Tesla Model Y Complaints (2023)

1,194 consumer complaints on file.

#11715085February 2, 2026
AIR BAGS
I am requesting an urgent review of the airbag non-deployment for my 2023 Tesla Model Y involved in a front-impact collision on [Jan 19th 2026]. Because the vehicle has been declared a total loss and may be released to salvage at any time, I urgently request that Tesla preserve and review the vehicle’s crash data (EDR/SRS) and confirm whether the restraint system performed as designed.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714752February 1, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The incident occurred while the vehicle was being operated with Tesla driver-assistance features enabled, including lane assist and cruise control. The driver experienced unexpected vehicle behavior that felt inconsistent with normal steering response. Although the driver maintained hands on the steering wheel, the vehicle appeared to react in a manner that was not anticipated, contributing to loss of control and a collision resulting in total vehicle loss. No bodily injury occurred. After the incident, the insurer assigned fault to the driver but declined to investigate any potential vehicle system or software-related issues, directing us to the manufacturer. When attempting to report a potential malfunction to Tesla, the manufacturer declined to open a report because the totaled vehicle had been removed from the Tesla App, preventing further system or telemetry review. This report is submitted to document the incident and the lack of access to any system-level review following the loss.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714718January 31, 2026
STEERING, WHEELS
While making a left turn at normal turning speed, the steering system became unresponsive. The steering wheel was able to move; however, there was no corresponding movement of the front tires/wheels. The front wheels appeared to remain stuck at approximately a 45-degree left position and did not return toward the straight-ahead position despite steering input. It is also possible that the steering wheel itself became locked or partially locked during this event. As a result, the vehicle could not be corrected and collided with the median and a pillar. The collision caused the airbags to deploy and resulted in severe front-end damage, with an estimated repair cost exceeding $40,000. This steering failure occurred without warning and resulted in a sudden loss of vehicle control, creating a serious safety hazard to the occupants and surrounding traffic. The vehicle was subsequently declared a total loss.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714217January 29, 2026
STEERING
The front lower lateral links or control arm that is used to steer the wheels has bolts that dropped on the ground causing loss of steering to the car. This happened when parking the car at home and luckily not on the highway or street during faster speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11712901January 23, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The computer in my car has been undergoing short circuiting, rendering all driver safety features inoperable. This is a known problem with hardware 4 and reported many places. I was backing out of my garage and the read camera and automated braking are not functional and it is nearly impossible to see out the back. When backing out, I struck another car in the driveway, resulting in damage to both cars. Had the system been functional, visibility would have been there and the automated braking would have avoided the collision. The vehicle has been seen by Tesla and I have been told that the warranty has expired and the computer must be replaced at my cost. Tesla has replaced other computers under a recall for the same issue reported. This is a serious safety issue as without a functional computer, features such as software updates, navigation, bilnd spot monitoring, lane keeping, cruise control, all cameras (rear, side, front), autopilot, autobraking etc. are nonfunctional.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711674January 17, 2026
SUSPENSION
While driving my 2023 Model Y Long Range I heard a loud grinding noise. I was able to get home and park. When I further inspected the vehicle, I jacked up the car, removed the front driver side wheel, and immediately what I saw horrified me. The "FRONT LOWER LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY" was completely disconnected from the vehicle, just hanging with a bolt missing, and another bolt barely hanging on. Upon searching the internet for issues I found several other people who had the same exact issue as me. As of now I have no vehicle to drive due to this mishap, but the bigger issue at hand is how many others are affected by this lack of workmanship, and how many accidents could be caused by the entire wheel disconnecting from the vehicle at high speed. In other vehicles I am used to seeing a Crown Nut, which has slots that allow a pin to cross and lock in place to prevent this from happening, yet here we are.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711522January 16, 2026
TIRES
I am submitting this complaint to escalate a safety-related concern involving premature and abnormal tire wear on my Tesla Model Y, which has not been adequately addressed by Tesla. I purchased my Tesla Model Y in [Dec, 2023]. Within less than one year of normal driving, all four tires wore out significantly and required full replacement on 08/30/2024. The vehicle has been operated under normal city and highway conditions, and Tesla-recommended tire pressure was maintained consistently. This level of tire wear is well below reasonable tire life expectations and raises safety concerns, including reduced traction, increased stopping distance, and the risk of tire failure. After replacing the prematurely worn tires at my own expense, I reported the issue to Tesla Service and requested that the vehicle be inspected to determine whether alignment, camber, or suspension issues contributed to the abnormal wear. Tesla indicated that an evaluation would only be performed if I agreed to pay for diagnostic services, rather than proactively inspecting the vehicle for a potential underlying defect. As a result, no documented root-cause analysis or corrective action was provided at that time. During a later Tesla service visit for a separate suspension noise concern, Tesla replaced multiple front suspension components (including control arms and lateral/compliance links) and performed a four-wheel alignment under warranty. These repairs occurred after the tires had already been replaced, which created doubt as to whether the suspension condition at the time may have contributed to the earlier premature tire wear. Because the suspension was not evaluated when the abnormal wear occurred, the underlying cause remains unresolved. Replacing tires alone without timely evaluation of possible contributing suspension or alignment issues does not adequately address the associated safety risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711497January 16, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING
A critical front suspension component failed on my 2023 Tesla Model Y without any accident, misuse, or external damage. While backing out of my garage at low speed, a loud “BAM” occurred — the front lateral link bolt fell off, detaching the lateral link and causing the front body to drop onto the tire. My child was inside the vehicle. Tesla-certified technicians inspected the vehicle and service records confirm the lateral link bolt was loose and missing, directly causing the failure. Multiple suspension components were replaced under warranty, confirming a manufacturing defect, not customer-caused damage. This is a serious safety-critical failure. At driving or highway speed, it could have caused loss of steering, severe injury, or death. The day before, my spouse drove the vehicle on the highway with our younger child — by luck, a catastrophic event did not occur. Before and after the wheel detached, the Tesla monitor did not display any warnings. Even after the lateral link and wheel partially detached, the vehicle remained in driving mode and ready to operate, despite a wheel being unsecured — a basic condition that should trigger an immediate alert. This demonstrates a critical failure in Tesla’s safety systems. There were no recalls listed under my VIN. However, NHTSA records show similar failures, with recall notifications issued under NHTSA Recall 21V-835 in 2021 for 2021 and earlier Tesla Model Y and Model 3 vehicles. The same failure in my 2023 Model Y at 23,641 miles shows the defect was not fully corrected and continues to pose a public safety risk. I am reporting this to NHTSA due to the extreme safety risk and request a full investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711298January 15, 2026
SUSPENSION
While driving my Tesla, the front suspension abruptly failed. Two bolts from a critical suspension/control arm component fell out while the car was in normal motion. There was no impact, no debris, no road hazard, and no prior service that would explain missing bolts. The vehicle suddenly dropped, and the chassis collapsed onto the wheel, causing grinding and severe loss of drivability. This failure occurred without warning. Tesla Service inspected the vehicle and confirmed the bolts were missing but could not explain how they came loose or fell out. The bolts showed no damage, and there was no undercarriage damage, indicating a structural or manufacturing defect. This was a life-threatening incident. This type of suspension/separation issue appears to be a known problem with Tesla vehicles. I request that NHTSA review this failure as it poses a significant risk to vehicle occupants and the public.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710695January 13, 2026
SUSPENSION
Mechanics found that the front passenger side control arm is missing and completely disconnected. Video evidence from inspection is available. How was this found and safety risk- Car lost steering control The component was inspected by my mechanic. No vehicle indicator / warnings.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710691January 13, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
The contact's dad owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated the owner opened the liftgate, attempting to unload the vehicle after a trip, when the liftgate inadvertently fell on the head near the left ear area, fracturing his skull on the left side, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the asphalt. As a result, the contacts dads brain bled within both fractures. The contact's dad was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the failure. The vehicle was inspected by Tesla, and advised that a power lift strut replacement part was needed; however, the contact wanted NHTSA to inspect the original part before the replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed. The vehicle remained at his dad's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that there was a faulty power lift strut and that the taigate had 1 powered strut, causing the liftgate to close inadvertently. The approximate failure mileage was 17,273.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#11710553January 12, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Make/Model: Tesla Year: 2023 Component / System: Autopark system (vehicle’s automated parking feature) Description of Failure/Malfunction: While reversing under Autopark control, the vehicle collided with a parked vehicle whose door was open. No driver input was provided, and the system gave no warnings prior to the collision. The incident appears to result from a failure or limitation of the Autopark system, not driver error. Safety Risk: The vehicle moved autonomously without any driver input, creating a risk of injury to pedestrians or damage to nearby vehicles. Had someone been standing near the open door, they could have been struck. Reproduction/Confirmation: The malfunction has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by Tesla, a dealer, or an independent service center. Inspections Conducted: No inspection has yet been performed by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. Photographs of the incident have been documented and attached. Warning Lamps/Messages/Symptoms: No warning lamps, alerts, or system messages were displayed prior to the incident. The system gave no indication of a failure during the parking maneuver. Incident Details: Date/Time: Saturday [XXX] Location: [XXX] Weather Conditions: Light drizzle Attachments / Evidence: Photographs of both vehicles involved Incident report Request for preservation of vehicle telemetry and Autopark logs Additional Notes/Requests: I request that all relevant vehicle data be preserved in their original form to allow a full investigation. The incident occurred solely under system control without driver input, and I assert that responsibility lies with the system malfunction. 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
#11710118January 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709799January 8, 2026
SUSPENSION
The front suspension lower 'lateral link' bolts that go into the subframe side of the lateral link fell out. One completely fell out of and was only held loosely in place by the undercarriage plastic. The other bolt (there are two holding the lateral link into the subframe) had backed out about two revolutions. This resulted in a very loud banging noise and the us having to stop the vehicle to inspect. We had to slowly drive the car back to a safe area to diagnose and temporarily rebolt this prior to getting Tesla to inspect. I have photo and video documentation that I can provide showing the incident and how I had to repair this to make the car safe to drive again. There were no warning lamps or messages on the vehicle, just a very loud banding we heard when starting from a stop and or turning the vehicle. Prior to this we heard a faint thump that we could not diagnose. Fortunately the second bolt did not come out and we did not have a catastrophic failure while driving the vehicle. Bolts were not properly torqued and do not appear to have any sort of paint pen marking to document the torqued location.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709680January 8, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am reporting a catastrophic suspension failure on my 2023 Tesla Model Y that matches the description of Recall 22V-895 (Manufacturer No. SB-22-31-002), despite my vehicle being excluded from the official recall population. On [XXX], the front driver-side lateral link separated from the subframe while driving. Tesla Service /confirmed the separation in their repair notes, stating the cause was a "separation in the lateral link and subframe" which resulted in damage to the wheel and halfshaft. Recall 22V-895 was limited to only 26 vehicles due to a "manual torque validation" error on November 2, 2022. My vehicle's failure suggests that this manufacturing defect is not limited to the identified 26 units. I am urging the NHTSA to investigate whether the scope of Recall 22V-895 was insufficient and if a larger population of 2023 Model Y vehicles is at risk of sudden suspension collapse. This is a major safety concern. Luckily I was not on a highway and was driving around 35mph when the bolt fell off. Tesla is not responding to me with the details. They just fixed the issue under warranty and are saying, we do not know what caused the issue. Please investigate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709282January 6, 2026
SUSPENSION
while driving in light city traffic at low speed the right front wheel developed a terrible grinding noise and would not steer properly, pulled off of the road and called a tow truck car is now at a Tesla service center waiting on repair service
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708923January 5, 2026
AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL:SOFTWARE, SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH in light rain, the vehicle suddenly braked and causing the vehicle to lose control. The contact stated that the vehicle was on cruise control and auto drive assist. The contact stated that the vehicle veered to the left, crossed two lanes of traffic, and crashed into the highway divider wall. The contact stated that there were no warning lights. The contact stated that the left front end had crashed first, and then the driver's door and left front fender had crashed into the dividing wall. The contact stated that the driver's front air bag had deployed and burst; there was a large tear starting from the top of the air bag all the way to the steering wheel. The contact stated that he had burns on his hands due to the air bag explosion, bruises on his chest, and right arm. The contact stated that the police and emergency services arrived. A police report was filed. The contact stated that he was transported to the hospital, and the vehicle was towed to a manufacturer's collision center. The contact stated that the manufacturer's collision center downloaded the collision information from the vehicle's main frame and shared the accident report with the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11708383January 2, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that a software update (2025.44.25.5) was performed on the vehicle, which was for a temporary free self-driving mode. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated sideways and crashed into the highway's concrete retaining wall. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance, where he was treated bruised left knee, cracked ribs, and several other bruises to various parts of his body. No property damage was reported. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent mechanic, where it was deemed a total loss. Neither the manufacturer nor the service center had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,500.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11708013December 31, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I have a 2023 Tesla Y. The Curvature Assist function has nearly caused a half dozen rear end collisions. When in cruise control, it kicks in on (1) highways, near exits when I'm not taking the exit (2) regular roads with no curve or intersection, (3) regular roads with departure lanes that I'm not using. The car behind me only see's a sudden brake light with slow down until I press on the accelerator. Please have Tesla install a disable function for Curvature Assist.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707568December 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was operating my 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged at low speed in a residential neighborhood. The vehicle took an incorrect turn into a neighboring driveway instead of continuing on the roadway. I attempted to correct the vehicle’s path. At that point, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. I experienced a sudden loss of control and was unable to stop the vehicle before it struck my garage door and entered the garage, causing structural damage to the garage wall. Notably, automatic emergency braking did not activate, and no effective front collision warning intervened, despite an imminent collision with a fixed structure. Tesla’s post-incident vehicle report states that accelerator pedal input was detected, which I believe occurred as a panic response while attempting to regain control after the vehicle took the incorrect turn. However, I am concerned that the vehicle’s software behavior, lack of braking intervention, and failure of safety systems contributed to the incident. This incident raises safety concerns regarding unintended acceleration behavior, FSD path selection errors at low speed, and failure of emergency braking or collision avoidance systems when approaching fixed objects such as garage doors or walls.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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