Federal safety officials are investigating Avride, Uber’s partner for autonomous robotaxi service in Dallas, after 16 crashes occurred in Dallas and Austin between December 2025 and March 2026.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened the preliminary evaluation on May 6. Video footage reviewed by NHTSA shows the vehicles’ automated driving system executing unsafe lane changes into the path of other cars, failing to avoid slow-moving vehicles ahead, and striking stationary objects partially blocking the roadway.
At least nine of the crashes took place in Dallas. Most happened at low speeds below 20 mph and caused property damage. One resulted in a reported minor injury that did not require hospitalization. All incidents occurred while a trained safety operator sat in the driver’s seat and the automated system was engaged.
Uber launched the Avride-powered robotaxi service in Dallas on December 3, 2025, in a nine-square-mile area covering downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek and Deep Ellum. Riders can hail the vehicles through the standard Uber app. The service has operated with human safety monitors on board since launch.
Avride reports every crash to NHTSA as required by federal rules and has implemented targeted technical and operational changes based on its reviews of the incidents. The company says its overall operations have grown while the rate of incidents relative to miles driven has declined.
The investigation will examine the performance of Avride’s self-driving technology, any safety risks to passengers and other road users, and the effectiveness of steps taken to address the issues. No fatalities have been reported.
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