Tesla Robotaxi Test in Austin Faces Driving Issues Caught on Camera

Tesla’s robotaxi pilot program in Austin, Texas has drawn mixed reactions after videos from selected riders revealed numerous driving issues, raising safety concerns. The public test involves 10–20 modified Model Y vehicles equipped with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software and human safety monitors in the front seat.

While Tesla enthusiasts shared clips of smooth rides, several documented alarming incidents. These included robotaxis entering oncoming traffic lanes, sudden braking without cause, driving over curbs, and dropping passengers in unsafe locations such as intersections or multi-lane roads. In one case, a vehicle veered into a lane for oncoming traffic, prompting a honk from another driver. Another video showed a sudden brake that caused a passenger to lurch forward.

Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon professor and autonomous tech expert, expressed surprise at the number of problematic clips from day one. Tesla has not responded to media inquiries.

Austin city officials acknowledged the issues and confirmed collaboration with Tesla and the local police to ensure public safety. Despite the incidents, there have been no accidents. Some experts, like Princeton’s Alain Kornhauser, argued the robotaxis often reacted better than human drivers, citing safety-oriented behavior.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is pushing to expand the service to other U.S. cities later this year, promising millions of fully autonomous Teslas by 2026. However, critics note Musk’s long history of missed autonomy deadlines. The $4.20 rides are currently limited to a small group of users within a restricted area, avoiding complex intersections and bad weather.

The launch contrasts with competitors like Waymo, which already offers driverless rides via Uber in Austin, while GM’s Cruise paused operations after a pedestrian accident last year. Experts say Tesla’s highly visible testing strategy may be premature given the current performance.