Tesla replaces factory robots with humans after automation failure
In April 2018, Elon Musk acknowledged that excessive automation at Tesla's Model 3 production facility had caused significant delays. The complex conveyor belt system failed to work as intended, leading to missed production goals. Musk replaced the automated system with human workers, stating that 'humans are underrated'. Following the change, production rates were expected to improve.
- Company involved
- Tesla
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Zoox Recalls Software After Autonomous Vehicles Cross Lane Lines
Zoox issued a voluntary software recall for 332 autonomous vehicles after identifying instances where the vehicles crossed center lane lines or blocked crosswalks. The issue, first observed on August 26, 2025, involved a robotaxi making a wide turn into an opposing lane. No collisions occurred, but the company acknowledged the risk and deployed software updates in November and December to correct the behavior. Zoox is in ongoing discussions with NHTSA about the incidents.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox autonomous driving system
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Waymo restricts freeway rides after robotaxis enter construction zones
Waymo has voluntarily recalled 3,871 robotaxis after some entered freeway construction zones in Phoenix and the Bay Area. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the software may allow a vehicle to enter a closed construction zone, increasing crash risk. Waymo is developing a software fix to detect and avoid construction zones. No crashes or injuries were reported.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo fifth-generation automated driving system
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Model 3 on Autopilot crashes into police car in Connecticut
A Tesla Model 3 with Autopilot engaged crashed into a police cruiser and a disabled vehicle on I-95 in Connecticut. The driver stated he was checking on his dog in the back seat and not paying attention to the road. No serious injuries were reported. The incident highlights concerns about driver inattention when using partially automated driving systems.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo robotaxi and Serve delivery robot collide in Los Angeles
On December 27, 2024, a Waymo robotaxi and a Serve Robotics sidewalk delivery robot collided at an intersection in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. The Waymo vehicle was making a right turn when the Serve bot, under remote supervision, moved into the turning lane. The Waymo Driver system classified the bot as an inanimate object and applied hard braking, but made contact at 4 mph. Neither vehicle was damaged, and both companies stated they are working to avoid similar incidents in the future.
- Company involved
- Waymo and Serve Robotics
- AI system involved
- Waymo Driver and Serve delivery robot
1 source article · read the reporting →
Cruise robotaxi drags woman 20 feet, company pays over $8M settlement
On October 2, 2023, a Cruise robotaxi in downtown San Francisco struck and dragged a woman 20 feet after she was hit by a human driver. The autonomous vehicle attempted to pull over while the pedestrian was trapped underneath, causing life-threatening injuries. Cruise later paid a settlement of between $8 million and $12 million to the victim. The California DMV suspended Cruise's driverless permits after the company failed to show regulators complete footage of the incident.
- Company involved
- Cruise
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Autopilot crashes into parked police SUV in Laguna Beach
On 29 May 2018, Dave Key's Tesla Model S, operating in Autopilot mode, drifted out of its lane and collided with a parked police SUV in Laguna Beach, California. No one was injured, but the car was written off. The crash was attributed to a known limitation of Tesla's AI, which struggled to distinguish stationary objects from the background. Key, a former software entrepreneur, later bought three more Teslas and used the Full Self-Driving beta.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla's Full Self-Driving Beta fails to stop for pedestrian at crosswalk
A video posted online shows a Tesla vehicle using the Full Self-Driving Beta software detecting a pedestrian at a crosswalk in San Francisco but not stopping, only slowing from 26 mph to 24 mph after passing. The incident highlights the system's failure to comply with California law requiring drivers to yield to pedestrians. Tesla has faced regulatory scrutiny from NHTSA over unsafe behaviours around intersections, and this video adds to concerns about the safety of the unfinished software being tested on public roads.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Full Self-Driving Beta
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo recalls robotaxi software after crash into telephone pole
On May 21, 2024, a Waymo autonomous vehicle crashed into a telephone pole in Phoenix, Arizona, while driving to a passenger pickup location. The vehicle was damaged but no one was injured. Waymo issued a voluntary recall and updated the software and mapping for its entire fleet of 672 vehicles to correct an error that assigned a low damage score to the pole and to improve the map.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo autonomous vehicle
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Recalls 360,000 Vehicles with Full Self-Driving Beta Over Crash Risk
Tesla is recalling more than 360,000 vehicles equipped with its Full Self-Driving Beta software after a government regulator found that the cars could proceed through intersections without stopping, posing a crash risk. The company said it would issue a remote software update to remedy the problem. The recall is a significant setback for Tesla's autonomous driving ambitions.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Full Self-Driving Beta
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo recalls 3,500 robotaxis after vehicle enters flooded Texas road
On April 20, 2026, an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi entered a flooded road in San Antonio, Texas, during severe weather. No injuries occurred, but the incident prompted Waymo to issue a voluntary recall of up to 3,791 vehicles due to software that could allow the cars to drive onto flooded roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published recall documents, and Waymo stated it is implementing additional software safeguards and has restricted operations in extreme weather. The fix is still under development.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo autonomous driving system
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo rider trapped in robotaxi during vandalism attack in San Francisco
In May 2026, Sherman Watson was riding in a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco when two men attacked the vehicle, smashing the windshield. The car stopped and remained stationary, trapping Watson inside for about 10 minutes while he feared for his life. Waymo's remote assistant called police but could not move the car. Watson later sought therapy and requested video footage from Waymo, which the company has not provided, citing the need for a police search warrant.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo robotaxi
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla Cybertruck on Full Self-Driving Crashes into Pole in Reno
A Tesla Cybertruck owner in Reno, Nevada, reported that his vehicle, operating on Full Self-Driving version 13.2.4, failed to merge from a lane that was ending and drove onto a curb, striking a light pole. The driver, Jonathan Challinger, was uninjured and praised Tesla's safety, while acknowledging he should have been paying attention. The incident occurred on Stead Boulevard with no other traffic present, and the owner attempted to contact Tesla's service centre, which was reportedly unresponsive.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Full Self-Driving v13.2.4
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Waymo vehicle catches fire after driving over firework in San Francisco
On 4 July 2026, an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi caught fire in San Francisco after driving over a lit firework. No injuries were reported. The incident occurred amid widespread traffic congestion, with multiple Waymo vehicles becoming disabled and blocking roads. Waymo coordinated with the fire department to remove the vehicle and said it was evaluating ways to improve resilience during major disruptions.
- Company involved
- Waymo
- AI system involved
- Waymo
1 source article · read the reporting →
Tesla crashes into $3.5 million jet during Smart Summon
A Tesla Model Y using the Smart Summon feature crashed into a Cirrus Vision Jet at an airport in Spokane. The owner was using the feature to summon the vehicle autonomously across a parking area. Video evidence suggests the owner was not paying attention and the vehicle failed to detect the aircraft, continuing to push it after impact. The incident resulted in significant property damage to the $3.5 million jet.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Smart Summon
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Full Self-Driving confused by truck carrying traffic lights
A Tesla vehicle using Full Self-Driving mode encountered a truck loaded with traffic lights. The system identified the traffic lights on the truck but was unable to determine the correct action, creating a confusing edge case. The incident was shared on social media, highlighting a limitation of the autonomous driving system.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Full Self-Driving
2 source articles · read the reporting →
California Cracks Down on Robotaxis Blocking First Responders
California authorities are taking action against robotaxis that have been blocking first responders. The autonomous vehicles have reportedly obstructed emergency vehicles, prompting a regulatory crackdown.
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise autonomous vehicle briefly evades police traffic stop
On April 2, 2022, a driverless Cruise taxi in San Francisco was pulled over by police for driving without headlights. The vehicle initially drove away before stopping at a safe location, confusing officers. Cruise stated the car yielded as programmed and no citation was issued. The incident highlights challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with law enforcement.
- Company involved
- Cruise
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Man rides in back seat of Tesla using autopilot on Bay Area roads
A man was recorded sitting in the back seat of a Tesla Model 3 while it drove on autopilot with no one in the driver's seat on Bay Area roads. The video was shared online and the California Highway Patrol is investigating. A witness who reported the incident said Tesla customer service told him to contact CHP, and CHP initially said there was nothing they could do. The stunt highlights concerns about Tesla's autopilot feature being used without a driver.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Tesla Autopilot
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Cruise robotaxi hits San Francisco fire truck, one injured
A Cruise self-driving car collided with a San Francisco Fire Department truck that was responding to an emergency. The incident occurred on August 17, 2023, in the Tenderloin district. One passenger sustained non-severe injuries and was taken to hospital. Cruise acknowledged the crash and offered support to the rider.
- Company involved
- Cruise
- AI system involved
- Cruise self-driving car
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Model S on Autopilot crashes into fire truck at 65 mph, no injury
A Tesla Model S crashed into a fire truck in Culver City, California, on 22 January 2018. The driver told firefighters the vehicle was on Autopilot. No one was injured. Tesla said Autopilot requires a fully attentive driver.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
8 source articles · read the reporting →
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 →
Cruise robotaxi appears to hinder emergency crews after San Francisco mass shooting
A Cruise autonomous vehicle appeared to block emergency crews responding to a mass shooting in San Francisco's Mission District on 9 June 2023. A police officer in video footage says the robotaxi was blocking emergency medical and fire vehicles. Cruise denied obstructing access and said an employee moved the vehicle within half an hour. San Francisco police said they were investigating.
- Company involved
- Cruise
10 source articles · read the reporting →
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 →
