Tesla Model Y Complaints (2021)
1,096 consumer complaints on file.
- #11514080March 27, 2023SEATS
Easy Entry resulted in fractured/ broken toe of back seat passenger. Foot was resting in seat rail when driver exited vehicle which caused the seat to auto position to rear and crushed passenger toe. Driver jumped back into vehicle and engaged park to auto move seat to forward position
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11513841March 26, 2023SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
While utilizing the ADAS features including the adaptive cruise control, the vehicle unexpectedly applies its brakes while driving at highway speeds.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11513408March 23, 2023STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Vehicle began showing the below warning messages, followed by loss of power steering and abnormal braking behavior (brakes did not work properly). This is a recurrence of an issue that previously resulted in the vehicle being towed to Tesla, but whom were unable to diagnose the problem. -Automatic Emergency braking disabled -Lane Departure Avoidance features unavailable -Traction control disabled -Automatic vehicle hold disabled -Stability control disabled -Steering assist reduced -Front motor disabled -Power reduced
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11513050March 21, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Sudden deceleration and braking while at interstate speeds and crossing over a bridge. I was using cruise control only, overcast day, dry pavement with moderate traffic. Cruise control strongly applied the brakes from interstate speeds while crossing over an overpass bridge. There was no danger or traffic ahead of me that should have triggered the emergency braking. This needs to be investigated, it will get someone killed.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11512861March 20, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
This is my second NHTSA report for this car, there was no reply to my first report. Since the manufacturer, without warning or owner consent, disabled radar systems for automated cruise control, the car is now exhibiting a new dangerous behavior when the camera detects the presence of emergency vehicle flashing lights and suddenly, and dangerously applies an emergency brake to slow the car, without taking into consideration the location of the emergency flashing lights relative to my car, or the presence of other cars around me that might be affected by the sudden, un-announced braking of my car. In many cases, the police/emergency lights are on the opposite side and direction of the freeway, 8+ lanes away from my car, and I am under no legal obligation to brake, nor would it be safe to do so. There is no warning by the car, only the sudden braking action and I have almost been hit from behind by other cars who were not expecting my car to brake while at freeway speed. This event has occurred at least 10 times in the past year regardless of time of day, weather or traffic conditions. I would like the previous complaint I filed about sudden, unexpected braking, as well as this new complaint reviewed by the NHTSA, as this is evidence of a critical, significant safety hazard by the car which the manufacturer has deliberately created.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11512800March 20, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
We recently traveled about 300 miles on a roadtrip in this Tesla and while using the adaptive cruise control, the car would randomly slam on the brakes for no apparent reason. There was nothing in the road or any hazards at all. Also, it was not just a one time thing. It happened multiple times before I decided to not use the cruise control because it to dangerous.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11512699March 19, 2023VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
ON MARCH 18, 2023 WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 80 FROM Winnemucca NV TO FERNLEY NV. At 3pm and about 3:10pm the car suddenly decelerated from ~82mph to ~50mph. The road ahead was clear of obsticles. Luckly there were no cars following close behind us, if there had been the unnecessary and unexpected deceleration could have been dangerous.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11512662March 19, 2023VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
This car is unsafe. 70K+ purchase price with the inability to use basic cruise control, must-less the 10K FSD purchase that is USELESS. The phantom braking is constant while trying to use the basic cruise control, auto-pilot/FSD. Driving this car makes me a nervous wreck and I am beginning to HATE it and regret my purchase. I am seriously concerned for the safety of myself and other Tesla owners based on the current radar-less autonomous features. NHTSA should get involved and force Tesla to address the phantom braking issues before more people are involved in an accident that could be avoided.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11511973March 15, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
While driving the vehicle on a 2 lane highway in sunny conditions, the vehicle suddenly braked while using cruise control. There was no traffic on the road ahead, no oncoming or traffic in my lane. Car slammed on the brakes slowing from 55 to 30 in about 2 seconds. If there was a vehicle behind me this would have caused a serious accident. This is NOT an isolated incident on my vehicle. The exact scenario has been reported a multitude of times by other people. This will kill someone and needs a recall. This is the standard equipment cruise control provided on all Tesla models. This isn't self driving or any other advanced feature. This is a critical issue that needs to be resolved.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11511750March 14, 2023SEATS
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the middle seats were unlatched independently. The middle seat's unlatched warning message was displayed. No one was injured. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 24,917.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11511023March 9, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while entering or exiting the driveway on an incline, the automatic braking system engaged and locked up the tires in icy conditions. While reversing, the contact noticed that he was unable to turn off the integrated braking feature. While driving the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to brake efficiently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 1,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510875March 8, 2023SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
There are multiple issues: 1. When trying to back up slowly, or move forward slowly, the car goes automatically on park "to prevent roll". I am intentionally trying to slowly back out of parking, and the car keeps stopping 2. When I try to change lanes, in many cases the car gives a solid "beep" which is equivalent to me almost crashing to another car. But there are no other cars! 3. The car keeps giving forward collision warnings when there is no immediate danger to collide with anything, and in most cases there is nothin in front.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510788March 8, 2023SEATS
The trim that includes the controls for the front passenger seat became detached. I returned to the vehicle to find the seat had fully reclined on its own. This occurred in October 2022. I confirmed with other Model Y owners that they had the same problem occur. Tesla said the clip holding the trim in place popped out and replaced it. A similar repair was done for other owners. The problem reoccurred in March 2023. I confirmed with other owners that the problem reoccurred for them as well. Tesla replaced the trim this time instead of just replacing the clip. There were no notices from the car either time that the seat controls had become detached from the seat. While waiting for the repair to take place, Tesla did not inform me whether or not it was safe for a passenger to sit in the seat. I question if it was safe since the seat reclined on its own, the seatbelt is attached to this detached piece, as are the seat controls.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510617March 7, 2023SEATS
Much like SB-23-13-001 recall my rear seat bolt became lose. However it does not seem to be included in the current recall. Tesla is trying to charge me to resolve this issue.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510557March 7, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The contact owns a 2021Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH with the cruise control activated, the vehicle independently and aggressively slowed without driver input. The vehicle then accelerated independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure occurred approximately 10 times. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510338March 6, 2023ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that her husband was attempting to drive from a stationary position and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that no warning light was illuminated. The contact experienced the failure three times. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510162March 4, 2023FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Multiple "phantom braking" events while using adaptive cruise control (no full self driving, just basic adaptive cruise). First time while going at interstate speed and crossing a bridge, vehicle saw a shadow on the road and slammed on the brakes thinking it was a vehicle. Obviously this is a startling and dangerous situation especially for vehicles behind you. This has also happened on the highway, flat terrain, roads were clear of any obstacles and it slams on the brakes thinking there is something in the road. Every time it does this, there appear to be shadows on the road (from street signs, light poles, trees, etc.). The sudden braking is of course bad, but there's also nothing in the vehicle that tells you why, no chime, it just hits the brakes. It still appears that cruise control is active, but it won't resume speed after an event like this until you turn cruise off and back on again. I know this isn't an isolated incident and it absolutely will cause a crash, if it hasn't already.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509846March 2, 2023VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
It seems like this is a common problem if you search "tesla phantom braking," which very obviously needs a solution. I commonly experience the phantom braking when there is a shadow like passing under a bridge. The car will slam on the brakes thinking the shadow is another car, which is obviously extremely dangerous especially on the highway. A simple solution would be to add a legacy cruise control option, while fixing the phantom braking. This would cause a lot less wrecks and deaths.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509137February 25, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On February 20, 2023, my infotainment system console and screen completely failed as I was backing up to a Supercharger. This started with the typical lag I have filed service complaints for before, the camera occlusions, and then nearly caused an accident with the barrier pole in front of the Supercharger. This is the eighth near miss in over a year of ownership and the 27th occurrence of issues related to the infotainment system console and screen. Often, it is burning hot, other times it is woefully underpowered to accomplish anything in a timely manner (if at all) when these incidents occur. I have been to the Tesla service center twice about this very issue. Each time, I was told software update would be issued that would fix the problem(s). That has never been the case. With everything so reliant upon that center-mount display and its associated computer in this model of vehicle, it HAS to be considered a must-not-fail component to the extent humanly possible. I am taking this vehicle in for a third time for this and multiple other issues that seem to some degrees associated with the issue. After badgering the Tesla helpdesk personnel with demands to replace or fix the issue, they have told me on February 23, 2023 that they will be replacing the computer next week (whether this is to evaluate the device for issues or to hide evidence to their culpability in an incompetent design flaw, I cannot be sure).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509105February 25, 2023VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle heating/defrost system is not functioning in cold weather. It only functions in my heated garage. In cold weather it cannot defrost causing visibility issues, driver distraction (trying to get the heat/defrost to work while driving) and a reduction in blood flow to the extremities. The heating system blows freezing cold air into the cabin when on. I have written a lemon law letter to Tesla, demanding the vehicle be replaced under Alaska law, and they have not done so after 80+ days. The vehicle’s supermanifold was damaged the day we took delivery. Tesla has not honored Alaska law and I’ll be filing paperwork with the state’s attorney general’s office. Tesla should not be allowed to operate in the State of Alaska due to committing an unfair trade act in the State of Alaska and endangering the lives of their customers.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0