Tesla Robotaxis Involved in 14 Crashes in Austin Since 2025 Launch

No injuries reported, but crashes resulted in property damage, according to NHTSA data.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Tesla's self-driving robotaxi service in Austin, Texas has been involved in 14 crashes since launching in June 2025, according to data disclosed to federal safety regulators. The crashes resulted in property damage, with two earlier incidents causing minor injuries. Tesla has not commented on the crashes, but automakers with autonomous driving systems are required to report such data to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Why it matters

Tesla's robotaxi program is a key part of the company's future autonomous vehicle strategy, with CEO Elon Musk saying they expect to manufacture "far more Cybercabs than all of our other vehicles combined." The Austin crashes raise concerns about the safety and reliability of Tesla's self-driving technology as the company looks to rapidly expand its robotaxi service across the U.S.

The details

According to NHTSA data, the five most recent Tesla robotaxi crashes in Austin occurred in December and January, with no injuries reported. Two earlier incidents in July and October 2025 did result in minor injuries. The crashes involved the robotaxis colliding with other vehicles or fixed objects. NHTSA said it contacted Tesla after videos surfaced showing the self-driving taxis driving erratically, including going the wrong way and braking suddenly.

  • The Tesla robotaxi service launched in Austin in June 2025.
  • The 14 crashes occurred since the service launched in Austin.
  • The five most recent crashes happened in December 2025 and January 2026.
  • Two earlier crashes in July and October 2025 resulted in minor injuries.

The players

Tesla

An American electric vehicle and clean energy company that produces vehicles, energy storage products, and related products.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The federal agency responsible for regulating and setting safety standards for motor vehicles and equipment in the United States.

Elon Musk

The CEO of Tesla, who has said the company plans to greatly expand its self-driving taxi business.

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What’s next

NHTSA said it will continue to monitor the safety of Tesla's robotaxi service and take action if it finds any safety defects.

The takeaway

The crashes involving Tesla's self-driving robotaxis in Austin raise concerns about the reliability and safety of the company's autonomous driving technology as it looks to rapidly expand its robotaxi service across the U.S. Regulators will be closely watching Tesla's progress to ensure public safety is prioritized.