Tesla Model Y Complaints (2026)

327 consumer complaints on file.

#11729951April 8, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Running Full Service Driving (FSD) v14.2.2.5 on HW4. At Skillman St & I-635 Dallas TX, FSD attempted a wrong way turn into oncoming traffic instead of taking the correct leftmost lane. In the image attached instead of following the blue path Tesla took the wrong lane highlighted in red.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729559April 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The emergency door release handle is cracked and has the potential to fail during an emergency. Tesla refuses to replace or repair under warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728890April 2, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Missing front trunk light/emergency release in violation of FMVSS 401.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728598April 1, 2026
SEAT BELTS
Right rear passenger seat belt malfunctioned after owning the vehicle for one month. When I called the service department to discuss the issue, they said the part would take 5 days to come in. They denied me a loaner car to drive while I waiting for the part. The malfunction was confirmed by the dealership the following week and required replacement. I still cannot believe that a company who values safety, expected me to continue to drive my children in a car that had a malfunctioning seatbelt, until the part came in.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728518April 1, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728094March 30, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Safety Defect: Uncommanded trunk actuation while the user was asleep inside the vehicle. The vehicle’s proximity-sensing system (Bluetooth Phone Key) triggered a full power-open cycle without any active user input. The system failed to recognize that the vehicle was occupied and failed to detect an external obstruction, resulting in a collision. This poses a severe risk of unauthorized vehicle access or personal injury while a user is sleeping or camping in the vehicle.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727796March 29, 2026
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
On multiple lane roads whe I am driving next to traffic in the same direction, if I try to give a large truck in the next lane plenty of room the lane keep assist activates and pushes me closer to the vehicle I am trying to avoid. When LCA first takes control it feels like it turns toward the line it's alerting about. Then it steers me towards the thing I was trying to avoid. The happens every drive and causes close calls with traffic, curbs, or large shrubs in the median. I have other older Tesla Model Ys that allow you to keep this setting off permanently. My new Model Y resets on every drive. It's several menu levels deep and distracting when I have to disable while driving. Please have them let me keep this dangerous option off permanently. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727101March 25, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On March 23, 2026, my vehicle experienced a sudden and simultaneous failure of multiple critical safety systems without any prior warning. The alerts displayed included: Automatic Emergency Braking unavailable, traction control disabled, stability control disabled, and additional driver-assistance features becoming unavailable. This incident created a serious safety hazard, as the loss of these systems significantly reduces vehicle stability and braking assistance, increasing the risk of loss of control, especially at highway speeds or in adverse weather conditions. In addition, the front-facing camera exhibits fogging and reduced visibility during cloudy and rainy conditions, which further impacts the reliability of safety and driver-assistance systems. Based on my research, similar issues have been reported by other Tesla owners, suggesting this may not be an isolated incident but a potential pattern defect. I am concerned about the safety of operating this vehicle and request that this matter be investigated for potential defects affecting critical safety systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727063March 25, 2026
AIR BAGS, STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On [XXX] 1512PM. Drive on [XXX] with auto pilot driving. Seen on construction and hit some object driver side by front bumper , fender, Side mirror,Door and Wheel. Couldn't avoid crash by control handle. There is none of airbag action. All deployed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11726425March 23, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
With Full Self-Driving activated, while the vehicle was performing a maneuver to exit a parking space, it reversed directly into a stationary concrete pillar. The impact occurred on the rear driver’s side. There was no driver steering or pedal input during the reversal. The pillar was a large, high-contrast concrete structure, and there was insufficient time to intervene once the vehicle began reversing toward the pillar. Such defect in the Full Self-Driving system is dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725664March 19, 2026
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The FSD system in my Model Y is hazardous. When I first purchased the car on 2/9/2026, they secretly loaded it with very outdated software, as follows: “Software” 2025.44.300 Full Self-Driving v13.2.9 I’ve already driven this car 9960 miles, about 85% of which was on FSD. I will itemize for you a list of events that have occurred with this car with me driving for which dash cam footage exists: 1. The car attempted to blow past a school bus picking up passengers at about 40 miles an hour without even slowing down. It was stacked with red and yellow lights everywhere and had two extended stop signs. 2. The car blows past police cars parked on the shoulder of the highway with their roof lights on without slowing down or making any attempt to move into the second lane. 3. While transitioning from one highway to another on an elevated single-lane overpass, on two occasions the car elected to depart the only travel lane and hug the concrete wall on the left side, driving in the dead zone. Both the yellow line and the white line were clear and bright. No traffic or obstacles present. 4. Right after exiting a hwy there were two lanes in my direction and one lane of opposing traffic separated by a clear and bright double yellow line. The car chose to drive in the lane intended for opposing traffic. I have dash of this as well. No traffic or obstacles were present. 5. Car made left turn into opposing traffic lanes. 6. When NOT on FSD, the lane departure avoidance and emerg. lane departure avoidance features are both HIGHLY defective. They read everything as a lane departure— from tire tracks in the snow, to cracks and seams in the concrete, lines of tar intended to prevent water ingress, shadows, etc. Car almost pulled me HARD towards construction workers, oncoming traffic, and nearby vehicles. Tesla refuses to disable. When I disable, it reenables every time I drive. 7. It ran over a curb on FSD, twice.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725561March 19, 2026
STEERING
Component: Electric power steering system (steering column rack). Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: Loss of power steering assist renders the steering wheel virtually inoperable, creating an immediate risk of loss of vehicle control for the driver and danger to other road users. The vehicle required towing on November 27, 2025 — one month after purchase (October 25, 2025). Warning symptoms: Steering wheel stiffness and vibration when the easy-entry feature engaged. No warning lamps or messages preceded the failure. Dealer inspection and repair: Tesla service initially indicated the steering column rack required replacement. After five days, they instead applied lubricant as the sole fix. The issue was not resolved. On January 30, 2026, Tesla admitted they do not currently have an adequate solution to properly repair these known defects. Manufacturer acknowledgment: Tesla acknowledged the severity by agreeing a buyback was appropriate. On December 30, 2025, Tesla offered the full purchase price of $46,838.68 but withheld the $7,500 federal tax incentive without legal justification. While I was requesting documentation for this deduction, Tesla unilaterally declared I had withdrawn from the offer. I proposed a same-vehicle replacement as an alternative, but Tesla rejected this. Tesla will only offer a buyback minus the $7,500. Unanswered safety questions: I have repeatedly asked Tesla in writing whether the vehicle is safe to drive and requested disclosure of internal findings, including known safety risks and repair limitations. Tesla has not responded despite multiple requests.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724418March 15, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In under a year I have had to replace my windshield three times due to cracks from debris. The total cost would be greater than $4,000. I, nor my wife and family have ever had to replace a windshield on any previous car we had owned this many times in under one year or even at all. I suspect there is a defect in the build of the windshield or the design of the car that may be causing this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724394March 15, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
I've noticed periodically when the car is braking at start stop traffic in autopilot mode, the brake is very jerky and I can actually hear the pedal jerking and engaging. I wrote it off at the time in my head as normal operation of the car. I have brake pressure offset codes and brake booster mia codes. Sometimes I've noticed when I brake, randomly the pedal is super stiff and it feels like the car is driving on ice, as if the brakes aren't working or slowing me down at all, but I thought nothing of it at the time. Today on the 14th, I got into an accident at a relatively slow speed that in any other scenario I should have been able to stop. Yet I hit a parked car because as I was braking, I felt the pedal go very very stiff and unresponsive, and I carried the same speed as when I started braking right until impact, it seems as if I didn't slow down one bit. The brakes did not respond as they did mere seconds before and I hit a parked car. I understand teslas may throw codes left and right in service mode that may mean nothing, but I am worried about the brake booster code and wonder if maybe it caused the accident I was involved in. My friends told me they heard about tesla brake issues and that I should look into it and when I went to go check the codes hours later there they were.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724354March 14, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING
I am reporting a suspected defect involving the front suspension or steering system of my Tesla Model Y. The vehicle produces loud popping, knocking, and rattling noises from the front end when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, particularly as the steering approaches full lock in either direction. The noise appears to originate from the front suspension or steering components and occurs consistently during normal operation. This issue raises concerns about potential premature wear, component failure, or loss of steering control, which could pose a safety risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724330March 14, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Timeline of events: Day 1 – Delivery March 13, 2026 • Drove about 10 miles after delivery. • The driver-side window suddenly rolled fully down by itself while I was driving. • Returned immediately to the Tesla service center. They said they cleaned the window and recalibrated it. Later the same day • Drove another ~10 miles. • The window dropped fully again while driving. • Returned to the service center a second time. • I was told a mechanical part would be replaced, but never provided documentation. Day 2 – Today, March 14, 2026 • Left home to go to the store. • Within about 5 minutes of driving, the window dropped fully again and would not close at all. • The wind noise was extremely loud and the vehicle was very difficult to operate safely. I contacted the service center and was told they cannot provide proof of the part replacement from yesterday. When I called another Tesla service location, the earliest appointment available to even investigate the issue is March 31, 2026, despite the fact that the vehicle is essentially undrivable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724197March 13, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am filing a complaint regarding a suspension defect on my new Tesla Model Y Juniper. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, I began hearing a distinct knocking / clunking noise coming from the suspension when driving over small road imperfections and at low speeds. The noise is clearly abnormal for a new vehicle and sounds like loose or defective suspension components. I brought the vehicle to a Tesla service center, but the issue has not been resolved. Despite inspection and attempted repairs, the knocking noise continues to occur. This raises serious concerns about the quality and safety of the suspension system. Based on information from other Tesla owners, this appears to be a recurring issue affecting multiple Model Y Juniper vehicles. A persistent suspension defect on a new vehicle may pose a safety risk and should be investigated. I request that NHTSA review this issue and investigate whether there is a manufacturing or design defect affecting the suspension system of the Tesla Model Y Juniper. Vehicle Information: Model: Tesla Model Y (Juniper refresh) 7SAYGDEE9TF559226 Issue: Knocking / clunking noise from suspension Condition: Occurs at low speed and over small road bumps Status: Tesla service attempted repair but the problem persists (left and right front upper control arm replaced) This problem should not exist on a brand-new vehicle and requires proper investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723941March 12, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dear Transportation Safety Board: On January 12, 2026, at noon, I was involved in a traffic accident while using Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) function on the [XXX] between [XXX] and [XXX] . I am the complainant's wife. The accident was caused by a malfunction of FSD, which has had a tremendous impact on my family and my husband. He suffered a head injury, followed by intracranial hemorrhage and hematoma, rendering him unable to work. The accident has resulted in frequent cramps in his hands and feet, dizziness, headaches, and drug allergies due to the need for long-term medication. I need your help. Tesla does not state in its app that the product cannot fully drive itself; instead, it advertises that its FSD can drive independently in various road conditions without human intervention. This has misled the driving habits of many Tesla owners and caused immense harm to me and my family. I earnestly request your assistance in helping this helpless woman resolve my husband's problem. Thank you very much. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11723277March 10, 2026
SUSPENSION
Brand new car and its widely reported of front suspension noise, particularly with the RWD models. My car is the RWD model and I have the distinct and noticeable front suspension noise at non highway speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722518March 6, 2026
STEERING
After a 2 months of ownership, the motor that deploys the steering wheel to the driving position started a deep resistive noise. Took it to the service center in Bend, Oregon October 29, 2025. Their response, consumer education. ("This is normal") Second trip to Bend, Nov 4, 2025 they took the steering wheel off and adjusted the steering column. The problem persisted. The repair center ordered a new steering column. Another trip to Bend, Oregon, December 2, 2025, they replaced the steering column. Within a week, the grinding noise returned in the new steering column. If we activate it twice in succession, the deploying motor overheats and shuts down, leading to the driving wheel (and airbag) in the high and retracted position. Inquiring of the service manager at Bend, OR repair facility, he said Tesla is aware of the problem but does not have a replacement that itself will not have the same problem as the parts that are removed. (In other words, they cannot fix it.) Putting the Airbag in the wrong position while driving would deploy the driver's air bag too high to meet the safety standard under which it was tested and certified for a collision rating. Do I have a lemon?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Tesla Model Y