Yes—but the precise description matters. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal safety investigation into Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system after four reported crashes in reduced-visibility conditions, including a fatal pedestrian crash. In May 2025, NHTSA asked Tesla how technology derived from FSD would be evaluated for planned robotaxi operations. That was an information request within the existing investigation, not a finding that Tesla’s robotaxi system was defective or unlawful.
The distinction is important because FSD Supervised requires an attentive human driver, while a robotaxi is intended to perform the driving task without an onboard safety driver. Removing that human fallback changes the safety case, the evidence regulators need and the consequences of failures.
![Hot Wheels Tesla Cybertruck, HW Rolling Metal 4/5 [Silver] 246/250](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41cHfq3xO0L._SL160_.jpg)
What NHTSA is investigating
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24031 on October 17, 2024. The investigation concerns Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD and their ability to detect and respond appropriately when visibility is reduced by sun glare, fog or airborne dust.
The opening document identified four crash reports submitted under NHTSA’s Standing General Order. One involved a Tesla striking and killing a pedestrian; another involved a reported injury. Those reports establish the incidents NHTSA selected for examination, not that FSD caused every crash.
#1 Best Overall
NHTSA said it would examine:
- Whether FSD’s engineering controls handle reduced visibility;
- Whether additional similar crashes occurred;
- Whether software updates changed system performance; and
- Whether drivers understood the system’s limits and their continuing responsibility.
NHTSA’s investigation summary is the primary record for the scope and triggering reports.
Why robotaxis became part of the inquiry
On May 8, 2025, NHTSA sent Tesla a further information request under PE24031. The agency connected the request to Tesla’s public plans to develop an automated-driving system based on FSD Supervised and use it for a robotaxi service.
NHTSA’s letter summarized Tesla’s announced plan to operate Model Y robotaxis in Austin, Texas, beginning in June 2025, potentially with paid rides, followed by expansion to other cities. The agency asked how Tesla would evaluate technology derived from FSD for public-road, fully autonomous use—particularly when visibility deteriorates.
This was not a separate robotaxi investigation announced by NHTSA. It expanded information collection in an existing FSD defect investigation to cover a materially different operating scenario. The full request is available in NHTSA’s May 2025 letter.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →FSD Supervised is not the same as a driverless robotaxi
Tesla’s branding can make the systems sound interchangeable, but their responsibilities are not.
Rank #2
- Authentic Match Box Design: Premium-quality die-cast replica of the Tesla Cybertrucks (Grey) featuring realistic detailing and moving parts.
- Functional Moving Parts: Includes opening and closing features for added realism — perfect for collectors and imaginative play.
- Premium Finish: Eye-catching metallic blue paint with detailed interiors and authentic branding for a true-to-life look.
- Ideal Gift for Kids & Collectors: Great choice for children aged 3+ and adult collectors who love Hot Wheels & Match Box scale models.
- Durable & Collectible: Built from sturdy materials, perfect for long-lasting use, playtime adventures, or proudly displaying in your die-cast collection.
| System | Human role | Regulatory significance |
|---|---|---|
| FSD Supervised | An attentive driver must monitor the road and be ready to take over. | A Level 2 advanced driver-assistance system remains dependent on the human fallback. |
| Robotaxi operation | The vehicle is intended to perform the driving task without an onboard safety driver actively supervising it. | An automated-driving system must manage the defined operating domain, failures and transitions without assuming a driver will immediately intervene. |
NHTSA explains the distinction in its Standing General Order guidance: Level 2 systems require a fully engaged driver, while automated-driving systems at SAE Levels 3 through 5 are designed to perform the driving task within a defined operating domain without driver involvement.
A system that performs acceptably with an attentive driver may not be ready when that fallback is removed. That is why the agency asked about validation, operating limits and intervention procedures rather than treating FSD Supervised performance as proof of robotaxi readiness.
What NHTSA asked Tesla to provide
The May 2025 request sought information about the technology and operations Tesla proposed for robotaxi use. Its categories included:
- The planned technology stack and vehicle configuration;
- The operating design domain, including geographic and weather limits;
- How Tesla would test and validate performance on public roads;
- How the system would respond to glare, fog, dust and other visibility changes;
- Fleet size, deployment locations and rollout timing;
- Remote-assistance or mission-control functions and intervention procedures;
- Human supervision arrangements, if any;
- Safety evaluation methods, crash data and incident reporting; and
- Software updates that could alter system behavior after validation.
The request does not show that Tesla supplied every item publicly, nor does it establish that Tesla’s answers demonstrated safety. It shows what information federal investigators considered necessary to evaluate the proposed use.
What Tesla says about its rollout
Tesla’s filings describe robotaxi as part of a broader strategy involving software, artificial intelligence, fleet-based revenue and transportation services. In an investor filing, Tesla said its Robotaxi service launched in June 2025 using Model Y vehicles and that the purpose-built Cybercab would be added later. The same material listed planned coverage in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Las Vegas and the San Francisco Bay Area, while distinguishing safety-driver operations from later unsupervised operation.
Rank #3
- Made of zinc alloy with ABS plastic parts
- 5.9 inch x 2.2 inch x 1.8 inch(size)
- The two sides of doors could be opened,front and back covercould be opened too
- You can pull back the car,then it can move forwards with Lights and Sound
- Very suitable as children 4 years and up toys for birthday,Christmas gift, new year. Also it can be a gift for your boyfriend
Those statements are company-reported plans or status claims, not independent proof that every market was operating on the announced schedule or without a safety driver. The company’s filing is available at Tesla’s investor materials.
Tesla’s 2025 annual report also says the company receives requests, subpoenas and inquiries from NHTSA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice and other authorities. The matters can involve vehicle functionality, incidents, Autopilot, FSD and Robotaxi, among other subjects. Tesla states that, to its knowledge, no government agency in an ongoing investigation had concluded that it engaged in wrongdoing. That filing does not establish that every listed agency was investigating the robotaxi rollout specifically.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSee Tesla’s 2025 annual report for the company’s description.
How crash reporting feeds federal oversight
NHTSA’s Standing General Order requires identified manufacturers and operators to report qualifying crashes involving automated-driving systems and Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems. The agency uses those reports to identify potential safety concerns, request more information and decide whether additional investigation or enforcement is warranted.
The database is not a perfect league table. NHTSA warns that totals may not be statistically comparable because companies differ in telemetry access, crash-detection technology, reporting practices, knowledge of privately owned-vehicle crashes and classification of which automation system was engaged. Records may also contain duplicate incidents or different classifications.
Rank #4
- Hot Wheels Tesla 2021 Cybertruck 1:64 Scale Collectible Die Cast Metal Toy Car Model 177/250
For that reason, a raw incident count cannot by itself show that Tesla is safer or less safe than Waymo, Zoox, Cruise or another operator. Early pilot fleets also run in limited areas and conditions that may not represent citywide performance.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Operational risks regulators must evaluate
The reduced-visibility focus highlights several practical failure modes:
- Sun glare obscuring pedestrians, vehicles or lane markings;
- Fog or dust degrading camera perception;
- Ambiguous road geometry and incorrect lane selection;
- Unprotected turns, improper stopping or unsafe passenger drop-offs;
- Road closures, unusual police directions or emergency scenes;
- Overreliance on remote assistance;
- Software updates changing behavior after testing; and
- Passenger uncertainty about what to do during a roadside failure.
NHTSA also warned automated-vehicle developers in 2026 that driverless vehicles must interact safely with law enforcement and first responders. A robotaxi that cannot recognize or follow emergency instructions can create risk even when its ordinary route-planning appears to work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Federal, state and local approvals are different
NHTSA handles federal vehicle-safety defects, crash reporting, investigations, recalls and compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. States generally control operating permits, insurance and licensing, while local authorities may regulate traffic, curb access, airports and municipal deployment conditions.
Nevada illustrates the difference. By July 27, 2026, regulators had granted Tesla a Las Vegas robotaxi permit capped at 10 vehicles, although Tesla had sought authorization for 5,000, according to Axios. A state operating permit is not federal approval of Tesla’s technology and does not close PE24031.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- Hot Wheels 2022 Tesla Cybertruck
The separate Cybercab compliance question
Tesla’s future Cybercab is designed as a purpose-built driverless vehicle without conventional controls such as a steering wheel and pedals. That creates a separate federal issue: existing Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were written around conventional vehicle controls.
As of the latest cited coverage, Tesla had not sought the same type of federal exemption for Cybercab that NHTSA granted Zoox for its purpose-built vehicle. In 2026, NHTSA announced more flexible automated-vehicle exemption pathways and approved Zoox commercial deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. Those changes may make deployment easier, but they do not resolve Tesla-specific questions about FSD performance, validation or Cybercab compliance. See NHTSA’s automated-vehicle policy announcement.
What the investigation means for Tesla’s expansion
PE24031 matters because it tests whether Tesla’s technology can cope with conditions that undermine perception, and because the proposed robotaxi model removes the human driver who currently compensates for weaknesses in FSD Supervised.
It does not mean NHTSA has declared Tesla’s robotaxi system unsafe, that Tesla caused all four reported crashes, or that the company misled consumers or investors. Nor does a successful pilot ride prove statistical safety. The key questions remain whether Tesla has a clearly defined operating domain, credible evidence for performance in difficult visibility, effective remote assistance, reliable emergency-response behavior and transparent incident reporting.
As of August 18, 2026, automated-vehicle policy is becoming more flexible while approvals remain conditional and vehicle-specific. Tesla’s Austin plans, listed expansion cities, limited Las Vegas permit and future Cybercab should therefore be read as separate milestones—not as a single federal endorsement.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
