On Sunday, June 22, 2025, Tesla began testing its own robotaxi service, but the very next day, videos of reckless driving appeared online, which raised concerns among the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), CNBC reports.
In one of the videos of the entire trip, Tesla's autopilot got lost in navigation and crossed a solid double line. In another clip, which is going viral, the company's robo-taxi simply stopped in the middle of the road after spotting two police cars.
An NHTSA spokesman said in an email that the agency is “aware of the incidents and is contacting the manufacturer to gather additional information.” Tesla’s vice president of automotive engineering, Lars Morawi, and regulatory affairs advisor, Casey Blaine, did not respond to media requests for comment.
NHTSA does not approve new vehicle technologies or systems in advance. Instead, automakers must self-certify that each model of their vehicle they produce meets federal safety standards. But after the videos went viral, the regulator said it would begin investigating incidents involving "potential safety defects."
In addition, NHTSA already has one open investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, following reports of potential safety defects in the technology. The results of the investigation are not yet available.
As a reminder, Tesla is currently testing its robotaxi system in Austin, Texas. About 10 Model Y cars are participating in the tests, and a limited number of users who have received an invitation can use the services of a driverless taxi.