Two federal tracks
On 13 October, The Verge reported that the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is evaluating a defect petition about Tesla's robotaxis. NHTSA said its Office of Defects Investigation received the petition on 23 September. It concerns model-year 2026 Tesla Robotaxis, both the Model Y and the Cybercab, running with the Automated Driving System engaged. The petitioner says the system exceeds posted speed limits in active school zones. The Verge put the number of affected vehicles at about 1,000.
Separately, the agency is pressing ahead with an audit of the Cybercab's certification. According to EVwire, NHTSA opened an audit query on 3 September, the day Tesla started commercial Cybercab service in Austin. It followed this with a special order on 10 September containing 21 requests. The order asks Tesla to list every Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard it certified the vehicle against and to explain how it met each one. Several of those standards assume a human driver. For example, FMVSS No. 135 requires a foot-operated service brake, and the Cybercab has no pedals.
Tesla asked for an eight-week extension to 20 November. NHTSA granted 30 days instead, which moves the deadline from 30 September to 30 October.
What comes next
A defect petition can lead to a formal investigation and, eventually, a recall. The special order needs sworn answers. EVwire noted that failing to respond fully or truthfully can bring civil penalties of up to $27,874 a day, up to a maximum of $139,356,994.
Why it matters financially
Tesla's robotaxi ambitions are central to how investors value the company. If regulators found the Cybercab's self-certification wanting, sales plans and expansion to new cities could be delayed. Separately, a recall arising from the school-zone petition would cover the whole ADS-equipped fleet. The penalty ceiling for incomplete answers to the special order is about $139.4m, as reported by EVwire.