Elon Musk’s Tesla has revolutionized the auto industry with electric vehicles known for their sleek design and advanced technology.
Tesla cars are celebrated for their performance and safety features, often earning high crash-test ratings. But new study raises questions about the real-world risks associated with driving these powerful vehicles.
According to a report by the automotive research website iSeeCars, Tesla has the highest fatal crash rate among automakers.
The study analyzed fatal accidents from 2017 to 2022 using data from the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System, according to auto-motor-und-sport. .
It found that, on average, a fatal accident occurs every 222 million miles driven. For Tesla vehicles, this number drops to just 111 million miles.
Driver Behavior, Not Vehicle Design
The Tesla Model Y stands out with a fatal crash rate of 10.6 per billion miles, nearly five times the average for SUVs.
It ranks as the sixth most dangerous vehicle overall, behind models like the Hyundai Venue and Chevrolet Corvette.
The Tesla Model S also performs poorly, with a rate of 5.8 per billion miles, twice the average for all vehicles.
Tesla’s vehicles are equipped with cutting-edge safety systems and often perform well in crash tests.
iSeeCars lead analyst Karl Brauer suggests that driver behavior and road conditions play a larger role in these statistics.
"These cars have excellent safety ratings," Brauer said. "But the way they’re driven and where they’re driven likely contributes to the higher crash rates."
The study also notes concerns over Tesla’s design features, such as door handles that can malfunction during emergencies. Critics argue these issues may worsen outcomes in certain crashes.
The study highlights another key finding: smaller vehicles are significantly more dangerous on U.S. roads, which are dominated by larger SUVs and trucks.
Subcompacts and compact cars lack the size and weight needed to absorb impacts in collisions with heavier vehicles.
