Where automated decisions went wrong

Zoox recalls 332 robotaxis after self-driving cars veer into oncoming traffic

Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car company, recalled 332 robotaxis after they were found veering into oncoming traffic near intersections. The issue was first noticed in August 2025 when a car took a wide right turn crossing the center line. Zoox said no crashes or injuries occurred and fixed the problem with a software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall and is in ongoing discussions with Zoox.

Company involved

Zoox

AI system involved

Zoox robotaxis

6 source articles · read the reporting →

NHTSA investigation PE24016: Unexpected ADS behavior

Waymo's automated driving system exhibited unexpected behavior during driving.

Company involved

Waymo

1 source article · read the reporting →

Tesla Cybertruck owner sues over FSD crash in Houston overpass

Justine Saint Amour is suing Tesla after her Cybertruck, with Full Self-Driving engaged, crashed into a concrete barrier on a Houston overpass on August 18, 2025. The lawsuit alleges that Tesla was negligent in hiring and retaining Elon Musk as CEO, and that the FSD system was defective due to lack of LiDAR and ineffective automatic emergency braking. Saint Amour seeks over $1 million in damages.

Company involved

Tesla

AI system involved

Full Self-Driving (FSD)

3 source articles · read the reporting →

Cruise Self-Driving Car Rear-Ended by Human-Driven Cruise Vehicle in San Francisco

On 11 June 2018, a self-driving Cruise Chevrolet Bolt was rear-ended by another Cruise vehicle driven by a human employee on Bryant Street in San Francisco. The collision caused only minor scuffs and no injuries. Cruise reported the incident to the California DMV as required. The incident highlights the challenges of autonomous vehicles interacting with human drivers.

Company involved

Cruise

2 source articles · read the reporting →

AI-powered tram crashes into pedestrians in St Petersburg test run

An AI-powered 'Smart Tram' on a test run in St Petersburg, Russia, crashed into pedestrians after its AI system turned off and brakes failed. The driver, who was present, attempted to use emergency brakes but they did not fully work. Several people were injured, including a 45-year-old woman trapped under the tram. The city authorities have launched an investigation and a criminal case has been opened.

Company involved

St Petersburg city authorities

AI system involved

Smart Tram

1 source article · read the reporting →

Starship delivery robot drives into planter and down stairs at UCLA

A Starship Technologies delivery robot operating autonomously at UCLA fell into a planter after its wheels slipped off a path edge. Bystanders pulled it free, but the robot turned back towards the planter before being pushed clear. A remote human operator then took control, but the robot subsequently drove down a flight of stairs and later struck a scooter due to a sensor blind spot.

Company involved

Starship Technologies

2 source articles · read the reporting →

Google and Delphi Self-Driving Cars Involved in Minor Accidents in California

Four self-driving cars in California have been involved in accidents since September 2014, when the state began issuing testing permits. Two occurred while the cars were in autonomous mode, and two while a human was driving. Google and Delphi, the companies operating the vehicles, stated that their cars were not at fault and that the collisions were minor, with no injuries. The accidents have raised concerns about transparency, as details are kept confidential under state law.

Company involved

Google Inc. and Delphi Automotive

10 source articles · read the reporting →

Waymo drives through farmer’s market in Denver, no one injured - Washington Times

The Waymo autonomous vehicle drove through a farmer's market, potentially endangering attendees.

Company involved

Waymo

AI system involved

Waymo

1 source article · read the reporting →

Beep automated bus rear-ended by Tesla in Washington D.C.

An automated bus operated by Beep was rear-ended by a Tesla driver making an illegal lane change in Washington D.C. on 18 January 2026. The bus, part of a pilot programme with the U.S. Department of Transportation, had a human backup driver and sustained minor cosmetic damage. Service was temporarily paused but resumed after a review found the bus operated appropriately. No police were called and the incident was not reported to NHTSA as the damage was under $1,000 and the other driver was at fault.

Company involved

Beep

AI system involved

Beep automated bus

2 source articles · read the reporting →

San Francisco officials complain of robotaxi interference with emergency responders

San Francisco's fire chief and police union have complained that Waymo and Cruise robotaxis are interfering with emergency responders, including driving into active scenes and blocking fire trucks. The fire chief says it is only a matter of time before a catastrophic injury or death occurs. The police union asked the California Public Utilities Commission to postpone a vote on expanding robotaxi services. The companies say they are working with officials and that most encounters are without issue.

Company involved

Waymo and Cruise

4 source articles · read the reporting →

Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Crash into Backwards-Towed Pickup in Phoenix

On 11 December 2023, two Waymo autonomous vehicles collided with a pickup truck being towed backwards in Phoenix, Arizona. The vehicles were operating without passengers and sustained minor damage, with no injuries reported. Waymo attributed the crashes to a software error that mispredicted the towed vehicle's motion and subsequently deployed a fix. The company filed a voluntary recall report with the NHTSA.

Company involved

Waymo

AI system involved

Waymo Driver

3 source articles · read the reporting →

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 →

Lawsuit says Tesla Autopilot missed a curve before a fatal Model X crash

The Autopilot system missed a curve, causing a fatal crash for the driver.

Company involved

Tesla

AI system involved

Autopilot

1 source article · read the reporting →

Tesla Full Self-Driving involved in fatal pedestrian crash in Arizona

In November 2023, a Tesla Model Y with Full Self-Driving engaged struck and killed 71-year-old Johna Story on Interstate 17 in Arizona. The system failed to brake due to sun glare, according to footage obtained by Bloomberg. The victim's family has sued Tesla and the driver. NHTSA is investigating whether the system poses an unacceptable safety risk.

Company involved

Tesla

AI system involved

Full Self-Driving

7 source articles · read the reporting →

Waymo Self-Driving Taxis Proactively Report to Police After Discovering Passenger Hiding a Gun

قامت سيارات الأجرة ذاتية القيادة من شركة Waymo بإبلاغ الشرطة بشكل استباقي بعد اكتشافها أن أحد الركاب كان يخفي مسدساً.…

A Waymo self-driving taxi in San Francisco detected two teenage passengers carrying an unidentified AR-15 rifle loaded with ammunition. The vehicle automatically stopped and alerted police, leading to the arrest of the two teenagers. Waymo stated that its system can identify violations of its terms of service, including carrying weapons, and will proactively notify police.

Company involved

Waymo

1 source article · read the reporting →

NHTSA investigation PE24015: Rear-end Collisions Involving Zoox Vehicles

Automated driving system controlled vehicle braking and acceleration, leading to rear-end collisions with other road users

Company involved

Zoox

AI system involved

Zoox vehicle

1 source article · read the reporting →

Ford BlueCruise crash in Philadelphia kills two, injures one

On March 3, 2024, a Ford Mustang Mach-E operating in hands-free partial automation mode (BlueCruise) collided with stationary vehicles in a work zone on I-95 in Philadelphia. The system recorded a speed of 72.4 mph with no braking or steering before impact. The drivers of the two stationary vehicles died, and the Ford driver was injured. The NTSB determined the probable cause to be driver impairment and distraction due to overreliance on automation, as well as Ford's inadequate integration of speed management with the automation system.

Company involved

Ford Motor Company

AI system involved

BlueCruise

9 source articles · read the reporting →

First Accident Before Test Phase: Robotaxis Launch in Furttal

Erster Unfall, bevor die Testphase beginnt: Robotaxis starten im Furttal - nzz.ch

Switzerland's first self-driving taxi service launched in the Furttal region near Zurich, but three days before the start a test vehicle had a minor accident in Dänikon, damaging a ground plate and two tires. The pilot project, called Iamo, aims to complement public transport, with a safety driver on board during the test phase.

Company involved

Swiss Transit Lab

1 source article · read the reporting →

Uber to Resume Autonomous Car Use Despite Fatal Accident - Estadão

Uber voltará a utilizar carros autônomos mesmo após acidente - Estadão

Uber's president Dara Khosrowshahi said the company plans to resume using autonomous cars within months. The ride-hailing firm suspended its self-driving vehicle program in March after a car struck and killed a pedestrian in the United States. Khosrowshahi stated that Uber has conducted internal and independent safety reviews and is working with government agencies to restart testing.

1 source article · read the reporting →

Waymo autonomous vehicle allegedly kills beloved San Francisco bodega cat KitKat

A Waymo autonomous vehicle allegedly struck and killed KitKat, a 9-year-old cat that was a beloved mascot of Randa's Market in San Francisco's Mission District, on the night of October 27, 2025. Witnesses reported that the vehicle swerved and did not stop after hitting the cat, which later died at a veterinary hospital. The incident has sparked mourning among neighbors and calls for accountability, with a 311 complaint filed alleging the car 'did not even try to stop.' Waymo did not respond to requests for comment.

Company involved

Waymo

AI system involved

Waymo

7 source articles · read the reporting →

Tesla Employee Dies in Full Self-Driving Crash in Colorado Mountains

Hans von Ohain, a Tesla recruiter, died when his Model 3 crashed into a tree and caught fire while using Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature on a mountain road in Colorado. His widow, Nora Bass, criticised Tesla for lack of response, saying they were treated like 'guinea pigs'. Investigators noted that Ohain's blood alcohol was over three times the legal limit, but the crash did not show typical signs of drunk driving, suggesting the driver-assistance feature was active. Tesla has not commented on the incident.

Company involved

Tesla

AI system involved

Full Self-Driving

10 source articles · read the reporting →

Tesla Vehicle Strikes Parked Firetruck, Killing Passenger

On 29 December 2019, a Tesla crashed into a parked firetruck on Interstate 70 in Indiana, killing 23-year-old passenger Jenna Monet and seriously injuring the driver. Police have not yet confirmed whether Tesla's Autopilot driver-assist system was in use at the time. The incident is the latest in a series of similar crashes involving Tesla vehicles colliding with stationary emergency vehicles.

Company involved

Tesla

AI system involved

Tesla Autopilot

5 source articles · read the reporting →

Paris taxi company G7 suspends Tesla Model 3 after fatal crash

A Paris taxi company, G7, suspended Tesla Model 3 cars from its fleet after an off-duty driver's car was involved in a collision that killed one person and injured 20 others. It was not clear whether Tesla's Autopilot was active. G7 said Tesla's initial inquiry found no malfunction but that the car appeared to accelerate when the driver tried to brake. The company said it would pay affected drivers' lost wages while a police investigation continues.

Company involved

G7

AI system involved

Tesla Model 3

7 source articles · read the reporting →

Cruise self-driving car ticketed for not yielding to pedestrian in San Francisco

A Cruise self-driving car was issued a traffic citation by San Francisco police after it allegedly failed to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The company disputes the violation, claiming its data shows the pedestrian was 10.8 feet away and the car acted correctly. No one was injured. The incident occurred a week after a fatal Uber self-driving car crash in Arizona.

Company involved

Cruise

AI system involved

Cruise self-driving car

10 source articles · read the reporting →