Tesla robotaxis spark safety probe after Austin launch
Tesla’s robotaxi rollout in South Austin is already under fire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reached out to Tesla a day after the company started giving paid rides to invited customers. The issue started when multiple videos surfaced showing Tesla robotaxis speeding and driving into the wrong lane.
NHTSA confirmed the contact with Tesla and shared a blunt update: 
“NHTSA is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information,” the company said in an emailed statement. “NHTSA will continue to enforce the law on all manufacturers of motor vehicles and equipment, in accordance with the Vehicle Safety Act and our data-driven, risk-based investigative process. Under U.S. law, NHTSA does not pre-approve new technologies or vehicle systems – rather, manufacturers certify that each vehicle meets NHTSA’s rigorous safety standards, and the agency investigates incidents involving potential safety defects. Following an assessment of those reports and other relevant information, NHTSA will take any necessary actions to protect road safety.”
The launch follows Tesla’s move to test an unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system in these robotaxis, unlike their consumer FSD product that requires driver supervision. The robotaxis have a human “safety monitor” in the front passenger seat during rides, but evidence suggests the software itself is still a mess. Videos show sudden braking for no reason and swerving into wrong lanes.
Tesla author Ed Niedermeyer recorded a Tesla robotaxi slamming on the brakes twice near parked police vehicles, captured here on YouTube. Meanwhile, on X, Tesla Podcast shared clips of a robotaxi crossing into the wrong lane mid-drive.
The saga is heating up fast — NHTSA is digging in, confirming the federal safety watchdog has Tesla on the radar immediately after robotaxi rides went live in Texas.
