Tesla FSD fails to detect trains at railroad crossings, prompting U.S. safety investigation
Tesla's Full Self-Driving system reportedly fails to detect active railroad crossing signals, including lowered gate arms and flashing lights, prompting drivers to intervene. NBC News documented 40 incidents since June 2023, including one in which a Tesla was struck by a train, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun investigating the issue.
What happened
Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' software is reportedly unable to detect the lowered gate arms and flashing lights of railroad crossings. Videos posted on social media showed drivers having to intervene to prevent Tesla vehicles from proceeding through crossing arms.
NBC News found 40 recorded incidents since June 2023. In one June 2023 incident near Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, a Tesla with FSD enabled made a left turn onto railroad tracks and was struck by a Norfolk Southern train minutes later, with damage limited to a destroyed wing mirror.
Reported impact
Italo Frigoli reported that his HW4-equipped 2025 Model Y attempted to drive through a crossing near his North Texas home in June 2025, and he was forced to slam on the brakes in clear weather conditions with no other traffic present.
Index analysis
Some experts speculated that Tesla may not have used enough training data to teach its FSD system to recognize the various railroad crossing setups across the country. In one video, the system appeared to give priority to a green traffic light in the distance, attempting to drive through a crossing as the gate was going down.
Governance controls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was 'aware of the incidents and have been in communication with the manufacturer' and that 'the agency continuously analyzes consumer complaints to determine whether a potential vehicle safety defect trend exists.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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