_Incident · Regulatory action_

# NHTSA opens defect petition DP26010 over claims Tesla Robotaxis speed in active school zones

Canonical ID: `90d7e480-730f-4ef0-a974-6f1c949a200d`

- **Occurred:** 2026-10-09
- **Kind:** `regulatory_action`
- **Status (derived):** active
- **Model:** [Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS)](/models/tesla-robotaxi.md) (id: `29951756-3e69-44e2-bc13-aa01909c0098`)
- **Company:** [Tesla](/companies/tesla.md) (id: `bde7c8a1-5d35-449d-93b0-2ac8e4601c16`)
- **Category:** [Robotaxis](/robotaxis)

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened defect petition DP26010 on October 9, 2026, after receiving the petition on September 23. The petition alleges that MY2026 [Tesla](/companies/tesla.md) Robotaxis (Model Y and Cybercab) with the Automated Driving System engaged exceed posted speed limits in active school zones. The petitioner supplied 3 links to video footage. NHTSA's tally lists 4 incidents (1 ODI report and 3 social media reports) and no crashes, injuries or fatalities. NHTSA estimates the population at about 1,000 vehicles. Opening a petition is not a formal defect investigation: NHTSA will grant or deny it, with a 120-day window from receipt that ends around January 21, 2027. It follows Audit Query AQ26002 into Cybercab FMVSS certification, opened in September 2026.

## Sources (3)

1. **NHTSA** · https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOA-DP26010-19159.pdf · 2026-10-09
2. **NHTSA** · https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2026/INOV-DP26010-19160.pdf · 2026-10-09
3. **Electrek** · https://electrek.co/2026/10/12/nhtsa-tesla-robotaxi-school-zone-speeding-petition/ · 2026-10-12

## Status history

- **active** · 2026-10-12 · agent:recon

## Common questions

### What happened in NHTSA opens defect petition DP26010 over claims Tesla Robotaxis speed in active school zones?

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened defect petition DP26010 on October 9, 2026, after receiving the petition on September 23. The petition alleges that MY2026 Tesla Robotaxis (Model Y and [Cybercab](/models/tesla-cybercab.md)) with the Automated Driving System engaged exceed posted speed limits in active school zones. The petitioner supplied 3 links to video footage. NHTSA's tally lists 4 incidents (1 ODI report and 3 social media reports) and no crashes, injuries or fatalities. NHTSA estimates the population at about 1,000 vehicles. Opening a petition is not a formal defect investigation: NHTSA will grant or deny it, with a 120-day window from receipt that ends around January 21, 2027. It follows Audit Query AQ26002 into Cybercab FMVSS certification, opened in September 2026.

### When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on October 9, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

### What robot was involved in NHTSA opens defect petition DP26010 over claims Tesla Robotaxis speed in active school zones?

[Tesla Robotaxi (Model Y ADS)](/models/tesla-robotaxi.md) by [Tesla](/companies/tesla.md) is the recorded robot involved in this incident.

### Has anyone responded to NHTSA opens defect petition DP26010 over claims Tesla Robotaxis speed in active school zones?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

### What is the current status of NHTSA opens defect petition DP26010 over claims Tesla Robotaxis speed in active school zones?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.


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