• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Tech

Another Driver Blames Tesla For Autopilot Crash

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 26, 2016, 2:17 PM ET
Tesla Motors Inc. Tests Self-Driving Technology
An employee drives a Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric automobile, equipped with Autopilot hardware and software, hands-free on a highway in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. Tesla started equipping the Model S with hardware -- radar, a forward-looking camera, 12 long-range sensors, GPS -- to enable the autopilot features about a year ago. Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Jasper Juinen — Bloomberg via Getty Images

Another day, another Tesla crash.

This time, a Tesla (TSLA) Model S driver claims that his car’s Autopilot failed to react to a van parked on a busy road somewhere in Europe and slammed into its rear. The driver, Chris Thomann, who blamed the crash on Tesla and said that the entire front of his car must be replaced, posted a video of the incident online.

“I was in contact with Tesla Europe, but they could not provide me with any useful information,” he wrote in the description of the video he posted to YouTube. “They just stated that ‘all systems worked as expected.’ Well, certainly not how I expected them to work.”

The video, which was posted to YouTube on Wednesday and earlier reported on by Electrek, shows the Model S driving along a busy street and using Autopilot to track a black car in front of it. After the car in front swerved around the stopped van, the Model S neither reacted to avoid the obstacle nor stopped, leading to the collision.

According to Thomann, he was using Tesla’s Autopilot active cruise control at the time and said that it “did not brake as it normally does.” He added that the car’s “collision avoidance system did not make an emergency brake,” and that the “forward collision warning turned on way too late,” despite being turned on to its normal setting. What’s worse, he says, the car actually sped up before he hit the brakes.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Tesla’s autopilot is a semi- but not fully autonomous feature in Tesla’s sedan. The feature automatically takes over steering within a lane. Drivers who want to change lanes can do so by tapping the turn signal. In addition, autopilot controls speed and uses sensors and other technology to perform other functions like steering to avoid collisions and parallel parking.

Autopilot, while handy, has been the subject of some debate of late after two Model S drivers earlier this month blamed the car’s self-driving features for causing a crash. One of those drivers accused the technology of driving the car into a trailer and smashing his car’s windshield. Another driver claimed that the car’s autopilot didn’t engage when she assumed it would prevent colliding with the rear of another car.

Tesla has countered those claims, saying that the windshield-smashing incident could have been prevented if the driver had properly used an auto-parking feature. In the second incident involving a rear-end collision, Tesla said that if the driver hadn’t tapped the brake pedal, the car would have likely prevented a crash.

Tesla based its findings on an analysis of each car’s “black box,” which includes important data about how the vehicle is operating and what caused an accident.

In both cases, however, drivers made assumptions that led to crashes, illustrating the work that auto makers must still do before fully autonomous vehicles are ready for widespread use. Indeed, most analysts don’t expect most fully autonomous cars to hit the road until 2020 and to become widely used long after then.

 

 

A Tesla spokesperson was quick to note to Fortune that customer education about what Autopilot can do is critical.

“Tesla Autopilot is designed to provide a hands-on experience to give drivers more confidence behind the wheel, increase their safety on the road, and make highway driving more enjoyable,” the spokesperson says. “Autopilot is by far the most advanced such system on the road, but it does not turn a Tesla into an autonomous vehicle and does not allow the driver to abdicate responsibility. Since the release of Autopilot, we’ve continuously educated customers on the use of the feature, reminding them that they’re responsible for remaining alert and present when using Autopilot and must be prepared to take control at all times.”

For more about Tesla, watch: [fortune-brightcove videoid=4879615184001]

Thomann, the latest driver to be involved in an Autopilot-related crash, doesn’t appear willing to back down. While he acknowledged that he could have been more careful, he said that he trusted his car to do the right thing. Only this time, it didn’t.

“Yes, I could have reacted sooner, but when the car slows down correctly 1,000 times, you trust it to do it the next time, too,” he wrote. “My bad.”

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Trump Mobile quietly rewrote its fine print to say the gold Trump phone may never be made, a year after taking $100 deposits
North AmericaU.S. Politics
Trump Mobile quietly rewrote its fine print to say the gold Trump phone may never be made, a year after taking $100 deposits
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 11, 2026
3 hours ago
Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang is driving a squeeze of memory chips.
AISemiconductors
Wall Street thinks memory is AI’s golden ticket. Harvard’s chip expert warns: ‘Curves that just go to the sky with no end…never continue forever’
By Eva RoytburgMay 11, 2026
6 hours ago
Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary wants to build a massive $100 billion data center in rural Utah. Residents are revolting
AIData centers
Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary wants to build a massive $100 billion data center in rural Utah. Residents are revolting
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Santa Clara County is suing Meta over allegations it profited from scam advertisements that particularly targeted seniors and families
LawMeta
Santa Clara County is suing Meta over allegations it profited from scam advertisements that particularly targeted seniors and families
By Catherina GioinoMay 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
Economyconstruction
Jensen Huang’s message to electricians and plumbers: ‘This is your time,’ as AI buildout leads to soaring demand for skilled trades
By Tristan BoveMay 11, 2026
9 hours ago
worker alone in empty office
Future of WorkTech
AI isn’t paying off in the way companies think. Layoffs driven by automation are failing to generate returns, study finds
By Jake AngeloMay 11, 2026
9 hours ago

Most Popular

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z and millennials are using ChatGPT like a 'life advisor'—but college students might be one step ahead
Tech
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Gen Z and millennials are using ChatGPT like a 'life advisor'—but college students might be one step ahead
By Sydney LakeMay 10, 2026
2 days ago
‘This is the way’: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffett’s famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt
Economy
‘This is the way’: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffett’s famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt
By Jacqueline MunisMay 10, 2026
2 days ago
Forget U.S. debt, China's total borrowing is in 'a league of its own'—much worse and deteriorating faster, analyst says
Economy
Forget U.S. debt, China's total borrowing is in 'a league of its own'—much worse and deteriorating faster, analyst says
By Jason MaMay 11, 2026
9 hours ago
Microsoft’s CFO admits she joined the tech giant without even knowing her salary—and then missed her first day of work
Success
Microsoft’s CFO admits she joined the tech giant without even knowing her salary—and then missed her first day of work
By Preston ForeMay 11, 2026
11 hours ago
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
Success
Red flag test: former CEO explains why he rejects job candidates who say they can start right away
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 9, 2026
3 days ago
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
Future of Work
'Employers are increasingly turning to degree and GPA' in hiring: Recruiters retreat from ‘talent is everywhere,’ double down on top colleges
By Jake AngeloMay 9, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.