injuries. Regulators are examining whether the system provides adequate warnings to drivers.
On October 10, 2025, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a preliminary evaluation of Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, a Level 2 driver-assistance system that requires active driver supervision. The probe was triggered by at least 18 complaints and additional reports detailing 50 to 58 incidents where FSD-equipped Teslas violated traffic laws, such as failing to stop at red lights or veering into opposing lanes.
According to NHTSA's October 7 report, common scenarios include vehicles proceeding through intersections against red signals, with six such cases resulting in crashes involving other motor vehicles. Four of these crashes caused injuries, contributing to a total of nearly two dozen injuries across 10 incidents, alongside 14 crashes or fires. Complainants reported that the system provided no warnings before unexpected maneuvers, such as lane changes into oncoming traffic or crossing double-yellow lines.
The investigation affects 2.9 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD, which relies solely on cameras for navigation. Tesla maintains that drivers remain fully responsible for compliance with traffic laws and must intervene as needed. However, experts question the software's reliability. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein asked, “The ultimate question is, ‘Does the software work?’” Money manager Ross Gerber added, “The world has become a giant testing ground for Elon’s concept of full self-driving, and it’s not working.”
This probe adds to ongoing NHTSA investigations into Tesla's features, including low-visibility crashes and delayed crash reporting. It comes amid Elon Musk's promises to deploy hundreds of thousands of driverless taxis by the end of 2026, despite recent sales struggles and a recent Miami jury awarding over $240 million in a separate Autopilot-related case. Tesla's stock dipped 0.7% on the announcement day. NHTSA aims to assess if FSD adequately allows driver intervention.