A Tesla Model 3 that was involved in a fatal crash on an Arizona highway in October 2025 had come to an inexplicable stop while its automated driving system was engaged, according to newly filed documents.
The vehicle, a 2020 Model 3, was traveling eastbound on Loop 202 in Mesa around 3 a.m. on October 31, 2025, when it unexpectedly halted in the middle of the freeway. Shortly thereafter, it was rear-ended by a Ford F-350 pickup truck. The driver of the Tesla died at the scene.
Initial local reports at the time of the incident did not specify the use of automated technology. However, redacted filings submitted by Tesla to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed that either the standard Autopilot or the "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) software was engaged at the time of the collision. The crash report indicated the Tesla's pre-crash movement was "stopped – 0 mph."
This incident follows a similar event weeks prior, where another Tesla Model 3 using the driver-assist software reportedly stopped on a Florida highway before a fatal rear-end collision.
Tesla is known to possess extensive vehicle data, including video, telematics, and event-data recorder information that could explain why the car stopped. However, the company redacted three critical fields from the NHTSA filings: the crash narrative, the software version, and whether the vehicle was operating within its approved area. Tesla classified this information as "confidential business information."
The company has a history of issues related to its automated driving systems, including a phenomenon known as "phantom braking," where vehicles decelerate abruptly for no apparent reason. The NHTSA initiated a preliminary investigation into this issue in February 2022 following numerous consumer complaints. This four-year probe concluded in July 2026, with the agency noting a significant decrease in incident reports and finding no evidence of underlying mechanical brake defects or unreasonable collision risks.