The record

Where automated decisions went wrong

Incidents gathered from public reporting around the world. Each one links to the articles it came from. None of it is a finding that anyone broke the law.

Reports people file about their own experience are not shown here and never will be without their agreement. Tell us what happened to you.

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212 incidents matching “Tesla” · public reporting

WF-AACDUS1 Jun 2017

Tesla Autopilot fails to centre car, shredding tyres in Redmond

In summer 2017, Eric Horvitz activated the Autopilot function of his Tesla sedan while driving in Redmond, Washington. The system failed to centre the car properly, causing both driver's side tyres to hit a raised curb and shred instantly. Horvitz regained control and watched his car being towed away. He reported the incident to Tesla, which he says was more concerned about liability than addressing ethical issues with its AI.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

2 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-YICWYW7 Sep 2026French

Passenger Accidentally Discovers How to Manually Drive Tesla's Robotaxi

Un passager découvre par accident comment piloter soi-même le robotaxi de Tesla - PhonAndroid

A passenger named Matthew Skrzypczak found a hidden driving interface on the central screen of a Tesla Cybercab, featuring a virtual joystick. The vehicle lacks a steering wheel and pedals, so this menu is intended for operators to maneuver it in depots or tight parking. Skrzypczak filmed the screen and attempted to drive the car, realizing he likely wasn't meant to access the controls.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Cybercab

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-B3X8PY1 Aug 2019

Tesla Autopilot Failed to Brake, Killing 15-Year-Old, Family Alleges

In August 2019, a Tesla Model 3 on Autopilot rear-ended a Ford Explorer pickup on a California freeway, killing 15-year-old Jovani Maldonado. Data shows neither the system nor the driver braked until a fraction of a second before impact. The family has filed a lawsuit alleging Autopilot is defective and failed to react to traffic. Tesla has denied responsibility, blaming the driver's inattention.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

2 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-X0AG4M1 Mar 2019

Tesla Being Sued For Wrongful Death Following New Deadly Crash - Arash Law

The Tesla Autopilot system failed to detect and avoid a tractor-trailer crossing its path, resulting in a collision that killed the driver.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-U8SFC923 Jul 2021

Tesla Autopilot mistakes moon for yellow traffic light, causing car to slow down

A Tesla driver reported that the vehicle's Autopilot system misidentified the moon as a yellow traffic light, causing the car to slow down unexpectedly. The driver alerted Tesla CEO Elon Musk via social media on July 23, 2021. No collision or injury was reported, but the incident highlights a potential safety issue with the object detection system.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

3 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-LZRMCV13 Jun 2024

Tesla in self-drive mode crashes into Fullerton police car

A Tesla operating in self-drive mode crashed into a parked Fullerton police car while the officer was outside directing traffic at a fatal crash scene. The officer jumped out of the way and was not injured, but the patrol vehicle sustained major damage. The driver admitted to using a cellphone at the time. It is unclear if the driver will be cited.

AI system involved
Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised)

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-FA32HO1 Mar 2019

Tesla Model 3 crash with truck kills driver using partial automation

At 6:17 a.m. on March 1, 2019, a Tesla Model 3 operating with partial driving automation struck a semitrailer in Delray Beach, Florida, killing the 50-year-old driver. The NTSB determined the probable cause was the truck driver's failure to yield right of way combined with the car driver's inattention due to overreliance on the automation, with Tesla's system design allowing disengagement as a contributing factor.

Company involved
Tesla

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-5DQ0X811 May 2018

Tesla Model S crashes into firetruck with Autopilot engaged, driver injured

A Tesla Model S driver in South Jordan, Utah, crashed into a parked firetruck while the car's Autopilot system was engaged, according to police. The driver, a 28-year-old woman, admitted she was looking at her phone before the collision. Tesla stated it had not yet received data from the car and could not confirm whether Autopilot was on. The driver suffered a broken ankle and was taken to hospital.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-T6A9HX18 Feb 2023

Tesla crashes into California fire truck; NHTSA investigates Autopilot and FSD

On 18 February 2023, a Tesla struck a fire truck that was blocking lanes on Interstate 680 in Contra Costa County, California. The driver died at the scene, the passenger was taken to hospital, and four firefighters were transported for evaluation. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked Tesla for information and is investigating whether Autopilot or Full Self-Driving beta was engaged at the time.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta

5 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-S2AEBR1 Nov 2021

Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta includes assertive mode that may perform rolling stops

Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta software includes driving profiles, including an 'Assertive' mode that may perform rolling stops, follow cars more closely, and change lanes more frequently. The feature was included in an October 2021 update that was briefly pulled due to issues with left turns. In November 2021, a Tesla using FSD mode was involved in a crash that left the vehicle severely damaged.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta

5 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-URQAML26 Jun 2021

Tesla recalls more than 285,000 cars in China over cruise control safety issue.

Tesla began recalling more than 285,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China after its cruise control system was found to pose a safety risk. The system could be activated when drivers shifted gears or touched the gear selector, leading to unintended acceleration. Owners were offered a free software update to fix the issue, and Tesla apologised and said it would comply with Chinese safety regulations.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
cruise control system

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-97H6LB23 Oct 2021

Tesla recalls 11,704 vehicles over Full Self-Driving Beta software error

Tesla voluntarily recalled 11,704 vehicles after identifying a software error in its Full Self-Driving Beta system that could cause false forward-collision warnings or unexpected automatic emergency braking. The error, a communication disconnect between two on-board chips, was introduced in an over-the-air update on October 23, 2021. Tesla stated it was not aware of any crashes or injuries and issued a software fix. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is monitoring the situation.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Full Self-Driving Beta

10 source articles · read the reporting →

Tesla Said These 5 Seconds of Autopilot Crash Data Weren’t Available. Then a Hacker Recovered Them - ascendants.in

The Tesla Autopilot system struck a parked vehicle, killing Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injuring Dillon Angulo.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

Tesla on Autopilot crashes into stopped truck on Pennsylvania Turnpike

A Tesla vehicle operating on Autopilot crashed into a stopped truck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, according to state police. The incident resulted in a collision between the two vehicles. No further details were immediately available.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-GX69JO5 May 2021

Tesla Model 3 crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Multi-event collision with truck on highway

The Tesla Model 3, with Autopilot possibly engaged, struck an overturned semi-truck and a pedestrian, killing the driver and injuring the pedestrian.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-PFBK9126 Jul 2021

Tesla Autopilot crash kills man changing flat tire on Long Island Expressway

On July 26, a Tesla Model Y SUV struck and killed a 52-year-old man who was changing a flat tire on the shoulder of the Long Island Expressway in Queens, New York. The crash is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to the possible use of Tesla's partially automated driving system, Autopilot. The driver remained at the scene. NHTSA has added this fatality to its list of crashes involving automated driving systems.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-DZERRH27 Feb 2021

Tesla Model X on Autopilot crashes into police car, injuring five officers

On February 27, 2021, a Tesla Model X operating on Autopilot crashed into a stationary police vehicle on a highway near Montgomery County, Texas, injuring five officers and hospitalizing the subject of a traffic stop. The driver was intoxicated and the system had alerted him 150 times to apply force to the steering wheel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the incident, along with 15 other similar crashes involving Teslas and emergency vehicles.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

10 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-NN92D919 Jan 2018

Tesla Driver Passed Out Drunk on Bay Bridge Claims Autopilot Was in Control

On 19 January 2018, a Tesla driver was found passed out behind the wheel on the San Francisco Bay Bridge with a blood alcohol content over twice the legal limit. The driver told California Highway Patrol officers that the vehicle had been set on Autopilot. The driver was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, and the car was towed. No accident or injuries occurred, and Tesla did not confirm whether Autopilot was engaged.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

10 source articles · read the reporting →

Tesla Self-Driving Tech Questioned Again After Fatal Illinois Crash

特斯拉自駕技術再遭質疑!伊利諾伊州致命車禍引發關注 - cmnews.com.tw

A fatal crash involving a Tesla Model Y in Illinois killed a mother of five. The vehicle was reportedly using Full Self-Driving (FSD) at the time. Preliminary investigation has not confirmed FSD as the cause, but the incident has heightened safety concerns about Tesla's driver-assistance technology.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Full Self-Driving (FSD)

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-YEP7H81 Jan 2018

Tesla Driver on Autopilot Crashes into Fire Truck While Eating Bagel

In January 2018, a Tesla Model S driver using Autopilot crashed into a parked fire truck on Interstate 405 in Culver City, California. The driver was eating a bagel and coffee, with hands off the steering wheel, and ignored multiple warnings from the system. The National Transportation Safety Board investigated and found that Autopilot was engaged for most of the trip, and the car accelerated into the truck after a lead vehicle changed lanes. No injuries were reported, and Tesla later stated it had updated its driver-monitoring system.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

4 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-93NTD525 Apr 2019Korean

Tesla Autopilot Fatal Crash Compensation Set at $243 Million — How Ad Language Redefines Automotive Liability

테슬라 오토파일럿 사망사고 배상 2,430억 원 확정 — 광고 문구가 바꿀 자동차 책임의 경계 - 얼리어답터뉴스

A U.S. federal court finalized $243 million in damages against Tesla for a 2019 fatal crash involving Autopilot. The jury found Tesla's marketing language misled consumers about the system's capabilities, assigning the company 33% of the blame and imposing $200 million in punitive damages.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-JX049M10 Oct 2024

Alcon Entertainment sues Tesla and Elon Musk over AI-generated Blade Runner 2049 imagery

Alcon Entertainment, the producer of Blade Runner 2049, has sued Tesla, Elon Musk, and Warner Bros Discovery, alleging they used AI to create promotional imagery based on the film for Tesla's robotaxi launch event on 10 October 2024. Alcon claims it had specifically denied a request from Warner Bros to use material from the film. The lawsuit alleges misappropriation and false endorsement, and describes the financial magnitude of the misappropriation as substantial.

Company involved
Tesla

6 source articles · read the reporting →

WF-020KRL26 Jul 2023

Tesla Model 3 crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Tesla falls from height

The vehicle drove off the road and fell from a height, killing the driver.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

WF-YDH1HN3 Aug 2023

Tesla Model 3 crash, 1 killed, Autopilot verified: Tesla collides with pickup

The vehicle's Autopilot system drove into oncoming traffic, causing a collision that killed the driver and injured two passengers in another vehicle.

Company involved
Tesla
AI system involved
Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

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