Tesla Model Y Complaints

3,785 consumer complaints on file.

#11708174January 1, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
During a snowstorm, the headlights caused blinding visibility issues due to the reflected light from the snow flakes. Normally, using low beams fixes this problem. I tried all combinations of headlights during the drive- auto high, high, auto low, manual low, just parking lights. All resulted in horrible visibility conditions that limited speed to around 20 MPH. The vehicle was inspected by Tesla service. Tesla reported the headlights operate as designed. There is a light bar above the headlight that remains on when driving and this illuminates the snow. This lightbar should turn off at night or at least have an option to turn off by the driver.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708173January 1, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights turned off while driving. Not being able to see where you're going is risky. The problem has occurred twice under the same conditions - light snow covering on the car. It has not been reproduced at dealer or service center. Components have not been inspected. The headlights operate properly when the snow is removed. No warning, messages or symptoms. Tesla Assist states that if there if driving in snow or low viz conditions, the headlights should be turned on manually, which is not intuitive or appropriate given the advanced nature of the car
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708111December 31, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have no front hood (Frunk) emergency release button. Seems like it should have one.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708085December 31, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Picked up car from tesla service on 12/30/2025. On [XXX] at around [XXX] I had pressed the car break and suddenly accelerated and lead to crashing into the pole. I am concerned about the safety and if it is drivable. 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
#11708026December 31, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Autopilot was engaged and active at the time of the incident. The vehicle failed to detect a stationary piece of road debris (appearing to be a dropped vehicle part) located in the driving lane. The system did not provide any warning, slow the vehicle, or attempt an avoidance maneuver. The vehicle drove directly over the debris, resulting in damage to the lower exterior/body panel. Road and traffic conditions were normal. This raises concerns about Autopilot’s object detection and hazard response capabilities.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708023December 31, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle’s high-voltage battery and charging system experienced repeated failures, preventing charging while the vehicle was parked. This issue occurred three times: January 2024: Charging error “BMS_a079. Unable to charge” appeared. Vehicle was stranded and required service intervention. Mileage ~28,125. November 2024: Same charging error during winter travel, vehicle stranded mid-trip, creating safety risk for passengers. Mileage ~38,744. September 2025: Charging error recurred mid-trip, vehicle had to be left at a service location. Mileage ~48,918. All incidents were reported to Tesla under battery warranty. Repairs were attempted each time, but the problem recurred. A repurchase request was submitted after the third incident and was denied, with only a goodwill service credit offered. Safety concerns include the risk of being stranded, particularly during long trips or in winter conditions, which could affect passengers and other road users. The battery and charging system were inspected by Tesla service personnel after each incident, and the failure was confirmed each time.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708013December 31, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I have a 2023 Tesla Y. The Curvature Assist function has nearly caused a half dozen rear end collisions. When in cruise control, it kicks in on (1) highways, near exits when I'm not taking the exit (2) regular roads with no curve or intersection, (3) regular roads with departure lanes that I'm not using. The car behind me only see's a sudden brake light with slow down until I press on the accelerator. Please have Tesla install a disable function for Curvature Assist.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707946December 30, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper lacks both internal lighting and an emergency safety release mechanism. This design flaw creates an unnecessary and severe safety risk, as a small adult or child could easily become trapped in the frunk with no way to signal for help or escape. In low-light conditions—such as at night or in a garage without adequate illumination—the absence of a light would exacerbate disorientation and panic for anyone trapped. Without an internal release latch or glow-in-the-dark handle (standard in many vehicle trunks to prevent entrapment deaths), this could lead to a life-threatening suffocation or injury situation, especially if the frunk is accidentally closed on a person during loading/unloading. I discovered this issue while inspecting the frunk during routine cleaning and noticed that my four-year-old sat very comfortably inside the frunk listening to music while I cleaned the car. No incident has occurred yet, but the potential for harm is clear and warrants immediate investigation, as it violates basic entrapment-prevention standards observed in rear trunks and other vehicles. This defect compromises occupant safety and should be addressed through a recall or a retrofit that includes an illuminated emergency release. Please investigate similar complaints for this model year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707756December 30, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. Incident Description (FSD Failure) "While operating the vehicle using FSD (Supervised) on December 30, 2025, at approximately [Time], the vehicle failed to detect and completely ran through a red light/stop light at the intersection of [Street Name] and [Cross Street]. I had to take over the vehicle to avoid a potential collision. The system did not provide a warning or attempt to brake for the traffic signal." 2. Control Failure (Sliding/Steering) "Under low-speed conditions (approximately 13 mph), the vehicle suffered an uncontrolled loss of traction and directional stability. The Traction Control System (TCS) failed to intervene or stabilize the car. I was forced to perform a manual steering intervention to correct the slide and maintain my lane. This occurred at [Location/Address]." 3. Hardware/Exit Concern (Door) "The vehicle has a mechanical defect in the [Front/Rear] door. It requires excessive physical force (hard slamming) to latch properly. I am concerned that in an emergency, the door may fail to open or close correctly, posing a safety risk to passengers." 4. Summary of Risk "I no longer feel safe operating this vehicle. The combination of an autonomous driving system that ignores traffic signals and a stability system that fails at school-zone speeds makes this vehicle a life-threatening hazard to myself and others on the road."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707568December 29, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was operating my 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged at low speed in a residential neighborhood. The vehicle took an incorrect turn into a neighboring driveway instead of continuing on the roadway. I attempted to correct the vehicle’s path. At that point, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. I experienced a sudden loss of control and was unable to stop the vehicle before it struck my garage door and entered the garage, causing structural damage to the garage wall. Notably, automatic emergency braking did not activate, and no effective front collision warning intervened, despite an imminent collision with a fixed structure. Tesla’s post-incident vehicle report states that accelerator pedal input was detected, which I believe occurred as a panic response while attempting to regain control after the vehicle took the incorrect turn. However, I am concerned that the vehicle’s software behavior, lack of braking intervention, and failure of safety systems contributed to the incident. This incident raises safety concerns regarding unintended acceleration behavior, FSD path selection errors at low speed, and failure of emergency braking or collision avoidance systems when approaching fixed objects such as garage doors or walls.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707389December 28, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Date: December 28, 2025 Time: Approximately 3:25 PM Vehicle: 2026 Tesla Model Y Incident Location: Southbound on the I-35N feeder road, just north of Highway 114. Safe Harbor Location: Burger King (15925 N Hwy 114, Northlake, TX) Statement of Facts: I was driving my 2026 Tesla Model Y southbound on the I-35N feeder road at approximately 3:25 PM today. I was traveling at a steady speed of 55 MPH. Without any warning chime or dashboard notification, the front hood (frunk) suddenly and violently flew open. The hood slammed into the windshield, shattering the glass across my entire field of vision and completely obstructing the road ahead. I was forced to perform an emergency "blind" stop on the feeder road. Once the vehicle was under control, I drove at approximately 10 MPH with zero forward visibility to reach a safe location off the main road. I pulled into the Burger King parking lot located at the intersection of I-35 and Highway 114 to inspect the damage and call for assistance. Key Safety Failures: • Software Failure: At no point before the hood flew open did the vehicle alert me that the frunk was unlatched. • Mechanical Failure: The latching mechanism failed to hold at standard highway speeds, creating a life-threatening visibility hazard. • Structural Damage: The windshield is fully shattered, and the hood and hinges are visibly warped from the force of the impact. Conclusion: This incident was a catastrophic safety failure. Given Tesla's history of recalls for this exact issue (NHTSA Recall 24V-554), it is clear that this 2026 model either suffers from the same defect or the previous "software fix" is insufficient to protect drivers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707358December 28, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
We were driving and had the circulation on to make sure that no outside air was being circulated in so that condensation does not build up on the inside of the cabin. The circulation button auto turned off without us knowing. We then had all four windows, and our windshield and back window completely covered in condensation and it would not resolve. I had to manually wipe it away. We were traveling down a highway going 70mph when this happened. This is extremely dangerous and that circulation button should not have been auto shut off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707285December 27, 2025
STEERING
While traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly veered to the right without driver input. The Autopilot/FSD system was not engaged. It all happened in a matter of seconds. There was no system failure message on the screen. The vehicle airborne and hit a tree. All side airbag were deployed. Was able to open the door and walk away without any major injuries. Software update : 2025.44.25.5
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707282December 27, 2025
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Date & Time: December 25, approximately 6:00 PM Location: Northbound I-880 between the Mowry Avenue and Thornton Avenue exits, Fremont, CA Weather & Road Conditions: Heavy rain at the time of the incident. Road surface was wet with reduced visibility. Vehicle & System State: Tesla Model Y. Driver assistance / self-driving functionality was active at the time of the incident (traffic-aware cruise control / Autopilot functionality). Description of the Incident: While driving northbound on I-880 in heavy rain, the vehicle had been operating normally. Without warning, the vehicle appeared to incorrectly detect that it was drifting out of its lane and attempted to correct this perceived drift. Instead of a minor lane correction, the vehicle abruptly applied heavy braking and initiated a sudden and aggressive left steering maneuver. The car crossed approximately four lanes of traffic in the same direction of travel and continued rotating, ultimately performing an unintended U-turn while remaining on the northbound side of the highway. As a result, the vehicle came to a stop oriented against the direction of travel, facing oncoming northbound traffic. Immediately afterward, the vehicle unexpectedly began reversing at high speed without driver input, creating an additional imminent risk of collision with the outer highway wall (noise barrier separating the highway from adjacent residential areas). During this entire sequence of events, I was unable to regain control of the vehicle despite attempting to intervene. There were no vehicles immediately surrounding us at that moment. Had there been nearby traffic, this incident would likely have resulted in a severe or fatal multi-vehicle collision. Occupants: My wife and two young children were in the vehicle. The children were asleep in the back seat, secured in car seats. Outcome: No physical collision occurred. However, the incident caused extreme fear and distress, and we remain shaken by the event.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707209December 27, 2025
STEERING, WHEELS
While driving approximately 5–10 mph and making a right turn on a local street, the vehicle suddenly produced a metallic pulling sound followed by a loud impact. The vehicle abruptly stopped and became undrivable. Upon exiting the vehicle, the left front wheel was visibly displaced from normal alignment and appeared to have shifted rearward into the wheel well. No collision, curb strike, pothole, or road debris was involved. The vehicle had exhibited a wire-tugging or metallic noise during turning in the days prior. The failure occurred without warning and resulted in a sudden loss of vehicle control at low speed. The vehicle was towed to Tesla, where the left front control arm was found to be disconnected/broken. Tesla has not yet provided a determination and is attempting to route the vehicle to a collision center despite no evidence of impact. This appears to be a suspension component failure that could have resulted in a serious accident at higher speeds. Safety Impact: Loss of steering control, risk of crash, inability to drive vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707203December 26, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The frunk emergency release switch/button is not present on brand new purchase.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707164December 26, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The rear door releases contain no easily accessible mechanical back up for releasing the door. In an emergency during a loss of power rear passengers would either have to know how to access the hidden door releases cable or would be trapped.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707046December 25, 2025
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
I am writing to formally report a serious safety incident involving a Tesla vehicle and to document multiple critical system failures that occurred during an accident, resulting in physical injuries to me. On the 12/24/2025, while operating Tesla under rainy conditions, I experienced a sudden and dangerous malfunction of the vehicle. During the event, the steering system became unresponsive and appeared to lock, preventing me from maintaining control of the vehicle. Simultaneously, the braking system failed to respond as expected despite my attempt to apply the brakes. These failures significantly impaired my ability to avoid or mitigate the collision. Most concerning, the vehicle’s airbag system did not deploy during the impact. Given the severity of the collision and the resulting injuries, the lack of airbag deployment represents a serious failure of a critical safety system designed to protect occupants in such events. As a direct result of this incident and the apparent malfunction of multiple safety systems, I sustained physical injuries that required medical evaluation and treatment. Beyond the physical harm, the incident caused significant emotional distress and raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the vehicle. I am submitting this complaint to formally document these safety failures and to request a thorough investigation into the performance of the steering, braking, and airbag systems involved in this incident. I believe this matter presents a significant safety concern not only for myself but also for other drivers and passengers who rely on these systems to function properly in emergency situations. Please confirm receipt of this complaint and advise me of the next steps in your investigation process. I am prepared to provide additional documentation, including medical records, photographs, vehicle data, and incident details, upon request. Thank you for your attention to this serious matter
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707045December 25, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My Tesla was unable to access Supercharging due to a payment system error, even though I had just made a payment. The battery level was critically low, and a severe storm warning was active. Supercharging access was blocked, and I could not reach Tesla customer support by phone. This created a potentially dangerous situation and represents a safety risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11707010December 25, 2025
WHEELS
The model Y performance wheels make it really hard to remove the valve stem caps on the tires. Similarly, trying to unscrew the air pump form the valve stem is difficult due to very small clearance between the wheel cover hole. I see this as a safety related issue. Having a hard time doing this while on the side of the road is the last thing you want to happen when you're repairing a flat.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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