Feds find more complaints of Tesla’s FSD running red lights and crossing lanes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified at least 80 instances in which Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (supervised) software violated the rules of the road by running red lights or crossing into the wrong lane, according to a new letter sent to the automaker this week.

NHTSA said in the letter that it received 62 complaints from Tesla drivers, 14 reports filed by Tesla, and four media reports describing potential violations. That’s up from about 50 violations NHTSA cited when it opened an investigation into the conduct in October.

According to the letter, the Federal Safety Agency’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is investigating whether Tesla’s driver assistance software can “accurately detect and appropriately respond to traffic signals, signs, and lane markings.” ODI is also evaluating whether Tesla’s software provides adequate warnings to drivers in these situations. Tesla’s responses are scheduled to expire on January 19, 2026.

The increase in complaints is notable in part because the original batch reported by ODI in October included multiple reports from a particular intersection in Joppa, Maryland. Tesla told the agency at the time that it had “already taken action to address the issue at this intersection.” The agency did not specify the geographic location where these newly reported incidents occurred. Tesla is significantly refining its submissions to the agency.

The new letter was sent to Tesla the same week that CEO Elon Musk claimed in a post on X that the latest version of FSD would allow drivers to text and drive while using driver assistance software, which is illegal in almost every state. NHTSA did not respond to requests for comment on Musk’s statement.

The letter is intended to begin the discovery process for NHTSA, and as such it details a number of information requests the agency has made to Tesla. For example, the agency is requesting data on the number of Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD, as well as the number of times the software has been run. ODI is also asking Tesla to hand over any customer complaints it has received regarding these specific issues with the FSD, including from fleet operators and from any third-party lawsuits or arbitration proceedings.

This is the second investigation NHTSA has opened into Tesla’s FSD program. In October 2024, the agency began an investigation into how FSD handles low-visibility situations such as fog or intense sunlight.