A Cybertruck recently crashed into a pole in Florida while driving with the latest Full Self-Driving (FSD) version 13.2.4. The Cybertruck failed to properly execute a lane change, resulting in the collision.
Incident Detail
The Cybertruck owner, Jonathan Challinger who is also a software developer, shared the details of the crash to X while using FSD version 13.2.4. According to Challinger, the Cybertruck was in the right lane and needed to merge left as the lane ended. However, the system did not merge, slow down, or turn, causing the vehicle to hit a curb and then crash into a pole. The Cybertruck suffered severe damage but Challinger managed to avoid any injury.
Soooooo my @Tesla @cybertruck crashed into a curb and then a light post on v13.2.4.
Thank you @Tesla for engineering the best passive safety in the world. I walked away without a scratch.
It failed to merge out of a lane that was ending (there was no one on my left) and made… pic.twitter.com/vpT4AGz8jZ
— Jonathan Challinger (@MrChallinger) February 9, 2025
Human Error
Challinger thanked Tesla for the safety innovations present in his vehicle, which he believes prevented him from being injured. Challinger stands by his support for Tesla even after the accident took place. However, Challinger warned other Tesla drivers that using FSD can lead to dangerous situations due to driver inattentiveness. “Big fail on my part, obviously. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It can happen”, Challinger warned.
Technical Error
According to Challinger his Cybertruck maintained a speed of 30 miles per hour when the accident occurred. The FSD system operated without attempting any steering maneuvers or braking actions before striking the pole. The pole’s position caused further attention, with some observers pointing out its unusual placement.
Tesla enthusiast, Troy Teslike points out that although the pole is in an unusual position, he believes that the incident shows three issues with FSD: its difficulty seeing road markings at night, its failure to save some road markings in digital maps, and its unreliable detection of certain solid objects due to the use of vision-only FSD.
The vehicle was in the shoulder lane when Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) first missed the road markings signaling to move left 500 feet before the pole, then failed to detect the pole in the middle of the lane where the shoulder had just ended.
This shows three problems with… pic.twitter.com/GvvZoi9hRZ
— Troy Teslike (@TroyTeslike) February 9, 2025
Recurring Issues: Lane Centering and Merging
According to Challinger and other Tesla users, their vehicles experience persistent problems during lane centering as well as merging operations. Several independent user feedback and online forum posts have documented these difficulties. Some suggest that the FSD system struggles with recognizing lane endings and maintaining proper lane positioning
Full Self-Driving Under Scrutiny
The accident has sparked widespread conversations about Tesla’s FSD reliability and safety. FSD is a suite of advanced driver-assist features that Tesla says requires constant driver supervision. Tesla claims that the system will soon be capable of unsupervised operation. But recent incidents suggest otherwise. Even recently, we covered an article where a California tech founder, Jesse Lyu witnessed his Tesla car inadvertently steered onto an active train track in Santa Monica.
Tesla’s FSD has faced scrutiny over the years, with reports of the system running red lights and other dangerous driving behaviors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating Tesla’s FSD system, looking into both driver and software behavior in crashes.
Tesla’s Response
The company must officially disclose information about the cyber truck crash incident. The company emphasizes that FSD operation must always be accompanied by driver supervision since owners need active attention when the system is engaged. Tesla users receive notifications from FSD when the driver becomes inattentive although the system stops working when users disregard these warnings according to the manual.
