Tesla Model Y Complaints

4,325 consumer complaints on file.

#11756721August 13, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I was using the Tesla FSD in stop and go traffic. At the moment I was moving with traffic at about 30 mph and then traffic started slowing down. The vehicle in front of me came to a complete stop. The FSD on my car started slowing down, but not fast enough. It rear-ended the vehicle at about 18 mph.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756565August 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On 8/10/26, my Tesla experienced a complete low-voltage electrical failure while parked at my home. I owned the vehicle 34 days and put 1,054 miles on it after purchasing it directly from Tesla as a pre-owned vehicle. I entered the driver's seat, and closed the driver's door. The center touchscreen was completely black, the vehicle would not power on, and the Tesla mobile app could not control the vehicle. I attempted to exit the vehicle, but the electronic driver's-door release would not operate. My husband was outside the vehicle and was also unable to open the driver's door from the exterior. The outside temperature was approximately 80 degrees, and the interior of the vehicle became increasingly warmer. For several minutes, we attempted to open the driver's door, lower a window, or restore power without success. I had not been shown or instructed on the location or operation of the manual emergency door release when Tesla delivered the vehicle. I ultimately had to climb over the center console to the passenger side and push the passenger door open with both feet. Tesla Roadside Assistance was contacted and the vehicle was towed to the Tesla Service Center. Tesla's 8/12/2026 service record documents the concern as "Parked vehicle unable to power on" and states that the technician found the 12V battery inoperative. Tesla replaced the 12V lead-acid battery assembly. During the same service visit, Tesla also replaced the left-front door glass and upper trim. Tesla separately verified that the passenger-side window had come out of its track and scratched the trim and documented that the cause was a loose and improperly seated front-right door trim panel. I received no warning on the vehicle display or through the Tesla app before the low-voltage battery failed. My primary safety concern is that loss of low-voltage power disabled the normal electronic means of exiting the driver's door while I was inside the vehicle, with no advance warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756509August 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Plastic trim around window switches on driver side door panel bubbled and popped. Tesla refused to warranty due to “wear and tear” when vehicle was purchased brand new 1.5 year ago.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756495August 12, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am experiencing a loud, persistent creaking and groaning noise coming from the front suspension of my 2023 Tesla Model Y whenever the vehicle travels over bumps, uneven road surfaces, or during low-speed steering maneuvers.This structural front-end noise raises immediate safety concerns regarding a potential premature failure of critical suspension components, specifically the front lower lateral links or upper control arm ball joints. I am deeply concerned that this component wear could lead to a sudden detachment of the suspension link while driving, resulting in a sudden loss of steering control and an immediate crash hazard.Tesla is aware of widespread suspension issues in these model years, but there is currently no active safety recall to protect owners from catastrophic part failure. I am filing this to urge a mandatory safety recall before a serious failure occurs. I have just over 63,000 miles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756419August 12, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Car is less than a year old and forward camera is reporting visibility problem. Safety features, forward collision and autonomous driving is severely degraded. Tesla will not repair under warranty which requires disassembly of the camera housing. Front camera housing has been redesigned by Tesla but they are not retrofitting this fix for existing Model Y and have not issues a safety recall. This camera housing defect presents a risk to my safely and the safety of others.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756327August 11, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I am filing a complaint regarding the low-beam headlights on my Tesla. The headlights emit an excessively bright glare that impairs the visibility of oncoming traffic and surrounding motorists, creating a hazardous driving condition. This issue corresponds to federal safety non-compliance under FMVSS No. 108 and NHTSA Recall Campaign No. 26V507, where the low beams were found to output up to 230.1 candela, nearly doubling the legal federal limit of 125 candela. The excessive illumination creates a 'veiling glare' that threatens highway safety, particularly during inclement weather conditions such as rain, snow, or fog. I request that my vehicle be physically inspected and serviced with compliant hardware components as outlined by federal regulators.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756136August 11, 2026
STEERING
Yes. Here’s a tighter version designed to stay **under 1,800 characters including spaces** while retaining the key safety facts. I am reporting a serious front suspension failure on my 2023 Tesla Model Y. A bolt fell out near the front control arm/lower suspension bushing area. Tesla’s service invoice confirms the vehicle required pickup from my driveway “due to a bolt falling out near the front control arm bushing area.” The vehicle is available for inspection, although I do not know if Tesla retained the replaced parts. This was a serious safety risk because a front suspension failure could affect steering, wheel position, and vehicle control. Fortunately, it occurred on my residential street near my home. Had this happened at highway speed with my family in the vehicle, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Tesla inspected and repaired the vehicle, replacing the front lower lateral and compliance links on both sides and performing an alignment. Tesla’s written diagnosis states the issue “stemmed from a loose component in the front suspension system.” However, I was verbally told the failure resulted from striking a curb or pothole. There was no apparent impact damage to the body, tires, rims, or undercarriage. My insurance adjuster later contacted Tesla and was reportedly told there was NO evidence the vehicle struck anything. My claim was denied as a result. Tesla’s written repair documentation also contains no mention of impact or collision damage. I received no warning lamp or dashboard message before the failure. The significant symptom was the suspension bolt falling out. I am concerned that a critical suspension component became loose without evidence of impact. I ask NHTSA to investigate whether this could be related to a broader Model Y suspension or fastener safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756135August 11, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING, WHEELS
A FRONT BAR ON THE LOWER FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR COLLAPSED LEAVING 2 SCREWS ON THE GROUNG AND STEERLING WHEEL NOT USABLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756128August 11, 2026
SUSPENSION
Defect Summary: Front suspension lower lateral link bolt backing out / stripped internal subframe weld-nut threads. Incident Description: While driving, the vehicle developed front-end suspension instability / clunking. Upon inspection by Tesla Service, technicians determined that the lateral link attachment bolt stripped the internal subframe threads, requiring a complete $4,599 subframe assembly replacement. Safety Risk: Lateral link bolt separation causes a complete loss of suspension alignment and wheel control without prior warning or dashboard alerts, creating an immediate crash hazard at highway speeds. Manufacturer Response: The defect manifested immediately prior to logging the ticket at 20 miles past the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty limit). Tesla refused warranty coverage, treating a known structural fastener defect as customer wear-and-tear and demanding $4,599 for subframe replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756095August 10, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving straight ahead in my lane on a wet freeway in an active construction zone, the vehicle abruptly and without warning lost traction and spun out of control. I was traveling in a normal, controlled manner with the flow of traffic and was not turning, braking hard, or making any abrupt maneuver when the loss of control occurred. It was so sudden that I initially believed another vehicle had struck me. I was unable to recover control, and the vehicle left its lane and was involved in a collision that resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss. This is a nearly new all-wheel-drive vehicle, approximately 17 months old, equipped with electronic stability and traction control. I am an experienced driver with a clean record and had driven this same vehicle through mountain roads the week prior without any issue. A vehicle of this type is not expected to suddenly lose control while traveling straight. The specific component or system that failed is UNKNOWN. No warning lamps or messages appeared before the loss of control. The vehicle data available to me as an owner is limited and does not reflect the full diagnostic logs the manufacturer retains. The vehicle is a total loss but is preserved and available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer has not inspected or responded. A police report was filed.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11756091August 10, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Our car phantom brakes when traveling through shadows frequently and occasionally at random. This occurs at high speed as well as low speed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756048August 10, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
I am submitting this complaint to report what I believe is a potential safety defect involving the Tesla Autopark feature on my 2026 Tesla Model Y Premium All-Wheel Drive. On 7/21/26 at approximately 7:40 a.m., I activated Autopark to park my vehicle in my driveway. A transit van was already parked nearby and remained stationary throughout the parking maneuver. While Autopark was controlling the vehicle, my Tesla continued reversing and failed to stop before striking the parked transit van. The collision caused damage to the right rear passenger side of my vehicle. Based on what I observed, the vehicle did not recognize or respond appropriately to the presence of the stationary van. This raises serious concerns regarding the ability of the Autopark system to detect nearby stationary vehicles and avoid collisions during low-speed automated parking. Although I understand that Tesla states the driver must supervise Autopark, I am concerned that the system continued reversing into an obvious stationary obstacle rather than warning the driver or stopping before impact. I respectfully request that Tesla: Preserve all vehicle diagnostic logs, camera data, and sensor data from approximately 7:40 a.m. on the date of the incident. Conduct a full engineering review of the Autopark event. Determine why the vehicle failed to detect or avoid the parked transit van. Advise whether this incident resulted from a software issue, hardware issue, sensor limitation, or another system malfunction. Provide me with a written response and a case number confirming that this has been recorded as a formal vehicle safety complaint. I am prepared to provide photographs, dashcam footage (if available), the exact incident location, repair estimates, and any additional information required to assist with your investigation. Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755995August 10, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On Aug. 9, 2026, my 2022 Tesla Model Y experienced a sudden low-voltage electrical failure that completely immobilized the vehicle. Earlier that morning, the Tesla app sent a push notification indicating low-voltage battery service was needed. I tapped it, but it provided no actionable warning. I immediately checked Maintenance. At 9:06 AM, the app displayed “0 Recommended” and “No maintenance is recommended for your vehicle at this time.” Less than an hour later, the vehicle completely failed. Nothing functioned. We could not open the doors or trunk, access the vehicle normally, or operate vehicle functions. The vehicle could not be put into a condition for normal towing; it would have had to be dragged/pulled onto the tow truck. Tesla later documented “Electrical system is unable to support all features” and is replacing the 12V battery. This may be relevant to NHTSA PE25010.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755986August 10, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The rear lift gate will not close. Defective hinges and electrical strut causing miss alignment and inability to close.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755808August 9, 2026
SUSPENSION
--torn bushings on both the lateral and compliance links --my understand is that torn bushings, if they completely failed, could cause a wheel to lose its rigid control causing the control arm to shift wildly, causing severe steering wander, loud clunking noises over bumps, unstable braking, and rapid, uneven tire wear. In worst-case scenarios, it can lead to a sudden loss of vehicle control and at worst cause an accident --also, this can also cause alignment issues and excessive tire wear--in my case, the torn bushings caused the front tires to chunk --three dealerships, including Tesla, confirmed the issue, including that it likely impacted the alignment and tires --the earliest symptoms were uneven tire wear: 1) all four tires from my first set were chunking and had to be replaced; 2) the front two exhibited the same chunking and have yet to be replaced
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755748August 9, 2026
SUSPENSION
I experienced issues with the handling and suspension of this vehicle beginning in September 2024. I made an appointment and took it to Tesla in October 2024 at 10,484 miles, and the Tesla service center refused to look at the suspension because they were “unable to replicate” the crunching noise I was hearing on their test drive. In November 2024, I had a total control arm failure resulting in the vehicle needing to be towed to the Tesla service center. The repair was a retorque, but I still experienced issues I was told were “normal” because of the vehicle’s weight. The issue became worse in July 2026. Please see August 2026 invoice for very concerning notes regarding the vehicles state after Tesla told me it was “normal.” Invoice indicates “The right hand lateral link bolt was held by a few threads and the top nut was no longer welded on the subframe.” This could have caused a deadly accident when steering at highway speeds, but Tesla said the noises I was hearing when turning were normal. I urge NHTSA to investigate this as it seems to be a common issue with 2020-2023 Model Y’s suspensions. How many others have been turned away by Tesla because they were unable to replicate an intermittent sound that they deemed as “normal” that could ultimately lead to essential components being held onto by “a few threads?”
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755731August 9, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While returning the Tesla during a demo drive, the car suddenly braked extremely hard in the middle of the road for no reason. It was bright and sunny, and we were coming up to a green light. It caused me to slam my head back into the seat. There was seemingly no reason for the emergency braking, and if someone were behind me, it would have caused a collision.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11755680August 8, 2026
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
Tesla was in FSD and had the latest software update installed on 8/6/28 which included the new FSD version released. On 8/7/28 on the way to work that my wife takes every time she goes to work the FSD ran over a large pot hole which it had never done before on the previous FSD version. The car started having rattling of the steering wheel and a rattling noise from over the rear driver wheel area. The next available Tesla service appointment was on 8/27 but we walked in and Tesla offered to do an alignment and found that the driver front and rear rims were bent from the pothole and we had to be pay close to 1800$. Thereafter, the rattling over the rear wheel well is louder but Tesla has not accommodated us with an earlier service appointment and refused to make any accommodations for the FSD update resulting in this damage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755660August 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The high-voltage battery failed unexpectedly shortly after the warranty expired (with only 9,000 miles past warranty). Tesla Service confirmed a main high-voltage battery defect and quoted a full battery replacement. A sudden high-voltage battery failure causes a complete loss of propulsion/power, creating a severe collision and safety hazard on public roads. There were no prior warnings until the system suddenly failed and rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle is currently available for inspection. This appears to be a premature latent defect in 2021 model high-voltage battery packs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755642August 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Tesla released a new version of FSD: 2026.20.6.11 V14 Lite for my 2022 Model Y Long Range. I installed it overnight and the next morning, several systems become intermittent. The backup camera stopped working immediately, and FSD would drop out, with the message "Take control immediately". I would then lose traffic visualization and other advanced features. Eventually the system would recover and start the cycle all over again. Several times per drive. I took the car to the dealer and they diagnosed it as a failed HW3 computer. The cost to repair it was $2,939 out of pocket since my car was 2 months out of warranty. The car was 100% functional before the V14 Lite update. The dealership denied the problem was related to the update, but the internet now has numerous instances of this problem, and attribute it to the computer running much hotter under this new update, causing components to fail. Our update was installed while the car was in our garage at a temperature in the 70’sF and immediately caused the computer failure before the car even left the garage. I requested and was given the failed computer in case any independent investigation is needed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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