Tesla Model Y Complaints

4,325 consumer complaints on file.

#11541815August 31, 2023
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
The contact rented a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 55-65 MPH, the vehicle started swerving to the left and to the right. The failure occurred while driving towards oncoming traffic. The contact stated that his wife was able to regain control of the vehicle and pulled into the nearest driveway. Hertz Rental Car was contacted and had the vehicle towed. The contact was provided another rental car. The contact was informed that a software update was needed; however, the contact was unaware if the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,071.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541770August 30, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving in cruise control mode, not auto steer, and with no vehicle in or obvious obstruction in front, the brakes will be applied without warning (phantom braking). It has happened multiple time in the years of ownership. It has happened once or twice with a vehicle following resulting in near rear-end collision. In one case this resulted in the follower reacting with "road rage," passing with horns blaring and braking in front of my vehicle. I have this recent incident on video as it just requires me to honk the horn and the last 5-10 minutes of driving is recorded.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541672August 30, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
This is a report of a RECURRING problem commonly known as "phantom braking." When I take long trips in this vehicle at legal freeway speeds and with the Adaptive Cruise Control and Auto Steer (lane keeping) functions engaged, the vehicle will occasionally reduce speed suddenly and violently (emergency braking) even if there are no vehicles ahead and no visible hazards whatsoever. This occurs without warning and for no reason when cruising on open, straight interstate highways. In a typical 5-8 hour driving day on long trips, this will occur 1-2 times daily. If other vehicles were to be following closely behind, this would certainly cause a serious rear end collision or pile up. The vehicle gives no advance warning and no alarms sound. The car just brakes suddenly and violently scaring the bejesus out of my spouse. I have learned to step hard on the accelerator the moment this occurs which will partially offset the severe braking action so that any vehicles behind do not need to brake suddenly. I do wonder what the heck any drivers behind think when they see the Tesla suddenly brake hard then accelerate immediately back to speed. I worries me too that some aggressive driver behind might think I am doing this intentionally and get into a road rage incident with me. People have been shot and killed for less. I don't understand why this has not yet been addressed seriously by Tesla or NHTSA. This is a SERIOUS and dangerous defect! Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541263August 28, 2023
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact discovered cracks on the front-end structural casting. The contact stated that some cracks went through the structure and were close to the strut mounts, which might lead to a failure with the suspension. The vehicle had been taken to Tesla (2710 S Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22206) and Tesla (8500 Tyco Rd, Vienna, VA 22182) on five separate occasions; however, no repairs were made. The contact was assured that the vehicle was safe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541180August 28, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while making a right turn into a parking lot, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The contact steered the vehicle to the right and ran over two road barriers before he crashed into a parked vehicle. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact was temporarily trapped in the vehicle due to the driver’s side door failing to open. The door eventually unlocked as the authorities arrived at the scene. The contact was taken to the hospital via an ambulance and was treated for bruises to his left hand. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to repaired. The failure mileage was 240.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11541155August 28, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: LANE KEEP: STEERING ASSIST
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and decelerated to 50 MPH before releasing. The contact stated that he was overtaking an 18-wheeler at the time of the failure. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 450.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541101August 28, 2023
STEERING
Steering system completely failed during driving. Thankfully I was in a parking lot at the time. The car had to be towed to my home from over 100 miles away. I’m towing it back to Tesla service this morning, August 28, 2023.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11541083August 28, 2023
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, stalled, and shutoff. The vehicle was restarted. The message, "Vehicle Will Shut Down - Pull Over Safely" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 5,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540966August 27, 2023
SEAT BELTS
Car seat belt sign is on when there is no one sitting in passenger seat .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540945August 26, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) throws false positive alerts every time. The sudden false warning notification takes the attention of the driver away from road even though there is no reason for the driver to be alerted. This is a safety hazard as driver can make unnecessary mistake due to the false warning chime. FCW throws warning chime even when there is no vehicle ahead, or there is a vehicle coming in from the opposite lane or when the vehicle ahead takes a turn etc. Tesla insurance is also monetising a faulty beta version of FCW (released to all users) by penalising driver with false warnings in real time driving analysis and thus increasing insurance premiums.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540935August 26, 2023
STEERING
While driving the steering locked up and driver was unable to turn in either direction
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540834August 25, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The front aero shield under the car broke off after driving over water on the road. It was a very rainy day and impossible to avoid. We started hearing I scraping noise after driving over the water (2-3” deep) and the part ripped off when backing up. Seeing that Tesla has had this issue before* with their Model 3s, I’m worried it might be an issue on their Model Ys as well. * SB-19-12-001, September 25, 2019
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540746August 25, 2023
POWER TRAIN
Vehicle's rear drive unit failed suddenly while traveling on a highway. Rapid deceleration with only seconds to react has created a hazardous conditions for the driver and those around him. Throttle was unresponsive. Tesla confirmed the failure and replaced the rear drive unit with a "remanufactured" part. Follow warning/fail codes were shown during the incident: APP_w009, DIF_a062, BMS_a170
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540539August 24, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Concern: The "Autopilot" system in my 2023 Tesla Model Y AWD LR has shown diminished performance, particularly in adaptive cruise control, compared to the 2018 Model 3 RWD Long Range. Account: I aim to notify NHTSA about a concerning "Autopilot" behavior in my 2023 Model Y AWD LR. I am comparing this to the performance of my previous 2018 Model 3 RWD Long Range, driven under similar conditions. Incidents: Near Accidents: During commutes, my Model Y AWD LR frequently doesn't slow timely. In some cases, I've had to override Autopilot and brake abruptly to avoid collisions by risking letting the car either fail to brake fully or slam on the brakes so hard. The car's sudden deceleration at the last moment is concerning as it is not only a dangerous scenario for myself and my occupants, but also other drivers behind me, who might also crash. Conditions: These instances took place during daylight with a spotless vehicle, ensuring no camera obstructions. Settings: I set the distance threshold between levels 4 and 5 and ensured the speed was no more than 10 mph above the speed limit. Lane Keeping: The lane-keeping function is efficient. However, adaptive cruise control's reliability is questionable. Sensor Absence: The 2023 Model Y lacks radar and USS (ultrasonic sensors). This could be affecting the performance drop I've noticed. Accidents: Due to these issues, I've narrowly missed three accidents just this week alone, endangering my safety and others. Conclusion & Request: While Autopilot should enhance safety, my experience with the 2023 Model Y AWD LR suggests otherwise. This unexpected performance dip, especially with supposed hardware upgrades, is alarming. I urge NHTSA to investigate this issue swiftly. Given the popularity of this model, many drivers could be at risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540383August 23, 2023
SUSPENSION
Suspension is failed at 68,000 miles. Their technicians don't know how to service suspension system, when there are any issues, they just replace parts and rob customers for diagnostic and test drive charges. After service my suspension is still making same noise and that will lead my car to a safety issues. Parts may be fall a part. I have complained many times, but they said this is not a safety issues. But this is a very risky to drive car with a suspension issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540305August 23, 2023
STEERING
Power steering failed for unknown reason. Operating the vehicle without functional steering made turning through traffic dangerous. The vehicle is now at the Tesla service center for diagnosis.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540271August 23, 2023
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Automatic emergency braking activated without any car in front. The car came to sudden stop. Acceleration was disabled.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540163August 22, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the car has suddenly braked (hard) when the associate optical system encountered a shadow or some anomaly on the road ahead. This "phantom braking" has occurred numerous times on our vehicle, and speaking with our son who also has a Tesla Model Y, he has experienced the same behavior. To date, I have not contacted Tesla, due to the intermittent nature of the problem, and trouble getting a response from their website. For the time being, I will not use the adaptive cruise control if there is another car within several hundred yards behind me in order to avoid a rear-end collision incident. My understanding is that Tesla removed the radar input component of adaptive cruise control, which would have prevented this type of behavior. A prospective fix is to restore a radar sensor input to the system.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540029August 22, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was accelerating out of a parking lot and was up to 30 MPH when the vehicle suddenly shut down and the rear end began shaking. The control screen went completely black/off. I could not accelerate at all. A semi truck was coming from behind and the vehicle came to a sudden stop within a few seconds. I could not coast and pull into a parking lot. It felt like an emergency brake was turned on or the back wheels locked up. I had to turn into the center turn lane. Vehicle doors would not open and hazard lights would not turn on. Opened manual door handle and forced my way out. Shut door as I ran to safety and the window cracked. I could have been severely injured if that semi hit me from behind and especially if this would have happened on the freeway. Very scary that a car can suddenly shut off like that while driving. After repair I was informed that the 12V battery had failed. They said it’s very rare and they have not seen that happen while the car was driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11539976August 22, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, STEERING
When placing foot on brake to shift into gear, vehicle goes into multiple faults and disables all safety features. Also mid drive vehicle loses power steering and cause unsafe driving conditions. Brakes also start to behave erratically when this occurs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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