Toronto, Ontario — Tesla is facing another U.S. safety investigation — this time over claims it delayed crash reports tied to its self-driving vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened the probe on Aug. 20, alleging that Tesla submitted accident reports weeks or months after crashes occurred, instead of within the required five-day window.
In a preliminary filing, Tesla said the delays were linked to a data collection issue that has since been resolved. NHTSA said it will examine whether that explanation is accurate and whether the system has been fixed to ensure timely reporting.
The audit covers multiple models, including the Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y. It comes as the automaker faces heightened scrutiny over its Full Self-Driving and Autopilot features, as well as its recent rollout of robo-taxis in Austin, Texas.
Dan O’Dowd, founder of technology safety group the Dawn Project, called Tesla’s reporting failures “appalling.” In an online statement, he added: “Tesla goes to great lengths to conceal the truth about crashes involving full self-driving and autopilot because it knows its self-driving software is dangerous.”
This is not Tesla’s first clash with regulators. In October 2024, NHTSA launched a separate investigation into whether 2.5 million vehicles could safely operate in low-visibility conditions. More recently, the agency informally reviewed Tesla’s robo-taxis after videos circulated showing the vehicles driving at high speeds, making illegal maneuvers and straying into the wrong lanes.
The latest investigation underscores ongoing questions about Tesla’s handling of crash data and the safety of its self-driving technology.
