Study Reveals Tesla Leads in Fatal Accident Rates Among U.S. Car Brands

Despite top safety ratings, Tesla vehicles have a fatal crash rate double the national average, raising questions about driver behavior and autopilot claims.

A study by iSeeCars found Tesla vehicles have the highest fatal accident rate among U.S. car brands, with 5.6 fatal accidents per billion miles driven, compared to the national average of 2.8.
The Tesla Model Y, with a fatal accident rate of 10.6 per billion miles, ranked as one of the most dangerous vehicles in its category, more than tripling the segment's average rate of 4.8.
The research suggests that while Tesla cars perform well in crash tests, factors such as driver overconfidence, distracted driving, and reliance on autopilot features may contribute to higher fatality rates.
Tesla's autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems are under investigation by the Department of Justice and NHTSA for potentially misleading marketing claims about their capabilities.
Elon Musk’s long-standing promises of fully autonomous vehicles have yet to materialize, and critics argue that Tesla's branding may encourage unsafe driver behavior.