Multiple Tesla owners report near-misses and dangerous incidents where the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode failed to recognize active railroad crossings. Drivers say their cars ignored flashing lights, descending gates, and posted crossing signs—sometimes proceeding directly into or stopping on train tracks—forcing them to take over control to avoid collision.
One Tesla driver in North Texas, Italo Frigoli, described coming close to disaster when his vehicle, operating in FSD, did not respond to visible crossing gates and flashing signals. “It felt like it was going to run through the arms,” Frigoli said, forcing him to slam on the brakes as a train approached. Similar stories have been shared via online forums and social media, with at least seven documented incidents nationwide since mid-2023.
Regulators are aware of the reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reportedly reviewing complaints related to FSD’s performance at these crossings. Tesla, for its part, cautions that Full Self-Driving is a supervised driver assistance feature and not full autonomy, and advises users should stay alert and ready to intervene.
