Tesla Model Y Complaints
3,785 consumer complaints on file.
- #11677444July 31, 2025LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
-As a regular driver in the DC area, I have repeatedly experienced the Lane Departure Avoidance system disabling itself mid-drive. This is particularly troubling in city driving conditions marked by unpredictable traffic, unclear lane markings, and frequent distractions—scenarios where these safety features are most essential. Lane Departure Avoidance helps prevent accidents by alerting drivers or gently correcting steering if the vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane. -I don't know if there was a specific concern about the safety of others, but it may have. -Unknown -Not needed -No - just happened
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11677115July 29, 2025FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
In FSD mode, my Tesla Model Y always heads to the "Do Not Enter" road and I have to take over manually to prevent entering the "Do Not Enter" road. This has happened almost all the time I am there. This is a very unsafe. Tesla needs to correct this issue at their highest priority.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11676662July 28, 2025SUSPENSION, WHEELS, STEERING
While driving on the freeway, I heard an unusual noise coming from beneath the battery of my car. Concerned, I drove to a nearby friend's house and parked there, carefully checking my dashboard for any warning signals but finding none. I decided to resume my journey, but as I backed out of the driveway, I heard a sudden noise indicating something had come loose, followed by a crackling sound. Upon inspecting the car, I discovered that the control arm had become detached, the axle had popped out, and two bolts had come off. During the towing process, I noticed that the steering had become extremely tight. To my surprise, I had never received any recall notice from Tesla addressing this issue. Considering that my car is less than two years old, I was deeply disturbed by the situation. This incident has significantly undermined my confidence in the safety of the vehicle, as it highlights a potential manufacturing defect involving defective parts. I regularly use this car to drive my children to their activities, and knowing that this could have led to a catastrophic failure such as tire separation, loss of steering control, or compromised braking capabilities especially on the freeway, is worrying. The car was towed to a dealer and currently in the queue for evaluation by tesla technicians. I requested detailed service report from Irvine service center. There were no warning indicators in the dashboard while I was driving or after the bolts came loose.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11676395July 26, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
There is a Tesla software defect. 1. I stepped into my Tesla Model Y. There was no vehicle in front of my driveway. A delivery van came to park in front of my driveway temporarily. It is a traffic violation according to the California Vehicle Code Section 22500(e). 2. I put my foot on the brake and put my car in the reverse gear. 3. Then I made an adjustment on the CONTROL screen. 4. I put my foot on the accelerator to continue to back up my car. The screen doesn't show the rear view anymore. This is a Tesla software defect that the screen should display the rear view as soon as I push the accelerator in this case.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11676373July 26, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The tesla computer freezes. Sudden there is no information from the car, no miles per hour, no navigation, no side view cameras. I can drive the car but that's is all. Since the navigation is entirely dependent on the computer I can't tell where I am going. It has happened more than 30+ times in the car.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675797July 24, 2025FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Vehicle Make/Model/Year: 2026 Tesla Model Y (Launch Series) Incident Date: [XXX] Incident Location: [XXX] System/Component Involved: Automated driving systems / Autopilot / Steering What Happened: While driving my new 2026 Tesla Model Y on Autopilot, the vehicle suddenly turned off the main road near [XXX] , and steered toward the curb. I immediately pressed the brake, but due to the vehicle’s speed, it still hit the curb, causing damage to the front right tire, wheel well liner, and triggering multiple system error messages. Shortly after, I witnessed another Tesla Model 3, also using Autopilot, make the exact same wrong turn at the same location and crash into the curb. No injuries occurred, but this appears to be a mapping or Autopilot software issue that can cause vehicles to leave the roadway unexpectedly, creating a serious safety hazard. Tesla is preparing the incident data, but this report is being filed to alert NHTSA of a potential Autopilot safety defect in this area. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675732July 23, 2025STEERING
The power steering became reduced and diminished while driving. Tesla is stating that there is corrosion on the wiring harness ports on the power steering rack. There was no warning until after the incident, but now a “reduced power steering” annunciation appears in the screen. The Tesla repair station has confirmed the condition.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675542July 23, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
All cameras went blank on vehicle 4 year and 7 months old. All driver assistance systems became suddenly disabled. Tesla service diagnosis established that computer needs to be replaced for a cost of $2,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675282July 22, 2025WHEELS
I am writing to report a serious safety issue following a recent service appointment for my Tesla Model Y at the Peabody, MA location (10 Andover St) on Friday, [XXX]. After driving approximately one hour on the highway following my visit, I heard a popping noise. Upon arriving home, I inspected my vehicle and removed the lug nut cover from the rear right tire — the one that was serviced during my appointment. To my shock, two lug nuts came off with the cover, and two others were not even screwed in. This is absolutely unacceptable and extremely dangerous. The wheel could have come off while I was driving, which could have led to a catastrophic accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675200July 21, 2025SUSPENSION, WHEELS, STEERING
The vehicle lost steering at 10 mph as a bolt from the front suspension's upper control arm and lateral link fasteners became loose and detached rom the vehicle. The wheel was completely misaligned, and the vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle could not be moved to the side of the road, putting my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. I fear that this could have been a fatal accident had I been on the highway. This issue has been confirmed by Tesla Service Center, and they acknowledged that this is a known issue. There were no warning indicators or recall notices sent to warn of this known issue. My vehicle should have been recalled. Tesla is making me pay $3,000 for repairs despite knowing this is a manufacturer defect, and they are continuing to put lives at risk by not issuing a wider recall.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675101July 21, 2025STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On April 18th, 2025, I dropped off my 2022 Tesla Model Y at Tesla Collision Center (Paramus, NJ) after a minor accident. I later revoked consent for any repairs via email. Despite this, Tesla performed major body and paint work without my permission. No signed work order exists. The repairs were unauthorized and proceeded without my knowledge or approval until this day. These changes now risk altering my VIN history and vehicle safety records. I’m concerned this constitutes falsified documentation and could affect resale value, title accuracy, and liability in future accidents. I was never shown a repair summary or given the chance to approve or decline service. Even after I sent a formal cease-and-desist letter on June 6, 2025, Tesla towed my rental vehicle on June 4 (without warning), which I had been using through Tesla Insurance. My personal belongings were inside. The timing suggests retaliation for revoking consent and demanding documentation. There were no mechanical failures or warning lights before this, but my concern is that Tesla falsified records & carried out structural work under my VIN without my legal consent. That poses serious risk to my safety and consumer transparency. The work was done by Tesla’s own collision center. The vehicle is available for inspection. I request NHTSA to review Tesla’s repair authorization practices and investigate whether unauthorized repairs, falsified VIN records, or retaliation have occurred in my case and others. This incident reflects broader safety concerns around Tesla’s internal repair authorization system, which may allow collision centers to proceed without documented customer consent. If vehicle repairs are being logged under owner records without approval, this poses risk to accident liability, insurance disputes, and NHTSA transparency. I request a formal investigation into Tesla’s repair authorization practices and how they affect vehicle safety, ownership rights, and regulatory compliance. Thank you.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11675071July 21, 2025UNKNOWN OR OTHER, WHEELS, SUSPENSION
Issue: A consistent rattling noise, noticeable while driving at speeds of 10-40 mph over bumpy roads or pot holes.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11674803July 19, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8k miles after warranty expired, I got this notification in my Tesla. BMS_u018 Maximum battery charge level reduced OK to drive - Schedule service Car won’t charge anymore, Tesla says it’s a High voltage battery issue and are charging $14,000 out of warranty. Online it says others have the same issue of it not working sometime after warranty expires. Tesla states batteries should run from 200-300k miles? Wanted to make this complaint since I don’t do anything to cause the battery to have a malfunction this early. No supercharging or charging to 100%.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11674618July 18, 2025ENGINE
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while shifting the vehicle into drive (D), the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle was gaining forward momentum. Additionally, the steering wheel would not turn right or left. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle gained speed and crashed through a chain link fence and drove into an alley. The contact stated that the air bags deployed. The contact stated that the vehicle then crashed into a building wall and finally stopped. The contact stated he had abrasions on both hands from the air bag. The contact stated he was treated by EMT on scene. The fire department and police were also at the scene. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot and declared a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11674470July 18, 2025EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in the Standard Mode or in Cruise Mode, depressing the brake pedal, there was a delay with the brake lights illuminating. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the taillights were functioning properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11674418July 18, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While attempting to park my Tesla, I accidentally struck another vehicle’s side step with the front passenger side of my car. The other vehicle was not damaged, but my Tesla sustained visible damage. The vehicle’s camera system failed to detect or display the side step, giving the impression that there was sufficient clearance. As a result, I relied on what I believed to be accurate visual guidance from the Tesla camera system. During a follow-up visit to the Tesla Service Center in Gilroy, California, I was told that similar incidents have occurred before. According to the technicians, the camera system has known limitations in detecting low-profile or side-mounted obstacles, such as running boards or side steps. This presents a significant safety concern. Tesla vehicles rely heavily on cameras and sensors for driver awareness, particularly during parking maneuvers. When key blind spots exist in the system—especially in areas the driver may not be able to visually confirm easily—it puts both property and people at risk. Drivers are conditioned to trust the vehicle’s spatial guidance systems, but in this case, that trust may lead to preventable accidents. Given Tesla’s growing market share and the increasing use of its camera-based safety and autonomy features, I believe this issue could affect many other drivers. It may warrant broader review to determine whether a design or software update is necessary to improve detection of low-profile obstacles and better inform drivers in parking scenarios.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11673834July 15, 2025FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
It is impossible to disable automatic emergency, breaking system permanently. The vehicle brakes strongly and abruptly causing the cars behind to slam on their brakes and potentially cause accidents. Every time I disable it, it comes back on next time we get into the car. There has been several instances where the vehicle hit the brakes really hard, even if there was nothing in front of it.. I was told that this is happening because Tesla does not use sensors but realize on cameras for these features and it can be quite wrong. I don’t know how to drive this car safely because the car makes decisions for me. Since it happens all the time, I’m having to keep my foot on the gas, and when it slams on the brakes, I counter it by pressing the gas pedal. The incident date is just an estimate, but it happens all the time.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11673710July 15, 2025SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
While driving along a few roads using Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC) or AutoPilot (AP), the car will suddenly brake for no reason at all. Speeds reduced from 75 to 50 in 2 seconds. Had there been a car close behind me, we may have collided. I am able to reproduce this on several other roads as well. I have not yet reported this to the manufacturer, but a review of internet forums shows this to be a relatively common occurrence among owners. They refer to this as Phantom Braking.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11673374July 14, 2025UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
Incident Date: July 12, 2025 Approximate Time: 1:30 PM Vehicle: 2026 Tesla Model Y Location: I‑75 South express lane toward I‑285 East, Marietta, GA Event Summary: While Autopilot was engaged, the vehicle was entering the exit ramp to I‑285 East when it abruptly veered left into the I‑285 West entrance ramp, against traffic, crashing through two “no entry” security gates. I was able to safely bring the vehicle to a stop before entering oncoming traffic. Crash Details: • The vehicle struck two barrier gates. • Impact shattered the windshield, spraying glass across the cabin. • Both my son and I sustained small cuts from glass shards. • Vehicle was rendered undrivable and had to be towed by authorities to a secure facility.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11673191July 13, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On Memorial Day weekend, my car was parked outside, and apparently back passenger window was left open, which caused the backseat area of the car to be soaked in water. We noticed that in the morning, and parked the car inside the garage, and kept the door and windows open so it could dry quickly. However, a few hours later, around 4:30 pm, the car caught fire while parked in the garage. We called 911 right away and quickly using two fire extinguishers, quickly put out the fire. The Frisco Fire Department opened up the investigation, and I believe they concluded the cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit due to water or battery-related issues. The fire incident occurred inside the garage, which could have potentially burned the entire house. However, due to the brave actions of my [XXX] , we put the fire out, but he ended up in the hospital due to severe smoke inhalation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0