An Orange County Uber passenger filmed his rideshare driver apparently asleep at the wheel of a Tesla on the 405 Freeway earlier this year. The video has not produced any visible action from Uber or local law enforcement, according to the customer’s account. KTLA aired the latest version of the footage this week.
According to KTLA, the customer captured the cellphone clip on March 24, 2026, just before 7:30 p.m. while on an Uber ride to Costa Mesa, California. He filed a complaint with Uber, the rideshare company, but was told he would not be able to find out whether any action had been taken. He then contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff’s department declined to accept the video evidence, according to the customer’s account. Deputies told him they would have needed to witness the driver asleep themselves. He has been left with the footage and no path forward through either channel.
Tesla’s guidelines require drivers using Full Self-Driving mode to remain attentive and ready to take control of the vehicle at any moment, KTLA notes. The company has not publicly commented on the Orange County incident, the station reported. KTLA also noted that the case is one of several similar videos to have surfaced in recent months.
What the Footage Shows
In the passenger’s clip, the Uber driver appears to be wearing a coat and tie and looks relaxed, reclined in his seat. He remains motionless against the headrest even as the customer brings the camera closer to confirm what he’s seeing, which appears to be the driver asleep. The Tesla continues moving down the 405 without his apparent input, however, as if he’s either napping or simply keeping his eyes closed.
Toward the end of the video, the customer’s camera catches one of the driver’s hands resting near his waist instead of on the steering wheel. The clip doesn’t show whether the driver ever roused himself during the ride, but it seems he doesn’t wake up at all during the clip. The customer hasn’t shared how the ride itself ended, however.
How Often This Has Been Happening
KTLA pointed to footage shared from the 5 Freeway near Camp Pendleton showing another driver apparently napping behind the wheel of a Tesla. KRON, the Bay Area outlet, obtained March footage of a Tesla Model 3 driver and his front passenger both appearing asleep on Highway 4 near Pittsburg. Both clips came from observers in other vehicles on the road.
The California Highway Patrol has told KTLA in past coverage that drivers must be awake, conscious and sober to legally operate a moving vehicle. The agency has not weighed in on the specific Orange County case. KTLA also noted that Tesla remains California’s top-selling automotive brand for the fourth consecutive year despite the recurring footage.