Tesla Model Y Complaints (2024)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#11716341February 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The emergency mechanical levers for BOTH of my front doors do not work at all. I pull them while pushing the door and they do not open the car. If the power dies in the car, there is no way for me or my passenger to escape the car. I reported this to Tesla and they are not able to immediately investigate it or provide me replacement vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11715422February 3, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Tesla Model Y 99,000 km It is known issue with many driver of same model and milage that Wire Harness connected to Oil pump gets hot and damage. This can also cause fire. Many people have been complaining about similar issue on Facebook group.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714750February 1, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Tesla's full self-driving software continues to malfunction. On January 30th at 9:50 a.m. mountain standard Time I was parked at work and discovered my vehicle was left unlocked with a partial window unrolled. This was my first indicator of many faulty problems signaling the vehicle was not operating properly. The vehicle has a proximity sensor via Bluetooth that locks and unlocks the vehicle on the owners approach was not properly working. On January 31st I experience a catastrophic failure with the software of the vehicle as I was locked out of my vehicle after utilizing summons feature that stopped the vehicle in the middle of the intersection obstructing traffic. Police arrived on scene within 30 minutes and we were unable to put the car in any gear to either drive the vehicle or place it in neutral to roll it out of the way. I have detailed video of the incident which is a better accounting of the incident on both occasions, the 30th and 31st of January. This is roughly the third or fourth occasion of Tesla's system producing a catastrophic failure resulting in damage to the vehicle or property damage.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11712254January 20, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle experienced PCS (Power Conversion System/DC-DC converter) failure, rendering it completely undrivable—no 12V power, cannot charge or start. PCS is physically integrated inside high-voltage battery pack per service manuals. High-voltage battery warranty active (8yr/120k miles). Tesla service denies coverage citing "associated component" in vague emails—provided only general warranty table, no specific exclusion language despite repeated requests for exact quote/formal written denial. Escalated to managers: Offered "view-only" internal service bulletin on screen at meeting—no print/copy/photo allowed. Explicitly refused formal written denial letter.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710550January 12, 2026
STEERING, WHEELS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
On [XXX], while operating my 2024 Tesla Model Y in Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode, the vehicle experienced an Uncommanded Steering Input leading to a collision. The vehicle was traveling at a very low speed of approximately 5 mph in a clear, simple environment. Despite this walking pace, the FSD software failed to identify a visible concrete curb and initiated a sudden, sharp turn directly into the obstacle without any prior warning or driver input. The fact that the system executed such a violent and erroneous maneuver at 5 mph indicates a fundamental failure in the Neural Network's object detection and path planning logic. If this logic failure had occurred at higher speeds or near pedestrians, the results could have been catastrophic. The local Tesla Service Center (Watertown, MA) refused to conduct a physical inspection or a log review of the steering torque. They issued a Repair Estimate of $1,217.26 while claiming 'no hardware fault codes' were present, thus ignoring the documented software malfunction. As a leaseholder of this vehicle with only 15,489 miles, I am reporting this as a significant safety defect that the manufacturer refuses to investigate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709512January 7, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Incident Description (in my own words): We were driving southbound on [XXX] from New Hampshire back to Boston in our Tesla Model Y. Traffic became increasingly congested and slowed to a crawl. My wife was driving, and I was in the front passenger seat working on my laptop. As traffic built up, my wife became momentarily distracted and did not apply the brakes in time. I noticed, in my peripheral vision, the vehicle ahead of us—a truck—suddenly filling the windshield. At that point, I heard the forward collision warning alert, but it activated extremely late, essentially at the moment of impact. The vehicle did not automatically brake or stop, despite the low speed, close proximity, and clear visibility of the truck ahead. We collided with the truck in front of us. Damage was minimal (license plate damage and a small dimple on the front of the vehicle), but the safety concern is significant. Both of our Teslas are configured with forward collision warning set to “Early.” Under normal circumstances, this alert triggers frequently, sometimes conservatively. In this incident, however, the warning activated far later than expected, and there was no automatic braking intervention prior to impact. The front camera appeared clean and unobstructed. I am filing this complaint because this behavior undermines my confidence in the vehicle’s collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking systems. I am also filing a similar complaint for our Tesla Model 3. I am now anxious about whether the software will perform as expected in situations where driver attention lapses briefly—precisely the scenario these safety systems are designed to mitigate. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue, as the system did not behave in a manner consistent with its intended safety function. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708194January 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Center console USB component part#1522264-00-B, available for inspection. USB-C charging port that had been plugged in for more than a year, started smoking and wire melted while vehicle was parked. If this would have happened while my wife was on the highway on the way to work and smoke suddenly appeared, it would have cause her to be startled and degrade her ability on a busy highway. This would have most likely have created a traffic incident in Memphis on highway 240. I asked the dealer if there were any reports of defective part and I was told no. I brought the components in to show but the parts manager or service staff were not interested in the details or my concerns that smoke had been detected and that it melded the metal piece of USB-C charger to that TESLA part. I bought another replacement part from TESLA, but I am not utilizing the charging port for fear of smoke/fire. There were no warning lights or indication prior to the day of event where my wife observed burnt plastics and visible smoke. On November 26th called me in a panic that the car was smoking. She went out to our vehicle during her break and she smelt burnt plastic and observed smoke from the middle console. Shortly after she called me at my work, and after making sense of what she was telling me, I told her to unplug the USB-C but the parts manager melted of and the metal piece was stuck in the charging port. I left my work and after 30 minutes got to the vehicle, the burnt plastic was still evident but smoke no longer visible. I detached the panel with the part unplugged from power source, thank you YouTube for the DIY video. Pictures will be included with this report, but format doesn’t allow for video upload. Video will be provided upon request.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708026December 31, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Autopilot was engaged and active at the time of the incident. The vehicle failed to detect a stationary piece of road debris (appearing to be a dropped vehicle part) located in the driving lane. The system did not provide any warning, slow the vehicle, or attempt an avoidance maneuver. The vehicle drove directly over the debris, resulting in damage to the lower exterior/body panel. Road and traffic conditions were normal. This raises concerns about Autopilot’s object detection and hazard response capabilities.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707282December 27, 2025
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Date & Time: December 25, approximately 6:00 PM Location: Northbound I-880 between the Mowry Avenue and Thornton Avenue exits, Fremont, CA Weather & Road Conditions: Heavy rain at the time of the incident. Road surface was wet with reduced visibility. Vehicle & System State: Tesla Model Y. Driver assistance / self-driving functionality was active at the time of the incident (traffic-aware cruise control / Autopilot functionality). Description of the Incident: While driving northbound on I-880 in heavy rain, the vehicle had been operating normally. Without warning, the vehicle appeared to incorrectly detect that it was drifting out of its lane and attempted to correct this perceived drift. Instead of a minor lane correction, the vehicle abruptly applied heavy braking and initiated a sudden and aggressive left steering maneuver. The car crossed approximately four lanes of traffic in the same direction of travel and continued rotating, ultimately performing an unintended U-turn while remaining on the northbound side of the highway. As a result, the vehicle came to a stop oriented against the direction of travel, facing oncoming northbound traffic. Immediately afterward, the vehicle unexpectedly began reversing at high speed without driver input, creating an additional imminent risk of collision with the outer highway wall (noise barrier separating the highway from adjacent residential areas). During this entire sequence of events, I was unable to regain control of the vehicle despite attempting to intervene. There were no vehicles immediately surrounding us at that moment. Had there been nearby traffic, this incident would likely have resulted in a severe or fatal multi-vehicle collision. Occupants: My wife and two young children were in the vehicle. The children were asleep in the back seat, secured in car seats. Outcome: No physical collision occurred. However, the incident caused extreme fear and distress, and we remain shaken by the event.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706581December 22, 2025
SEAT BELTS
The rear seat on the left , seat belt off from the mount while my 7 years old son trying to fasten seatbelt.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706079December 19, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The right rear taillight and turn signal on my Tesla Model Y became dim and intermittently flicker, and the turn signal does not function properly. This issue began immediately after a Tesla software update. The malfunction significantly reduces rear visibility and signaling to other drivers, especially at night, creating a safety risk. I contacted Tesla Service and provided photos/videos. Tesla have scheduled a repair which is 1 week later but declined to confirm whether the vehicle is safe or legal to drive with this lighting malfunction. Tesla also declined to provide a loaner vehicle or alternate transportation and advised me to use my own judgment. Rear lighting and turn signals are safety-critical components required by law. Operating the vehicle in this condition poses a risk of rear-end collision or failure to signal lane changes or turns. I am filing this complaint due to safety concerns and Tesla’s inability to provide written guidance confirming safe operation until repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11706075December 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHEELS:RIM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the TPMS displayed that the PSI of the tires was low. Additionally, a notification advising that the vehicle was experiencing low voltage and drainage and would shut down was displayed. The contact called towing services. The contact stated that the towing agent who assisted in towing the vehicle informed the contact that the tires were losing air, and the front passenger's side tire or wheel was defective. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center, where the power converter system(PCS) was corrected. Additionally, the technician informed the contact that the passenger's side tire was leaking air due to a rim defect, but the vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was advised to pick up the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be driven at 20 MPH due to the failure. The contact had not retrieved the vehicle from the Service Center. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V935000 (Tires), but the Tesla Service Center informed the contact that the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V554000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages, Electrical System) and 24V935000 (Tires) were marked as complete on the Manufacturer's website; however, the NHTSA VIN tool displayed that the recalls were incomplete. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's seat was not adjustable. The contact stated that while attempting to move the seat higher and forward, the seat turned inward towards the right. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705857December 18, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I’m reaching out to document and summarize an incident that occurred in Sanford, Florida, and to ask for the appropriate next steps and any documentation you may need from me. Incident summary (Sanford, FL – Appaloosa Court – Dec 2, 2025): In the early morning on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (around 5:00–5:15 a.m.), a fire occurred at a residence located on [XXX] . A Tesla located in the garage was reported as being involved, and the fire spread to the garage that totaled the house The vehicle was reportedly charging in the garage when smoke/fire was noticed. Emergency responders (Sanford Fire Department and Sanford Police) responded to the scene. The incident resulted in property damage and at least one injury reported as non-life-threatening (per local reporting). Fire forensics stated that the fire started and caused by the TESLA around the charging plug area by the rear left passenger door. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11705803December 18, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The car spontaneously accelerated while approaching a stop sign. I was able to hit the brake to stop it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704960December 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While exiting a parking area, the vehicle’s Autopilot/driver-assist system engaged during a tight right-hand turn. At the time of the maneuver, my hands were not actively controlling the steering wheel, as the system appeared to be managing the turn. The vehicle failed to properly account for curb proximity and steered too close to the curb, resulting in the wheel striking the curb and causing visible rim damage. The system did not provide adequate warning or disengage in time to prevent the curb impact. This raises safety concerns regarding Autopilot behavior during low-speed, tight turning scenarios such as parking lot exits, where precise steering control is critical. I contacted Tesla to request that they review vehicle logs to determine whether this was a system error. Tesla did not adequately address the issue or take responsibility for reviewing or acknowledging a potential defect in the automated driving system. This incident presents a broader safety concern, as similar behavior could result in more serious damage or injury in different circumstances (e.g., pedestrians, cyclists, or roadside objects). I am reporting this to NHTSA so the agency can evaluate whether Tesla’s automated driving technology performs safely in tight-turn, low-speed environments. I request that NHTSA review this issue as a potential defect in Tesla’s automated driving or driver-assist systems.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704925December 14, 2025
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The heating system in my 2024 Tesla Model Y failed after only one winter season. Under normal HVAC operation, the vehicle blows cold air and does not provide cabin heat. Heat only intermittently works when defrost mode is selected. This failure affects the vehicle’s ability to safely operate in cold weather, including proper windshield defogging and defrosting. A loss of heating presents a safety risk to occupants and reduces visibility. Tesla diagnosed the issue and provided an estimated repair cost of approximately $3,235.00. The vehicle is just outside the warranty period, and this appears to be a premature failure of the heating or heat pump system, not normal wear and tear. Given the age of the vehicle and prior reports of Tesla HVAC and heat pump failures in Model Y vehicles, I believe this may indicate a design or component defect that warrants investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703492December 6, 2025
STEERING
Steering locked at 75 MPH on freeway. Model Y suddenly jerked left and locked, then jerked right and locked again. Loss of control and near-crash event. No road debris, no rain, no warnings on screen. Steering temporarily becomes unresponsive, requiring fight to correct. Tesla refuses repair because no alert code stored. Vehicle unsafe to drive.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702699December 3, 2025
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
I am reporting a potential safety defect related to premature rear tire wear on my 2024 Tesla Model Y Performance At 15,482 miles, on May 2, 2025, Tesla’s Paramus, NJ Service Center confirmed an alignment issue and performed a four-wheel alignment. At the same visit, they replaced both rear tires with Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4 275/35R21 103W XL and sold me a Tire Protection Plan for those tires (Tesla invoice #XXX). tesla_invoiceXXX The vehicle now has 24,460 miles. The rear tires have worn out in less than 10,000 miles and about 7 months since the alignment and replacement. The tread wear is excessive and uneven compared with the front tires, and is inconsistent with the normal expected life (around 20,000+ miles) of these tires. This appears to indicate an ongoing alignment or suspension issue that is causing abnormal rear tire wear. Rapid rear tire wear on this vehicle could lead to loss of traction, especially in wet conditions, and therefore represents a safety risk. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint in case it reflects a broader issue with rear tire wear/alignment on Tesla Model Y Performance vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702107November 30, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
My 2024 Tesla Model Y hit a parked vehicle on the right side of the street during FSD self driving. The car suddently slanted to the right and hit the parked vehicle. During FSD drive, it did not give any warning before the accident. My dauther was injured on her face. Clearly the new version FSD v14.1 software is very defective. I am located in San Jose, CA.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11701947November 28, 2025
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My vehicle’s auto-high beam system does not properly recognize other traffic. It specifically fails to substantially dim the high beams when approaching oncoming vehicles or when behind other traffic on roadways. I have reported this to the manufacturer and attempted to have the dealership fix this on multiple occasions. The dealerships insist that the vehicle dims the required number of pixels in the headlights to not blind other drivers. However, this does not appear to be effective as other drivers that I have followed behind reported that they were being blinded by my highbeams while I was behind them. There is a notable difference between the highbeams and the low beams which the car fails to substantially adjust for when using this required feature to utilize the self driving/auto pilot feature.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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