Tesla Robotaxi fleet reaches 15 crashes in nine months of operation
Tesla's Robotaxi autonomous fleet reported its 15th crash since launching in June 2025, with a Model Y hitting a fixed object at low speed in January 2026 with no injuries. Extrapolated data suggests a crash rate approximately nine times higher than human drivers, though specific mileage figures are not regularly disclosed, complicating safety assessments.
What happened
Tesla filed its 15th crash report with NHTSA in February 2026, covering a Model Y hitting a fixed object at 9 mph in January 2026 with the autonomous driving system engaged. No injuries were reported. The incident represents a decline from five crashes reported in the prior monthly submission covering December 2025 and January 2026.
Tesla's Robotaxi program launched in Austin in June 2025 and operated approximately 35 vehicles as of March 2026. Based on Tesla's disclosure of approximately 500,000 cumulative miles through November 2025, extrapolated figures suggest approximately 800,000 miles by mid-January 2026, yielding a crash rate of roughly one incident every 57,000 miles.
Reported impact
The crash rate of one incident per 57,000 miles is approximately 9 times higher than the average American driver's rate of one crash per 500,000 miles according to NHTSA data.
Index analysis
Analysis of month-over-month crash trends is complicated by the lack of disclosed mileage data for each reporting period. Tesla's Robotaxi service was shut down for several days in January 2026 due to an ice storm in Austin, which would have reduced miles driven and crash opportunities that month.
The fleet has contracted from approximately 50 vehicles to 35 vehicles. Despite announcements of removing safety monitors from front seats, only two unsupervised vehicles were reported operational as of March 2026, with every other vehicle operating with in-car safety supervision.
Governance controls
Tesla files monthly crash reports with NHTSA as required by the agency's reporting protocols. However, Tesla does not regularly disclose specific mileage figures for the Robotaxi fleet, limiting external assessment of safety performance.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.