Tesla Model 3 Runs Red Light And Wrecks Corvette In Dashcam Video

Trouble At The Stoplight

Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into approximately 2.88 million Teslas equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) after reports of traffic violations, including running red lights and entering opposing lanes. Newly published dashcam footage appears to show a similar incident: a Tesla Model 3 ran a red light and struck a Chevrolet C7 Corvette.

In a Reddit post by CaptainShiryu, the Model 3 can be seen approaching an intersection in San Diego without visibly slowing down. It then strikes the left-hand side of the Corvette, causing the American sports car to spin and lose a wheel.

The Camera Can Only Say So Much

Before anything else, no official report on the crash has been released, so its exact cause remains unknown. The original poster only mentioned witnessing the collision near the northbound Genesee exit on Interstate 5. The footage also runs for just 12 seconds, leaving much of what happened before and after the crash unclear.

Although the NHTSA investigation shows that other Teslas have allegedly run red lights with FSD engaged, the footage provides no evidence that the system was active in this case. The brake lights appear to illuminate only after the Model 3 crosses the stop line, but the footage does not reveal whether the driver or the vehicle’s automatic emergency braking system initiated the braking.

The collision left the Model 3 – which appeared to be a pre-facelift version – with significant front-end damage, although the full extent cannot be seen due to the limited camera angle.

A Painful Hit In More Ways Than One

While further details remain unavailable, the footage appears to show the Model 3 driver in the wrong, as the light was red and other vehicles had stopped before the intersection. As for the Chevy Corvette, the damage appears substantial enough to require costly repairs or potentially result in a total loss. If the Tesla driver is found liable, their liability insurance would generally cover the damage up to the policy limit.

Regardless of whether a driver-assistance feature was active and failed or the crash resulted from human error, the incident serves as a reminder that drivers must remain attentive. As a reminder, FSD is classified as a Level 2 system and still requires continuous supervision; it is not equivalent to Level 4 autonomous driving.

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