Tesla Robotaxis Crash More Often Than Human Drivers

Tesla's self-driving Robotaxis have been involved in a string of collisions, raising concerns about their safety record compared to human drivers.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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According to updated filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Tesla has reported 14 crashes involving its Robotaxis since the service began operating in Austin, Texas last June. The newly reported crashes, which occurred between December 2025 and January 2026, include collisions with fixed objects, buses, trucks, and instances of the Robotaxis backing into poles or trees. Tesla's crash reports are heavily redacted, making it difficult to get a clear picture of what happened in these incidents. However, the data shows the Robotaxis are crashing at a rate four times higher than the average American driver.

Why it matters

The high crash rate of Tesla's Robotaxis raises serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the company's self-driving technology, especially when compared to competitors like Waymo which have a much better safety record. This could undermine public trust in autonomous vehicles and slow the broader adoption of this emerging transportation technology.

The details

According to the NHTSA data, Tesla's Robotaxis have been involved in 14 crashes since launching in Austin last June. The newly reported incidents include collisions at speeds ranging from 4 to 17 mph, with the Robotaxis hitting fixed objects, buses, trucks, and even backing into poles and trees. Tesla heavily redacts the details of these crashes, making it difficult to determine the exact circumstances. However, the data shows the Robotaxis are crashing at a rate of once every 57,000 miles, which is four times higher than the average American driver.

  • The Robotaxi service began operating in Austin, Texas in June 2025.
  • The 14 crashes reported by Tesla occurred between December 2025 and January 2026.

The players

Tesla

An American electric vehicle and clean energy company that has been developing self-driving Robotaxi technology.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing vehicle safety, including investigating crashes and incidents involving autonomous vehicles.

Waymo

An autonomous driving technology company that is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company. Waymo operates a fleet of self-driving vehicles in several major U.S. cities.

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What’s next

The NHTSA is expected to continue investigating Tesla's reporting practices and safety record with its Robotaxi service. Regulators may take enforcement action if the high crash rate and delayed reporting of incidents persists.

The takeaway

Tesla's Robotaxis are crashing at a rate four times higher than the average human driver, raising serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the company's self-driving technology. This could undermine public trust in autonomous vehicles and slow the broader adoption of this emerging transportation solution.