The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into 2.88 million Tesla cars equipped with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, Reuters reports.
The cause was more than 50 reports of dangerous situations and accidents. According to the agency, FSD sometimes provokes actions that contradict traffic rules: cars can run red lights or move into the oncoming lane.
Of particular concern were six incidents in which Teslas with FSD enabled drove through intersections at stop lights and were involved in crashes. The investigation will begin with a preliminary assessment, but if serious risks are identified, NHTSA may require a recall of the vehicles.
This isn't the first time Tesla has been scrutinized by the U.S. regulator. Earlier this year, the agency investigated the Smart Summon feature, which allows owners to remotely summon their cars from a parking space. Just recently, NHTSA also began inspecting the 2021 Model Y due to possible issues with door handles that could lock passengers inside.
Tesla itself insists that its system makes driving safer: according to the company, there are fewer accidents with FSD than without it. At the same time, the manufacturer tries to limit access to detailed incident statistics, citing confidentiality.
By the way, a recent survey in the US showed that Tesla's autopilot scares away customers more often than it attracts them.