Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, despite years of ambitious promises from CEO Elon Musk regarding an autonomous future where drivers could safely sleep at the wheel, faces a stark reality that contradicts these claims. While Tesla publicly maintains FSD as a supervised Level 2 autonomous system, requiring constant driver readiness and responsibility for any incidents, Musk frequently portrays a much more advanced capability, often linking it to the expansion of Tesla’s nascent Robotaxi services which are envisioned to be fully driverless.

This discrepancy between promise and reality has put many Tesla drivers in precarious situations, leading to scrutiny from U.S. Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The Senators have formally urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to launch an investigation into FSD's performance, particularly concerning its handling of railroad crossings, which numerous reports suggest is inadequate. This call to action follows a growing number of complaints, including at least 40 written accounts and seven videos since 2023, highlighting FSD's failures at these critical junctions.

One notable incident cited by the Senators from 2024 involved a Tesla Model Y, with FSD engaged, failing to detect a moving train, subsequently colliding with a crossing arm and skidding off the road. Although the owner accepted responsibility, they also expressed that the car's failure to recognize the train was a significant factor. Such incidents underscore recurring issues where FSD has not recognized various road hazards, from large debris to flashing warning signals.

Adding to the controversy, a reported upcoming Tesla update (version 2025.32.3) is said to recommend activating FSD when driver drowsiness is detected, rather than advising a break. This proposed feature directly conflicts with the Level 2 classification, which mandates an alert driver at all times. Despite the well-documented challenges and safety concerns, Elon Musk continues to make bold predictions, stating that FSD version 14.2, currently deploying, will make Tesla vehicles