Tesla's 3,092-Incident Problem: The Autopilot Crash Record
Tesla accounts for nearly half of all reported AV/ADAS incidents. We break down every number — by model, severity, and trend.
Tesla, Inc. has racked up 3,092 incidents reported to NHTSA — roughly half of all 6,215 AV/ADAS crashes on record. No other manufacturer comes close. Waymo sits at 1,729, General Motors at 265. The scale of Tesla's problem is staggering.
56 fatalities
linked to Tesla's driver-assistance systems — 82% of all AV/ADAS-related deaths nationwide.
By Model: Model Y and Model 3 Dominate
The Tesla Model Y leads with 1,295 incidents and 18 fatalities. The Model 3 is a fraction behind at 1,289 incidents — but with a significantly higher fatality count of 29 deaths. That's concerning: the Model 3 has a worse fatality rate per incident.
1,295
Model Y incidents
18 fatalities
1,289
Model 3 incidents
29 fatalities
251
Model X incidents
3 fatalities
214
Model S incidents
5 fatalities
The Cybertruck, despite its recent release, already has 39 incidents — all ADAS. No fatalities yet, but 4 injuries.
Almost Entirely ADAS, Not Self-Driving
Here's what many people miss: of Tesla's 3,092 incidents, 3,077 are ADAS (Level 2 driver-assist like Autopilot and FSD Beta) and only 15 are classified as ADS (fully autonomous). Tesla doesn't operate a robotaxi fleet yet. These crashes happen with a human behind the wheel who is supposed to be supervising.
The Geographic Spread
Tesla crashes span 51 states and territories — essentially everywhere. California leads the pack (Tesla's home state), followed by Texas, Florida, and Arizona. This wide distribution reflects Tesla's massive consumer fleet, unlike Waymo's concentrated urban deployments.
What the Numbers Really Tell Us
Critics will correctly point out that Tesla has more vehicles on the road than any AV competitor. But raw numbers matter for public safety. With 56 fatalities tied to Autopilot and FSD, Tesla's ADAS systems account for more deaths than every other manufacturer combined. Whether that's a product of scale or a product of design, it demands scrutiny.
Bottom line
3,092 incidents. 56 deaths. 194 injuries. And the count keeps rising. This is the single largest cluster of automated-driving incidents in the NHTSA database — and it belongs to the company that markets its technology most aggressively to consumers.
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