Tesla automated driving system active in fatal Arizona highway crash

Federal filings submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that a Tesla's automated driving system was active during a fatal crash in Mesa, Arizona. On October 31, 2025, a 2020 Tesla Model 3 traveling eastbound on the Loop 202 freeway came to a complete stop in the middle of the highway at approximately 3 a.m. A Ford F-350 pickup truck subsequently rear-ended the stationary vehicle, killing the Tesla driver at the scene.

The crash report confirmed that either Tesla’s standard Autopilot or its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) software was “verified engaged” at the time of the collision. This incident follows a similar fatal accident in Florida involving a Model 3 using driver-assist software that also stopped in the middle of a highway.

Tesla has redacted specific details in its NHTSA filings, including the software version and the crash narrative, citing “confidential business information.” The sudden halting of vehicles is a known issue associated with “phantom braking,” a glitch where Tesla vehicles unexpectedly apply brakes.