Tesla issues safety report amid calls for greater transparency

📅 Published: 11/14/2025
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 11:30:56 PM
📊 8 updates
⏱️ 8 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

# Tesla Issues Safety Report Amid Calls for Greater Transparency

Tesla has released a detailed safety report as pressure moun...

Tesla has released a detailed safety report as pressure mounts from industry competitors and regulators demanding more comprehensive data on the company's autonomous driving systems. The report comes at a time when scrutiny over Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capabilities has intensified, with critics arguing that the automaker's methodology lacks sufficient rigor and transparency.[1][9]

The latest safety metrics reveal concerning trends for the e...

The latest safety metrics reveal concerning trends for the electric vehicle manufacturer. Tesla's Q3 2025 data shows one crash for every 6.36 million miles driven with Autopilot features activated, marking the third consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline in mileage between crashes.[1] This deterioration has forced Tesla to revise its safety claims, downgrading its assertion from claiming Autopilot is "10 times safer than human drivers" to now stating it is "9 times safer."[1]

## The Transparency Challenge

Tesla's approach to safety reporting has long drawn criticis...

Tesla's approach to safety reporting has long drawn criticism from independent analysts and regulatory bodies. The company's methodology relies on self-reported data that counts only crashes triggering airbags or restraints, excluding minor incidents entirely.[1] Additionally, the comparison between Autopilot-equipped vehicles and the federal baseline is inherently skewed, as Autopilot is predominantly used on limited-access highways—already among the safest roads—while the federal average encompasses all road types, including more dangerous city streets.[1]

The demographic composition of Tesla's driver base further c...

The demographic composition of Tesla's driver base further complicates the picture. Tesla owners tend to be younger, higher-income, and technology-enthusiast drivers who statistically experience fewer accidents regardless of vehicle features.[1] Raw crash counts and vehicle miles traveled are not disclosed publicly, making independent verification of Tesla's claims virtually impossible.

## Industry Pressure and Regulatory Scrutiny

The call for greater transparency has intensified following...

The call for greater transparency has intensified following comments from Waymo co-CEO, who publicly urged Tesla to release more comprehensive safety data.[9] This pressure reflects broader industry concerns about how autonomous driving capabilities are being marketed and validated.

Regulatory bodies have not been silent on these issues. The...

Regulatory bodies have not been silent on these issues. The National Transportation Safety Board has previously criticized Tesla for neglecting driver safety, calling certain Autopilot features "completely inadequate" and citing the system as a probable cause in multiple fatal crashes.[4] A three-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration examining 956 vehicle collisions involving Tesla Autopilot found that the system had contributed to at least 467 collisions, including 13 fatalities.[4]

## Historical Context and Allegations

The credibility questions surrounding Tesla's safety claims...

The credibility questions surrounding Tesla's safety claims extend beyond methodology concerns. In 2023, a whistleblower provided German media with internal Tesla documents containing over 2,400 self-acceleration complaints and more than 1,500 braking function problems, including 139 cases of unintentional emergency braking and 383 reported phantom stops from false collision warnings.[2] The files also documented more than 1,000 crashes and over 3,000 entries in a table of incidents involving driver assistance systems where customers expressed safety concerns.

Tesla has faced ongoing scrutiny from the SEC regarding whis...

Tesla has faced ongoing scrutiny from the SEC regarding whistleblower complaints about potential securities law violations and accounting irregularities, though investigations have at times been closed without full evaluation of submitted documentation.[4]

## Tesla's Defense and Broader Safety Features

Tesla maintains that its vehicles are engineered to be among...

Tesla maintains that its vehicles are engineered to be among the safest cars in the world, citing achievements by its Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y in government crash testing programs.[3] The company emphasizes its use of data from millions of vehicles to continuously improve safety features through over-the-air software updates and highlights design elements such as rigid battery pack structures and extensive crumple zones.[3][7]

From 2012 to 2020, Tesla vehicles were approximately ten tim...

From 2012 to 2020, Tesla vehicles were approximately ten times less likely to catch fire per mile driven compared to average gasoline vehicles, according to the company's data.[7]

## The Path Forward

The release of Tesla's detailed safety report represents an...

The release of Tesla's detailed safety report represents an attempt to address mounting criticism, yet fundamental questions about methodology and transparency remain unresolved. Industry observers note that without standardized, independently verified metrics for autonomous driving systems, meaningful comparison between manufacturers remains elusive. The ongoing debate reflects broader challenges facing the autonomous vehicle industry as it scales technology deployment while establishing credible safety frameworks for consumers and regulators.

🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 10:20:46 PM
Tesla's Q2 2025 Vehicle Safety Report reveals that vehicles equipped with Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) recorded one accident for every 6.69 million miles driven—nearly 10 times safer than the U.S. average of one accident per 702,000 miles based on 2023 NHTSA and FHWA data[3]. The report demonstrates Tesla's commitment to transparency through quarterly safety disclosures dating back to 2018, though the company continues to face scrutiny from regulators; a 2024 NHTSA investigation concluded that Tesla Autopilot contributed to at least 467 collisions, including 13
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 10:30:48 PM
Tesla’s recent Q2 2025 Safety Report highlights a global impact with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems showing one accident per 6.69 million miles driven, nearly 10 times safer than the U.S. average, a statistic derived from data impacting multiple countries given Tesla’s global fleet exceeding 9 billion miles with Autopilot engaged[1][5]. Internationally, the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) awarded the 2025 Model 3 a 5-star safety rating, emphasizing Tesla’s leading safety standards and influencing regulatory and consumer confidence worldwide[3]. However, calls for greater transparency continue amid ongoing investigations and critiques, including from U.S. agencies, signaling pressure on Tesla to provide clearer, globally
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 10:40:52 PM
Tesla has released its latest Vehicle Safety Report, revealing that in Q2 2025, vehicles using Autopilot technology recorded one crash per 6.69 million miles driven—significantly lower than the national average of one crash every 702,000 miles, according to NHTSA and FHWA data. The report comes amid heightened scrutiny and calls for transparency, following a recent NHTSA investigation that found Tesla’s Autopilot contributed to at least 467 collisions, including 13 fatalities, out of 956 incidents examined. Tesla maintains its systems are safer than human drivers, citing over 9 billion miles of real-world data and ongoing over-the-air safety improvements.
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 10:50:52 PM
Tesla's latest safety report, released amid growing calls for transparency, highlights the evolving competitive landscape as Tesla maintains a strong lead in autonomous driving safety with Full Self-Driving (FSD) achieving 5.1 million miles driven per collision, compared to 972,000 miles manually without active safety features[1]. However, Tesla's safety data is coming under increased scrutiny as competitors like Waymo push for more detailed disclosures, and Tesla’s year-over-year Autopilot safety metrics have reportedly declined, signaling intensified pressure from rivals and regulatory bodies to improve and clarify safety performance[3][9]. This competitive pressure coincides with Tesla facing significant legal challenges, including a recent $243 million verdict in Florida related to a fatal Autopilot crash, unders
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 11:00:53 PM
Tesla’s Q3 2025 Safety Report reveals Autopilot is now associated with one crash every 6.36 million miles, making it nine times safer than the national average of 699,000 miles per major collision, though this is slightly lower than the 7 million miles reported in Q3 2024[1][9]. Elon Musk highlighted ambitious scaling targets for Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet, aiming for over 1,000 cars in the Bay Area and 500 in Austin by year-end, emphasizing autonomous driving as central to Tesla’s competitive strategy[1]. Despite these claims, Tesla faces scrutiny over transparency and safety, with critics pointing to ongoing investigations and past concerns about Autopilot’s real-world performance and data disclosure practice
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 11:10:56 PM
Tesla has released a new safety report detailing collision rates for its vehicles, showing one major crash every 6.36 million miles driven with Autopilot engaged in Q3 2025—a decline from previous quarters and prompting renewed scrutiny over the system's real-world safety. The move comes after Waymo’s co-CEO publicly called for greater transparency from Tesla, and as the NHTSA continues its investigation into 956 collisions involving Tesla’s Autopilot, 467 of which were linked to the system, including 13 fatalities. Critics argue Tesla’s methodology remains flawed, citing self-reported data and a lack of independent verification.
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 11:20:58 PM
Tesla’s latest safety report highlights the company’s global data, showing that from 2012 to 2023 there was one Tesla vehicle fire per 135 million miles driven—significantly lower than the U.S. average of one fire per 17 million miles—underscoring Tesla’s focus on safety through technology and data-driven updates[1]. Internationally, the refreshed Model 3 earned a 5-star Overall Safety Rating from ANCAP, achieving 95% in Child Occupant Protection, demonstrating positive reception and rigorous safety validation outside the U.S.[5]. Despite these advances, Tesla continues to face calls from global regulators and safety advocates for greater transparency on Autopilot-related incidents, reflecting ongoing international scrutiny of its automated driving systems[
🔄 Updated: 11/14/2025, 11:30:56 PM
Tesla's release of its most detailed safety report to date, showing one crash every 6.69 million miles with Autopilot/FSD engaged—nearly 10 times safer than the U.S. average—has triggered mixed market reactions. Shares dipped 2.2% Friday as investors weighed the data against ongoing regulatory scrutiny, including a new NHTSA investigation into "phantom braking" in Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Analysts note that while the transparency boost was welcomed, concerns over long-term system reliability and regulatory risk continue to pressure Tesla’s stock.
← Back to all articles

Latest News