Tesla's Full Self-Driving system continues to struggle with one of the most dangerous scenarios on the road: railroad crossings. A Tesla running FSD v14.3.7, Tesla's most recent release, nearly drove into an oncoming train this week after failing to stop at an active crossing with flashing lights and an audible horn, according to dashcam footage shared by auto journalist Lei Xing. This marks at least the third documented incident this year where FSD has attempted to cross railroad tracks despite clear warning signals.

The incident occurred on August 26, 2026, with the Tesla approaching the crossing at 9 miles per hour while the "Self-Driving" indicator was active. The crossing signals were flashing and the train was both visible and audible, yet the vehicle only slowed before attempting to proceed directly into the train's path. Lei Xing manually braked to avoid a collision. When asked which software version the car was running, Lei confirmed it was 14.3.7, the newest build Tesla has released and currently rolling out to AI4 vehicles.

Why Should Railroad Crossings Be a Solved Problem for Autonomous Driving?

The timing of this failure is particularly troubling because Tesla released FSD v14.3 earlier this year with release notes specifically claiming improved handling for "rare and unusual objects extending, hanging, or leaning into the vehicle path." This language should theoretically cover lowered gates and moving trains. Seven point-releases later, the system still drove toward an oncoming train.

Railroad crossings represent a consistent and dangerous failure mode for Tesla's driver-assistance system. In March 2026, a Tesla on FSD drove straight through lowered railroad crossing barriers in West Covina, California, making no attempt to brake until after impact. A month later, a Texas owner shared footage of his Tesla crashing through a railroad gate seconds before an oncoming train; he had to accelerate hard to clear the tracks, and the crossing arm struck his window on the way through. Even further back, in 2025, a Tesla in "self-driving mode" in Pennsylvania was actually struck by a train after turning onto the tracks.

NBC News documented more than 40 accounts of Tesla vehicles failing at railroad crossings, establishing a clear pattern of system failures at these critical safety points.

What Regulatory Action Has Been Taken?

The railroad crossing failures have drawn serious government attention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into FSD in October 2025 after 58 reported crashes involving incidents where the system ran red lights and drove into oncoming traffic. That probe has since expanded to cover roughly 2.9 million FSD-equipped vehicles, one step short of a formal recall demand.

Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal separately pushed NHTSA to specifically investigate the railroad crossing failures, calling them a "disturbing safety risk." Despite this regulatory scrutiny and the documented pattern of failures, Tesla continues to market the system as "Full Self-Driving" while its own manual states the driver must remain fully attentive and ready to take over at any moment.

How to Stay Safe While Using Tesla's Full Self-Driving System

• Remain Vigilant at Railroad Crossings: Never rely on FSD to handle railroad crossings automatically. Actively monitor the system's behavior when approaching any crossing with flashing lights or lowered gates, and be prepared to take manual control immediately.
• Stay Alert for Warning Signals: Watch for flashing red lights, audible train horns, and lowered crossing arms. These are the most obvious "do not proceed" signals on the road, and FSD has repeatedly failed to recognize them even in the latest software versions.
• Maintain Hands-On Control: Keep your hands on the steering wheel and your attention on the road at all times, especially in scenarios involving trains, emergency vehicles, or other high-risk situations. FSD's own documentation requires this level of attentiveness.
• Report Failures to NHTSA: If you experience a safety failure with FSD, report it to NHTSA's complaint database. These reports help regulators understand the scope and severity of system failures and may accelerate safety improvements.

The core issue is that railroad crossings are not rare or unusual scenarios. They are common road features that autonomous systems must handle reliably. A human driver would never attempt to cross tracks with flashing lights and an audible train horn, yet FSD has now done so multiple times in 2026 alone. The system's repeated failures at this specific task raise fundamental questions about whether current FSD technology is ready for the level of autonomy Tesla is marketing to consumers.