Tesla Robotaxi Rollout Plagued by Long Wait Times, Drop-Off Problems, Report Shows
In Focus
- Tesla robotaxis operate in Dallas, Houston, and Austin cities in Texas
- The robotaxis reportedly drop passengers 15 minutes walk away from their destinations
- In some occasions, the self-driving vehicles are not available at all
Tesla’s robotaxi rollout in Dallas and Houston was received positively by investors. For some it was a step towards actualizing Elon Musk’s robotaxi expansion plan and vision of transforming Tesla into a driver-less, AI-powered tech giant. However, an investigation by Reuters found that the robotaxi service in the two cities is in the beta-testing stage.
What are the Wait Times for Tesla Robotaxis?
Customers who request Tesla robotaxis service experience long wait times. On some occasions, self-driving vehicles are not available at all. According to Reuters, one reporter spent close to two hours to get to a 20-minute drive destination in Dallas.
The reporter experienced difficulties finding a ride on the Uber-like Tesla Robotaxi app, which showed a “high service demand” notification. For the same destination, the Uber app showed an 8-minute wait time for a 22-minute ride.
The reporter spent half an hour trying to book a Tesla ride but kept receiving a “high service demand” or “no rides available nearby” notification on the robotaxi app. A vehicle became available after 36 minutes of searching, with a 19 minutes wait time. After pickup, the robotaxi took a longer route to the rider’s destination. A ride that ordinarily takes 20 minutes, took about 35 minutes.
The experience in Houston was similar. A Reuters reporter was able to book a Tesla robotaxi for the first time. The second time, the app showed a vehicle available with a 13-minute wait time, but later canceled the ride. No Tesla robotaxi was available for the next 30 minutes. Previously, Musk has positioned the company’s self-driving technology as a solution that works everywhere.
Passenger Drop-Off Problems
Tesla’s self-driving taxi problems are not limited to availability and long wait times. They also include passenger drop-offs. The vehicles tend to drop passengers far away from their preferred destination. For instance, the Reuters reporter whose destination was Dallas City Hall, was dropped-off 15 minutes away.
After pressing the ‘support’ button inside the car, an agent said the area was ‘restricted’ despite being located inside the Dallas service area map, which Tesla shared on social media in April 2026. On multiple occasions, Tesla robotaxis showed drop-off points 15-minutes walk from the passenger’s destinations.
In one instance, a Tesla robotaxi dropped a passenger on the opposite side of freeway and suggested walking under overpasses. In another instance, the robotaxi missed left turns four times with “do not enter” signs appearing to confuse the car.
What the Driverless Taxi Performance Issues Mean for Tesla
Analysts have flagged Tesla’s slow expansion of its robotaxi service. In July 2025, Musk said Tesla robotaxis would serve 50% of the U.S. population by the end of the year. However, the service is only available in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, where Tesla piloted Model Y driverless vehicles last year. During the earnings call in April, Musk said the company was taking a “cautious approach” to avoid fatalities or injuries.
