My 2024 Tesla Model 3 FSD Turned Right At a Stop Light and Ignored the No Turn on Red Sign, Why Is My FSD Making Ridiculous Traffic Violations?

"My Tesla Model 3 FSD went at a red light with a posted 'no right-on-red' sign. Is anyone else experiencing this FSD problem?” 

Jordan Ring said that on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Owners Club Facebook page. He found that several other Tesla Model 3 owners say their FSD system seems to ignore "No Turn on Red" signs, attempting to turn right on red when prohibited, potentially leading to traffic violations.

Picture yourself driving your new Tesla Model 3; you turn right and see the sign that says, "No Turn On Red." However, you are in FSD, and the Model 3 turns right anyway. You see the patrol car's lights behind you and hear his siren's quick burst. He pulls you over. The police officer doesn't care that you have a self-driving Tesla. He gives you a traffic ticket.  

Jordan says, “Why is My Model 3’s FSD making these ridiculous traffic violations?”

Here is what other Tesla owners are saying. 

• Jonathan Williams says, "If you are a new FSD user, this is called FSD (supervised) for a reason. You have to monitor the car and correct any mistakes it makes. Making a right on red when it's not supposed to be common. It properly realizes the situation most of the time, but not all."
• Christine Lavoie - "Just a warning, it doesn't yield at yield signs either. I had to correct it and then google it to confirm. But as long as you pay attention, FSD is awesome!"
• Sani Abdul-Jabbar - "The car tried to go into the opposite lane straight into the oncoming traffic. Of course, I immediately took over. Let's never forget the 'supervised' part."
• Bob says, "You gotta pay attention and take over the driving. Hit cancel and record what it did. Tesla needs to get more data to make improvements. But you are solely responsible."

Tesla Model 3 owners on Reddit also have reported that their FSD system seems to ignore "No Turn on Red" signs, attempting to turn right on red when prohibited, potentially leading to traffic violations. 

Reddit user Common_Presence_1392 says,

"An issue I've noticed is with "No Turn on Red" signs. FSD seems to ignore these altogether. Instead of stopping and waiting at a red light when a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted, the car behaves as if the sign isn't there. It simply waits for a clear opening and then makes a right turn, which could easily result in a traffic violation. Given that these signs exist for safety reasons—often because of poor visibility or pedestrian crossings—it's worrying that FSD doesn't recognize them properly."

My Tesla Model Y FSD 13.2.2 is running red lights? Is anyone else experiencing this?

He says, "I've been using FSD v13.2.2 on my Model Y for Uber driving, and while the technology is impressive, I've noticed some pretty concerning behavior. There have been at least three separate instances where my Tesla started driving through an intersection while the light was still red." 

This wasn't a case of the car hesitating or creeping forward—it actually proceeded through the red light on its own. Luckily, no cars were coming, but it was an unsettling experience.

This issue has made me question how well Tesla's FSD handles traffic light recognition and decision-making. I understand that no system is perfect, but running red lights is a serious safety risk. It makes me feel like I constantly need to be extra alert, ready to intervene at any moment—defeating the purpose of having FSD in the first place.

I really hope Tesla improves these issues in the next update. While I love the idea of Full Self-Driving, basic traffic law compliance is non-negotiable. If FSD is going to be truly reliable, it must recognize and respect red lights and traffic signs with 100% accuracy—not just most of the time.

Let's hope Tesla is aware of this and is working on fixes in upcoming versions.

Brilliant_Extension4 says, 

"I noticed the FSD ignoring No Turn On Red signs as well. This and running red light issues have to do with insufficient training to recognize red lights and road signs." 

"They should be able to fix this. Another issue I noticed is that FSD sometimes would stay on a lane marked Left Turn only and then try to go straight. Not sure how to solve this problem, though, because often you cannot see the marks until you get close, or sometimes you cannot even see the marks as cars cover them. 

Eventually, the FSD would need to be trained by images and updated road maps."

Here's a summary of the issue and some related discussions: 

• Problem: FSD sometimes fails to recognize or respect "No Turn on Red" signs, causing the car to proceed with a right turn on a red light even when prohibited.
• Safety Concerns: This behavior raises safety concerns, especially at intersections with poor visibility or pedestrian crossings, where such signs are often posted.
• Possible Causes: Some users speculate that this could be a mapping issue or a problem with the system's ability to accurately interpret traffic signs.
• User Experiences: Some users report that FSD sometimes obeys "No Turn on Red" signs and sometimes doesn't, even at nearby intersections.

Others have found that FSD will stop at the line at a green light when it should be turning right.

Some users have had to intervene and stop the car when FSD attempted to turn right on red.

• Tesla's Response: As of now, Tesla has not made a public statement addressing this issue. However, your voice can urge them to take action.
• User Suggestions: Some users suggest that Tesla knows about the problem and is working on fixes in upcoming versions of FSD.

Conclusion and Questions for Tesla Owners

I recently wrote a report: I Was Told By Tesla To Disregard Some Traffic Rules When I Was Training Autopilot's Software.

Check out the revealing story here.

Have You Had Problems With Tesla's FSD? 

Do you own a Tesla Model 3? Your experiences and insights are valuable. Share them with us. Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl