Khaberni - The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the opening of an official investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) program.
This followed reports that the software had caused vehicles to run red lights or enter opposing traffic lanes.
More than 50 reports of incidents linked to the program have been recorded, including four confirmed injuries, according to the agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI).
The investigation includes reports of Tesla vehicles not stopping at red lights or restarting during a stop, in addition to instances of veering into the opposite lane or attempting to turn in the wrong direction despite warning signs, according to a report published by TechCrunch and reviewed by 'Alarabiya Business'.
The new investigation comes after previous investigations related to the less advanced "Autopilot" system, which has been linked to 13 fatal accidents.
Although this investigation was closed in April 2024, a separate investigation into the effectiveness of updates issued by Tesla for that system remains open.
Field investigation in Maryland
The office explained that it is working in cooperation with the Maryland State Police and the local transportation authority to investigate the recurrence of malfunctions at a specific intersection in Joppa, where several similar violations have been recorded.
The agency mentioned that Tesla has taken corrective actions to address the problem at this location.
The new investigation was opened in the same week that Tesla launched the latest version of the full self-driving program, which was widely promoted by CEO Elon Musk, relying on experimental data collected by the company during its autonomous taxi program in Austin, Texas.
Agency reports indicate that some drivers complained that the program makes sudden lane changes without sufficient warning or turns from a lane designated for straight-through traffic, which could endanger drivers and pedestrians.
The first step towards the potential recall of vehicles
This step is classified within the "Preliminary Evaluation" phase, which is the initial stage of the investigation that could later lead to a vehicle recall (Recall) if a defect in the software is proven.
The agency aims to complete the investigation within eight months, but the timeline may be impacted by a potential government shutdown in Washington.
The investigation comes months after Musk's administration reduced the number of safety specialists in self-driving vehicles within NHTSA, which has raised questions about the agency's ability to monitor rapid advancements in autonomous driving technology.
