5 Teslas Have Crashed On The Same Road In California

Aug. 08, 2021 11:46 AM ET by Karl Furlong Technology / 40 Comments

The latest victim is a 2020 Model X Long Range Plus.

Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self Driving (FSD) suite of technologies can't seem to get through a decent period of time without tripping over itself. Sometimes the technology does its job admirably, like when a drunk driver passed out behind the wheel and his Tesla successfully brought the car to a stop, averting almost certain disaster.

But industry experts remain extremely critical of the latest FSD beta 9 which is being tested by consumers on public roads. In the latest incident to involve an errant Tesla, one owner of a 2020 Model X Long Range Plus crashed into a boulder because the SUV failed to follow the curve of the road but continued straight, causing the crash.

Sharing his story on Reddit and going by the name BBFLG, he sent his post with the intention of Tesla improving the technology. Apparently, BBFLG says that five Teslas including his Model X crashed in the same spot on Northside Drive in Yosemite Valley, California. This information was confirmed by rangers in the area and a tow truck driver who previously towed away a Model S from the same location. The driver claims that he was in a 25-mph zone; fortunately, he wasn't driving at a high speed.

"Hands on wheel, eyes on road, vehicle just wanted to keep going straight," said BBFLG. "It barely followed the curve at the last minute and even with hands on the wheel, there was no way I could stop or turn as it entered a gravel-covered area."

2016-2020 Tesla Model X Front View Driving

2016-2020 Tesla Model X Rear View Driving

BBFLG also complained about the fact that his Model X mistook the moon for a yellow light on the same weekend as this crash and kept trying to slow down. An avid Tesla customer, he has previously owned a 2016 Model S P90D and a 2016 Model X. What's also concerning is that he noted that "several calls and emails" to Tesla about the latest crash in Yosemite haven't been returned with much interest from the automaker. He hoped that the repair costs would be covered and a loaner car supplied. With five Teslas crashing in the same spot, there is clearly an issue with the use of the driver-assist tech on this particular road and one can only hope Tesla takes it seriously before another accident occurs.