Tesla is facing a lawsuit from the family of a driver who died in a 2023 collision involving the company’s Autopilot system. The deceased driver, Genesis Giovanni Mendoza-Martinez, was involved in a crash with his 2021 Tesla Model S in Walnut Creek, California. While driving with Autopilot engaged, Mendoza’s vehicle crashed into a parked fire truck. His brother, Caleb Mendoza, who was a passenger, suffered severe injuries in the incident. The family has accused Tesla of “fraudulent misrepresentation” of its Autopilot system, claiming that the company’s marketing and statements regarding the system’s safety were misleading and contributed to the crash.
The lawsuit was filed in October 2023 in Contra Costa County, California, but Tesla successfully moved the case to federal court in the Northern District of California. Legal experts note that fraud claims in federal court generally face a higher burden of proof, which could make it more difficult for the plaintiffs to win the case. Tesla’s lawyers argue that the crash was due to the driver’s own negligence and that any claims made by Tesla regarding the Autopilot system were not significant enough to have caused the accident. They maintain that Tesla’s vehicles are “reasonably safe” and comply with both state and federal safety regulations.
In their lawsuit, the Mendoza family’s attorneys pointed to numerous statements made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the company itself, including tweets, blog posts, and remarks during earnings calls, which allegedly exaggerated the capabilities and safety of the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. Tesla’s Autopilot is a partially automated driving system, and FSD, a premium version of this system, is available for purchase or subscription. The family claims these representations misled consumers into believing the system could drive the car autonomously, when in fact it still requires driver supervision.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been investigating Tesla’s Autopilot system since 2021, particularly regarding crashes involving stationary emergency vehicles. This investigation has led to a series of over-the-air software updates to Tesla’s vehicles. Additionally, Tesla faces a lawsuit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles for allegedly making false advertising claims about Autopilot and FSD. The Mendoza-Martinez case is one of many legal actions Tesla is facing related to its Autopilot technology, with at least 15 similar cases currently active.
