Analysis & Deep Dives
Data journalism and investigative analysis of autonomous vehicle safety. Every article uses real numbers from the NHTSA incident database.
📊 Our Analysis Methodology
Every analysis article on AutoPilotWatch follows a rigorous, data-first methodology. We start with the raw data — NHTSA SGO incident reports, consumer complaints, recall records, and investigation filings — and apply statistical analysis to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies.
Our analysis principles:
- Data-driven: Every claim is backed by specific numbers from official sources.
- Transparent: We show our work. Data sources and methodology are documented.
- Contextualized: Raw numbers without context are misleading. We always account for fleet size, reporting thresholds, and other confounding factors.
- Independent: We have no financial relationship with any manufacturer. Our analysis is based solely on public data.
For full details on how we process and classify data, see our methodology page. All underlying data is available on our downloads page.
In-depth investigations into specific safety concerns, manufacturer practices, and regulatory actions.
The Reporting Gap: How Many AV Crashes Go Unreported?
NHTSA's database shows 56 Tesla fatalities. TeslaDeaths.com documents 65. The 30-second rule, self-reporting, and inconsistent definitions create a gap.
2,482 Complaints and Counting: What Tesla Owners Report to NHTSA
An analysis of 2,482 Tesla Autopilot and FSD complaints filed with NHTSA — phantom braking, unexpected acceleration, and the real-world experiences behind the data.
The 3.2 Million Vehicle Investigation: NHTSA vs. Tesla FSD
NHTSA's PE25012 investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving could force the largest recall in AV history. Here's what's happening.
Phantom Braking: Tesla's Most Common — and Terrifying — Complaint
Sudden, unexplained braking at highway speeds. It's the top Tesla Autopilot complaint and has caused hundreds of incidents.
The FSD Death Toll: Every Fatality Linked to Tesla's Automated Systems
56 people have died in crashes involving Tesla's Autopilot or FSD. We document what we know.
The Highway Bias: Why Tesla's Safety Claims Need Context
Tesla claims Autopilot is 9x safer than human driving. But comparing highway-only Autopilot to all driving inflates the numbers. We do the math properly.
Emergency Vehicle Crashes: Tesla's Blind Spot
30 crashes into parked fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances. Why Tesla's Autopilot keeps hitting emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
Tesla FSD Safety Record 2026
Comprehensive analysis of Tesla's Full Self-Driving safety record in 2026 — FSD v13 rollout, unsupervised launch in Austin, NHTSA PE25012 escalation, crash data trends, and regulatory outlook.
Cruise Shutdown Aftermath: GM's $10B Robotaxi Failure
The full story of Cruise's collapse — from the October 2023 pedestrian dragging incident to GM winding down its $10B+ robotaxi investment. Regulatory fallout, industry lessons, and aftermath.
Topics We Cover
🔴 Manufacturer Safety
Deep dives into specific manufacturers' safety records, including Tesla, Waymo, Cruise, and emerging AV companies.
📈 Trend Analysis
Year-over-year trends in incidents, fatalities, and injuries. Are autonomous vehicles getting safer over time?
🗺️ Geographic Patterns
Where crashes happen and why. State-level regulation, urban vs. suburban patterns, and climate effects.
⚙️ Technology Comparisons
Camera-only vs. lidar, ADS vs. ADAS, and how different technology approaches affect real-world safety.
📋 Regulatory Analysis
How NHTSA, state regulators, and international bodies are responding to autonomous vehicle safety challenges.
🔍 Incident Investigations
Detailed examinations of specific crashes, including contributing factors, system behavior, and aftermath.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of analysis does AutoPilotWatch publish?
We publish 34 articles spanning data deep dives, investigations, comparisons, explainers, and policy analysis. Every article uses real numbers from the NHTSA incident database — we never rely on anecdotal evidence or unverified claims.
How are analysis articles different from the data pages?
Data pages (like Incidents, Manufacturers, States) present raw data in searchable, filterable formats. Analysis articles interpret that data — identifying patterns, testing hypotheses, comparing manufacturers, and drawing evidence-based conclusions that raw tables can't convey.
Can I use AutoPilotWatch analysis in my research or reporting?
Absolutely. All our analysis is based on publicly available NHTSA data and is free to cite. We ask that you credit AutoPilotWatch and link back to the original article. If you're a journalist working on a story, we're happy to provide additional data and context.
How often are new articles published?
We publish new analysis articles as significant data updates, trends, or events warrant. Major NHTSA data releases, recalls, and policy changes often trigger new analysis. Subscribe to our newsletter for notifications.
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