The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) has recognized a minimum of 80 cases wherein Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software program violated highway guidelines by working pink lights or crossing into the flawed lane, in response to a brand new letter despatched to the automaker this week.
NHTSA mentioned within the letter it has obtained 62 complaints from Tesla drivers, 14 reviews submitted by Tesla, and 4 media reviews that describe potential violations. That’s up from round 50 violations NHTSA cited when it opened an investigation into the habits in October.
The federal security company’s Workplace of Defects Investigation (ODI) is probing whether or not Tesla’s driver help software program can “precisely detect and appropriately reply to site visitors alerts, indicators and lane markings,” in response to the letter. ODI can be evaluating whether or not Tesla’s software program is offering ample warnings to drivers in these conditions. Tesla’s responses are due January 19, 2026.
The rise in complaints is notable partly as a result of the unique batch reported by ODI in October included a number of reviews from one specific intersection in Joppa, Maryland. Tesla informed the company on the time that it had already “taken motion to deal with the problem at this intersection.” The company didn’t say the place, geographically, these newly reported incidents came about. Tesla closely redacts its personal submissions to the company.
The brand new letter was despatched to Tesla the identical week that CEO Elon Musk claimed in a put up on X that the most recent model of FSD will permit drivers to textual content and drive whereas utilizing the motive force help software program, which is against the law in practically each state. NHTSA has not responded to requests for remark about Musk’s assertion.
The letter is supposed to kick off the invention course of for NHTSA, and as such it particulars numerous requests for info the company has made to Tesla. As an example, the company is asking for knowledge on what number of Tesla autos are outfitted with FSD, in addition to how typically the software program is engaged. ODI can be asking Tesla to show over any buyer complaints it has obtained concerning these particular issues with FSD, together with from fleet operators and from any lawsuits or third-party arbitration proceedings.
That is the second investigation that NHTSA has opened into Tesla’s FSD software program. In October 2024, the company started a probe into how FSD handles low-visibility conditions like fog or excessive daylight.
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