Tesla Robotaxis were involved in at least two crashes while being remotely operated by teleoperators since July 2025, according to newly unredacted records submitted to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to TechCrunch, both incidents took place in Austin, Texas, at low speed. Safety monitors were seated behind the wheel in each vehicle, while no passengers were onboard. The newly released information emerged months after Tesla informed lawmakers that remote operators could control company vehicles travelling below 10 miles per hour. The firm stated that the system allowed vehicles in difficult positions to be moved quickly without waiting for emergency responders or field staff.
Tesla is required, alongside other autonomous vehicle firms, to submit crash reports to the NHTSA. Unlike rival companies, Tesla had previously removed detailed descriptions from its reports, citing confidential business information.
The latest data released by the regulator now includes narrative accounts of all 17 crashes linked to Tesla’s Robotaxi service since last year.
One incident in July 2025 occurred shortly after Tesla launched the Robotaxi network in Austin. According to the report, the automated driving system failed to move forward while stationary on a street. A safety monitor then sought assistance from Tesla’s remote operations team.
The teleoperator reportedly took control of the vehicle, increased speed gradually and steered left before mounting a kerb and striking a metal fence.
A second crash occurred in January 2026 after the automated system stopped while driving on a street. A teleoperator assumed control following a request for navigation support.
The vehicle later struck a temporary construction barricade at around 9mph, scraping the front-left wing and tyre, according to the NHTSA filing.
Most of the remaining crashes involved Tesla Robotaxis being struck by other vehicles. However, at least two cases involved Tesla vehicles clipping mirrors against nearby cars.
In another incident recorded in September 2025, a Robotaxi failed to avoid a dog that ran into the road, though Tesla stated the animal ran away afterwards.
A separate crash the same month involved a Robotaxi making an unprotected left turn into a car park before colliding with a metal chain.
The disclosures may offer insight into why Tesla has expanded its autonomous ride-hailing network cautiously. Last month, company chief executive Elon Musk said ensuring complete safety remained the main obstacle to wider deployment of the service.
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