Following a survey by auto research firm iSeeCars, Tesla vehicles often hailed as the safest cars on the road are coming under investigation. Despite consistently receiving outstanding safety ratings, the study shows that among major automakers, Tesla has the highest number of fatal accidents.
According to the data, which covered fatal crashes involving 2018–2022 models from 2017–2022, Tesla’s Model S and Model Y were among the most dangerous vehicles in terms of occupant mortality rate. For example, the fatal accident rate for the Model S is 3.8 times greater than that of the typical SUV and 3.7 times higher than that of the ordinary vehicle. With an overall fatal accident rate of 5.6 per billion miles driven, Tesla leads the industry in fatal accidents, outpacing Kia’s rate of 5.5.
These figures stand in contrast to Tesla’s cutting-edge safety measures, such as Full-Self Driving (FSD) and Autopilot. Although these technologies are intended to minimize human error, their efficacy is up for discussion. Although active driver supervision is necessary for both, others contend that these characteristics could encourage complacency. Several legal actions and regulatory inquiries, such as those conducted by the Department of Justice and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), raise concerns about whether Tesla exaggerates the capabilities of its autonomous systems.
According to iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer, these high death rates are caused by elements other than vehicle engineering, including as driving circumstances and driver conduct. Despite improvements in vehicle safety, an increase in speeding and distracted driving negates these gains, increasing the number of collisions and fatalities.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has made several promises regarding a fully autonomous FSD. In 2027, he even unveiled a concept for a “Robotaxi” that would operate without a steering wheel. Nonetheless, the continuous deaths highlight the fact that no technology can completely eliminate the dangers associated with careless driving. The results underline the paradox that modern safety equipment cannot replace the human element at the wheel, highlighting the importance of careful and responsible driving.