The invention discloses a traffic light system for automatically identifying a breakdown. The system includes a traffic light which can emit traffic signals. The system also includes an image acquisition apparatus which acquires images of vehicles running a red light, a controller and a wireless signal transmitting apparatus. The controller performs control, and when there is vehicles running the red light with a number greater than a threshold in 10 vehicles which pass by the traffic light in a row, controls the wireless signal transmitting apparatus to transmit breakdown information of the traffic light to a remote monitoring chamber. According to the invention, the system can realize automatic checkout of breakdown, and avoids damages to traffic brought by late maintenance to a damaged traffic light.