Tesla Model Y Complaints

3,785 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#11755625August 8, 2026
SUSPENSION
I am reporting a serious safety issue involving severe, difficult-to-detect inner-edge tire wear on my Tesla that resulted in a tire failure on Highway 101. The tire failed while I was driving on the highway, creating a dangerous situation and significant traffic disruption. After the failure, I discovered severe wear concentrated on the INSIDE edge of the tire. The concerning part is that the normally visible tread appeared serviceable. An owner can therefore believe the tire is safe while the difficult-to-see inner portion may be dangerously worn. I am concerned that Tesla’s suspension/alignment geometry, including camber/toe settings, vehicle weight, or related components may contribute to excessive inner-edge tire wear. NHTSA should investigate whether this is occurring on other Tesla vehicles and whether owners are being adequately warned to inspect the entire tire, particularly the hidden inner shoulder. I also experienced a very concerning mileage discrepancy. My vehicle showed approximately 36,000 miles before traveling to Tesla for service. During the trip to the dealership, the mileage associated with my vehicle appeared to increase to approximately 56,000 miles. Tesla subsequently referenced the higher mileage in connection with service/maintenance coverage. I request that NHTSA investigate whether Tesla vehicles have a pattern of excessive hidden inner-tire wear capable of causing sudden tire failures; whether suspension, alignment, camber, toe, vehicle weight, or related components contribute to this condition; whether Tesla has received similar complaints; and whether owners are adequately warned about this difficult-to-see wear. I also request review of the approximately 20,000-mile mileage discrepancy and whether the mileage Tesla relied upon accurately represented my vehicle’s actual accumulated mileage. I have video evidence and can provide photographs, Tesla service records, mileage information, and other documentation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755613August 8, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The Autopilot/FSD computer (driver-assistance ECU) on my 2021 Model Y (HW3) began failing intermittently on August 2, 2026, days after installing a software update -FSD v14 "Lite" branch. The component is in the vehicle and available for inspection. While driving at highway speed in high ambient temperatures (112–125°F), the system repeatedly disengaged with "Cruise control unavailable" (alert DI_a175) and "System error — take over immediately" warnings, and later alert APP_w46u on FSD engagement. Failures included: FSD and Autosteer aborting within seconds of engagement or disappearing from the menu entirely; complete loss of driving visualizations (no lane lines or vehicle overlays); rear camera blacking out; loss of speed-limit recognition and automatic turn-signal cancel. Both FSD and Autosteer Beta failed identically, indicating the fault is in the shared Autopilot computer/camera pipeline, not one feature. Because the same camera/compute stack supports automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot warning, the status of those safety systems during the failures is UNKNOWN — I had to complete long desert highway stretches fully manually, with repeated unrequested hand-backs of control creating a sudden-takeover risk. The fault is thermal-load related and intermittent: it recurred at high ambient temperatures, sometimes recovered after a rest or power-off reset, but on August 4 one full power-off reset at 88°F ambient failed to restore the system (it later self-recovered), suggesting progressive hardware degradation rather than ambient heat alone. Not yet reproduced by a service center: a Tesla service appointment is scheduled for August 13, 2026, and a service request with fault codes was filed in-app while the faults were active so remote diagnostics could capture them. No inspection yet by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. Public owner reports describe similar Autopilot-computer thermal failures on HW3 vehicle
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755611August 8, 2026
SUSPENSION
Yesterday, my Tesla Model Y 2022 suffered a catastrophic failure. The front lower forward control arm completely detached from the subframe due to a missing/fallen-out factory bolt. For the past couple weeks leading upto last night's incident, I've been hearing a "small thump/thud" sound whenever i accelerate the vehicle. I reported this issue to Tesla and arranged a service appointment for coming Wed Aug 12 2026 but unfortunately the catastrophic failure occured last night 5 days before the scheduled service appointment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755589August 8, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
The FSD failed when it back into garage; the back of passenger side of the car hit the wall of garage. There is no warning before. Beacuse the distance for parking into the garage is small, there is no time to take over the FSD to avoid it happen. It happen around 23:35 on August 07, 2026. We reported as a safety incident to Tesla an hour ago. We updated the the software on August 02, 2026. The car had been succesful back into the garage more than ten times before.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755578August 7, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Separately, the system could not hold a consistent speed on open highway with no vehicle ahead. It would surge from a set 70 mph to roughly 72-73 mph and then drop back, repeatedly, producing a pulsing acceleration and deceleration. The system also hesitated frequently and issued repeated audible alerts without an identifiable hazard present. I previously filed a complaint regarding phantom braking on this same vehicle (ODI number 11450326, filed February 4, 2022), which described nearly identical behavior triggered by trucks on the same Georgia-to-New Jersey route. That complaint concerned FSD/Autopilot software from 2022. The behavior described here occurs on Tesla’s current v14 Lite software released to Hardware 3 vehicles in July 2026. The defect has persisted across more than four years and multiple software generations. Unexpected hard braking at highway speed with no hazard present creates a rear-end collision risk to my vehicle and to following traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755576August 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle has complete Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capabilities. Vehicle was reverse parking on its own but the right side crashed into a wall. Vehicle did not stop reverse upon collision. Driver took over immediately to avoid further crash fatality.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755538August 7, 2026
STEERING, SUSPENSION
During normal driving on roadway the vehicle pulled to the left and driver was not able to steer right to avoid travelling into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle from opposing traffic. The vehicle gave no notice prior and was not in automatic mode.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
2
#11755534August 7, 2026
STEERING
Car making excessive noise, service department refuses to address at Tesla even though various cases of the same issue are easily available online. Issue is with half shaft lubrication being dried but Tesla is trying to charge and claiming that the part hasn’t failed. But to me a part failing due to lack of lubrication can lead to hazard road conditions. I don’t want to put my kids safety in harm but Tesla tells me that no lubrication will not result in part failure
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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