The vibes are off at Tesla HQ. US regulators have officially launched a preliminary probe into the company’s robotaxis following claims that these autonomous vehicles are speeding through active school zones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the investigation covers 1,000 vehicles, specifically 2026-model Cybercabs and Model Ys equipped with self-driving tech. The situation kicked off after a formal complaint surfaced with video evidence showing the vehicles hitting school zones at dangerous speeds in at least four separate incidents. Real talk: the NHTSA is currently just in the preliminary phase, so a full-scale investigation isn't guaranteed yet. Tesla’s robotaxi rollout has been anything but smooth. After a limited launch in Austin last year that still required a human behind the wheel, the company pushed out its driverless Cybercab last month. The catch? This new model ditches steering wheels and brake pedals entirely. For Elon Musk, the robotaxi business is highkey the pivot point for Tesla’s future growth, especially as the brand deals with declining EV sales. However, the road ahead is looking mid. This is actually the second time the NHTSA has eyed Tesla’s autonomy recently—they already opened a probe in September to see if the Cybercabs were properly certified to hit the streets. It’s also worth noting that Tesla isn't the only one in the hot seat; Waymo, the Alphabet-owned competitor, has dealt with similar heat regarding school bus safety and even a collision with a child in Santa Monica earlier this year. Tesla hasn't commented on the investigation yet, but the pressure is definitely mounting.