Tesla has reported five new crashes involving its robotaxi fleet in Austin, Texas, bringing the total to 14 incidents since the service began operating in June 2025. The latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals a crash rate higher than typical human drivers, amid ongoing scrutiny of the autonomous system. One earlier incident has been updated to include a hospitalization.
Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, launched as a pilot in June 2025 with a fleet of Model Y vehicles equipped with the company's autonomous driving system. Initially, rides required a safety monitor in the front passenger seat, but in late January 2026, Tesla began offering unsupervised rides. The service now allows hailing via the Robotaxi app, though availability remains limited with around 42 active vehicles in Austin and low utilization rates.
According to the latest update to the NHTSA's Standing General Order database, Tesla submitted five new crash reports in January 2026 for incidents occurring in December 2025 and January 2026. All involved Model Y robotaxis with the autonomous driving system verified engaged. The crashes included: a collision with a fixed object at 17 mph while driving straight; a crash with a bus while the Tesla was stationary; a collision with a heavy truck at 4 mph; and two backing incidents—one into a pole or tree at 1 mph and another into a fixed object at 2 mph. Narratives for these and all prior Tesla incidents are redacted as "confidential business information," unlike reports from competitors such as Waymo and Zoox.
This brings the total to 14 crashes over approximately 800,000 cumulative paid miles, equating to one crash every 57,000 miles. Tesla's own Vehicle Safety Report states that the average U.S. driver experiences a minor collision every 229,000 miles, making the robotaxi rate nearly four times higher. Compared to the NHTSA's broader average of one crash per 500,000 miles, the rate is about eight times worse. Notably, all miles were driven with safety monitors present, who could intervene.
Additionally, Tesla revised a July 2025 crash report (ID 13781-11375)—originally listed as property damage only—to include a minor injury with hospitalization, submitted in December 2025. Two incidents from July and October 2025 involved minor injuries overall.
Weeks after launch, NHTSA began investigating videos showing erratic behavior, such as driving on the wrong side of the road and sudden braking. Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated in January 2026, "the company is moving into a future that is based on autonomy." Analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush predicts expansion to seven U.S. cities in the first half of 2026 and half of states by year-end. Tesla operates about 500 Model Y robotaxis across Austin and the Bay Area but is scaling cautiously. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
