Tesla reveals details on Robotaxi crashes involving teleoperators

Tesla has disclosed that its Robotaxi network has been involved in 17 total crashes since last year, with at least two of those incidents occurring while a remote teleoperator was actively controlling the vehicle. According to newly unredacted data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the US federal regulator, both teleoperator-led crashes occurred at low speeds in Austin, Texas. In each case, a safety monitor was behind the wheel with no passengers onboard. While Tesla previously redacted descriptions of its crashes as confidential business information, the newly unredacted NHTSA data now provides narrative descriptions for all 17 crashes recorded by the network.

Tesla allows remote operators to pilot its vehicles as long as they stay under 10 miles per hour. Tesla stated this capability allows it to quickly move a vehicle from a compromising position, reducing the need to wait for a first responder or field representative to manually recover it. However, regulatory filings show these remote interventions have resulted in collisions. In July 2025, shortly after Tesla began operating the network in Austin, Texas, the vehicle’s Automated Driving System (ADS) had trouble moving forward. A teleoperator took over control, gradually increased the speed, and steered the vehicle left, which resulted in it hitting a metal fence. A second incident occurred in January 2026, when a teleoperator took over a stopped vehicle to assist with navigation. According to a regulatory filing containing NHTSA data, “The teleoperator took over vehicle control when the ADS was stopped and proceeded straight on the street. The Tesla vehicle made contact with a temporary barricade for a construction site at approximately 9MPH, scraping the front-left fender and tire”

Beyond teleoperator incidents, the unredacted data details other safety challenges in Austin, Texas. The records show that Tesla Robotaxis have been involved in incidents clipping its mirrors on other vehicles. In September 2025, a Tesla Robotaxi was unable to avoid hitting a dog that ran into the street, though the dog reportedly ran away. Also in September 2025, a vehicle ran into a metal chain while making an unprotected left turn into a parking lot. While competitors like Waymo and Zoox have reported more total crashes, Tesla is operating at a fraction of their scale. These newly unredacted details may help explain why Tesla is scaling its network slowly. CEO Elon Musk recently noted that ensuring complete safety is the primary limiting factor for expansion, adding that the company is being highly cautious.

Why it matters

The newly unredacted data provides a narrative description for all 17 crashes Tesla has recorded since last year, offering insight into why the company is scaling its autonomous ride-hailing network slowly.