Tesla Model Y Complaints

3,785 consumer complaints on file.

#11755463August 7, 2026
STEERING
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal sound while turning the steering wheel to the left or the right. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the lower and upper control arms were failing. The contact was informed that the lower and upper control arms needed to be replaced. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that a service appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755436August 7, 2026
SUSPENSION
Front suspension makes creaking noises for a few months now. The car only makes noises when steering wheel is turned while reversing and sometimes when turning. Took the car to Tesla and they told me since the sound is not that loud and not really reproducible, then to bring it back when it gets worse. My car only has 34k miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755397August 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I reporting a potential safety-related defect involving my 2023 Tesla Model Y Performance. Since shortly after purchasing the vehicle in April 2026, it has repeatedly been unable to successfully install Tesla software updates. The updates download, but the installation repeatedly fails. I have attempted installation multiple times under appropriate conditions, including adequate battery charge, stable Wi-Fi, vehicle reboot, removal of USB devices, and installation directly from the vehicle touchscreen. The failures continue. Tesla evaluated the vehicle and documented the failed software installation. Tesla also identified a possible issue involving the HW3 car computer and prepared an estimate of approximately $3,000 that included replacement of the vehicle computer, diagnostic work, and labor. I am concerned because Tesla vehicles rely extensively on their onboard computers and software for vehicle operation, safety systems, driver-assistance functions, security updates, bug fixes, and manufacturer-issued corrections. Because this vehicle cannot successfully install software updates, I am concerned it may be unable to receive safety-related corrections or updates that other vehicles are receiving. This is not simply an infotainment issue. The failure appears to involve the vehicle computer itself and has continued despite repeated troubleshooting and Tesla service involvement. I believe NHTSA should evaluate whether defective HW3 computers or related electronic systems can cause repeated update-installation failures and potentially prevent affected Tesla vehicles from receiving safety-related software updates or recall remedies.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755387August 7, 2026
STEERING, AIR BAGS
I was driving the car inside the parking garage of the UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood at around 3:10pm on XXX, looking for an appropriate parking spot. When entering the second basement floor and turning the steering wheel right, to follow the road, the steering wheel was unresponsive and the car felt as if in neutral gear. As the car was on a downward slope, it went straight into the car parked in front. It happened so fast, but it seemed as if the brakes were ineffective. The air bags on the sides were deployed. On the front, the airbag in the steering wheel came out but did not inflate. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755383August 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car locked itself with the phone key and the key card sitting in the car. My baby was trapped in the back seat. Eventually, I was able to get a hold of my husband and he was able to unlock the car from the app. I was talking to 911 when he saw my messages and unlocked the car. I think poor cell reception may have been the cause.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755367August 6, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While using FSD feature continuously for more than 45 minutes without stopping the system locks on to the previous road speed limit and freezes and the car ignores any new different speed limits and runs into FULLY ROUGE MODE...and almost ran into a pedestrian without slowing down. Example - if road speed limit is 45 mph and car driving between 45-50 mph and when the road speed limit drops to 35 or 25 mph car continues to run at 45-50 mph. ex2: if car running at 35 mph and later enters highway the car continues at 35 mph on highway where speed is 65 mph and likely to cause accident. The tesla does not have any forum or email support or phone support to address this issue and says it will reset if i stop on highway and wait for 15 mins to reset and then start again. This occurs every time if you drive continuously without stopping ( turning off car) for 45 min or more
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755281August 6, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
On the highway, a vehicle in the lane next to me on the right moved towards the white dividing line, but never actually crossed into my lane. My Tesla was operating on Full Self-Driving (Supervised). The system miscalculated the front vehicle's trajectory and severely overreacted to it approaching the line. Without driver input, the FSD system initiated sudden, heavy braking and violently swerved to the left, crossing the lane line. Because the Tesla swerved suddenly into the left lane, the driver already occupying that lane was unable to avoid a collision, striking the left rear corner of my vehicle. I have video recordings from my Tesla that provides objective proof that the vehicle in front did not sideswipe or cut off my car, but rather that an abrupt vehicle automation failure forced my car out of its lane, I had no chance to react quick enough to avoid the accident. It also provides context as to why the driver behind me could not avoid the impact. I have preserved the video files and am ready to submit them to you immediately. Best regards [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755238August 6, 2026
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
While operating my 2022 tesla model y, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic hardware failure of the onboard vehicle control computer. This total computer failure resulted in an immediate, sudden loss of electronic power steering assist while the vehicle was in motion. The steering wheel became incredibly stiff and heavy, creating a severe and hazarders driving situation. the vehicle was towed to a tesla service center, where technicians confirmed the onboard computer hardware requires a complete replacement. A vital computer failing prematurely on a 2022 vehicle presents an extreme safety risk of crash or injury due to sudden loss of vehicle control.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755186August 6, 2026
SUSPENSION
Noises started coming from suspension and I had an independent shop verify the issue. The lower control arm had separated from bushing and rubbing against subframe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755078August 5, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving a 2026 Tesla Model Y Premium on [XXX] at approximately [XXX] PM on [XXX] using Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised mode, the vehicle was traveling in the center lane (lane 2 of 3) when it ran over a large whole tire (commercial truck-sized) that was positioned in the center of the lane. The FSD system failed to detect or avoid the tire prior to impact. This incident demonstrates a critical safety limitation: Tesla FSD cannot detect large road obstacles such as a whole commercial truck tire positioned in the center of a highway lane at night. The FSD system showed no warning, took no evasive action, and did not alert the driver prior to the impact. Prior to the incident, there were no warning lamps, error messages, or any abnormal symptoms. All systems were functioning normally. Following the collision, a "Coolant Low - Schedule Service / Climate and driving performance may be limited" warning appeared immediately on the display screen. Upon inspection, all coolant had leaked out completely. Damaged components include: underbody, front bumper lower section, and cooling pump. The cooling pump damage is particularly concerning as it prevents proper battery temperature regulation, creating a significant risk of battery overheating and potential fire. The vehicle is currently at a Tesla-approved collision center. Inspection is still in progress. The vehicle has been reviewed by Tesla Service Center technicians and insurance representatives. Safety concern: Tesla FSD failed to detect and avoid a large, visible whole truck tire in the center of the highway lane at night, resulting in significant underbody damage, complete coolant loss, and cooling pump failure — posing serious battery fire risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755028August 5, 2026
AIR BAGS
Description of Safety Incident:The front passenger safety restraint system failed, displaying the warning alert: "Seats - Front passenger safety restraint system fault / Service is required." This alert disables or suppresses the front passenger airbag and seatbelt restraint system, creating a direct safety hazard for front-seat occupants.Service History & Recurring Defect:On February 26, 2025 (at 50,596 miles), Tesla Service Center diagnosed an open circuit in the front passenger seat harness/back frame. Under Service Bulletin / SRS Warranty, Tesla replaced the front seat back, seat harness assembly (PN: 1489060-03-G), occupancy sensor (PN: 1099592-00-F), and SBR sensor clip (PN: 1130363-00-B). On August 1, 2026 (at 63,583 miles)—less than 13,000 miles after the initial replacement—the exact same safety restraint system fault recurred.Safety Concern:The front passenger seat harness and Occupant Classification System (OCS) appear to suffer from design strain, pinching, or premature wiring degradation during normal seat movement. Because this defect disables critical safety restraint components and recurs shortly after replacement, I am submitting this report to request a federal safety review and investigation regarding Tesla Model Y front passenger seat wiring harness integrity.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11755007August 5, 2026
SUSPENSION
The control arms are defective on this vehicle for the second time. I began hearing a clunking sound when I would turned the vehicle in July 2026. When the sound got louder and sharp left turns felt less controlled, I took the vehicle to a local independent tire repair shop immediately. They told me the left control arm was cracking badly, so I made an appointment with Tesla. Tesla is currently replacing my control arms for the second time. They also found additional suspension issues with the sway bar links. Previously, I experienced total control arm failure in November 2024 when the vehicle had less than 14,000 miles and was less than a year old. This resulted in the car being towed to the Tesla service center for complete control arm replacement. This jeopardized the safety of both myself and other drivers as I had no control of the vehicle’s steering. In July 2026, when I started to hear the same sounds indicating control arm failure, I brought the vehicle into a repair facility immediately to get it diagnosed to prevent such a dangerous incident from happening to me again. This is a serious defect in the 2023 Model Y, and upon research I discovered there are numerous control arm complaints, making this vehicle defect a hazard to potentially millions of drivers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754995August 5, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was operating my Tesla using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from my home to a coffee shop. The vehicle completed the entire drive under FSD without any manual intervention. After arriving at the destination, FSD automatically entered the parking lot, selected an available parking space, and initiated the parking maneuver on its own. I did not manually select the parking space or start the parking maneuver. During the automatic parking maneuver, the vehicle failed to detect a fixed square concrete bollard located within the parking space and continued moving until the front bumper made contact with the bollard, causing damage to the vehicle. No collision warning, parking collision warning, or automatic emergency braking occurred before impact. The vehicle remained under FSD control until the collision. The incident occurred in daylight with good visibility. The obstacle was a permanent concrete bollard, not a temporary object or a low parking curb. Dashcam footage of the incident has been preserved and has been provided to Tesla Insurance. I believe Tesla should review the vehicle telemetry and FSD logs to determine why the system failed to recognize the fixed obstacle during the automated parking maneuver.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754876August 5, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING, WHEELS
Vehicle can become difficult to steer in certain situations
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754864August 4, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], my 2026 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX], delivered [XXX]) was involved in a rear-end collision while the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system was actively engaged. The dashcam footage clearly shows "Self Driving" displayed in blue on the instrument panel at the time of the incident, with the vehicle traveling at 3 KM/H in Drive (D) mode. What failed: The FSD/ADAS system failed to detect the stopped vehicle ahead and did not apply braking or issue any collision warning prior to impact. Safety risk: The system had full control of the vehicle at the time of the collision. I was not manually operating the vehicle. The failure of the FSD system to respond appropriately caused a rear-end collision. Dealer/service confirmation: Not yet confirmed by dealer. Incident occurred 2 days after vehicle delivery. Inspections: Under review by insurance. Police report pending. Dashcam video evidence preserved. Prior warnings: No warning lamps or alerts were displayed prior to the collision. The FSD system gave no indication of the impending failure. Dashcam footage showing active "Self Driving" status at time of crash is available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754854August 4, 2026
SUSPENSION, STEERING
A day or two before the incident a warning displayed on the computer that was very vague. I didn't notice any issues with the steering or suspension at the time. I believe I scheduled an appointment but it was two weeks out at the Tesla service center. On June 4 as I pulled into my driveway I heard a noise and then struggled to get the car into the driveway completely and avoided the garage altogether. The driveway is fairly flat. In the driveway I found a large bolt that had fallen out of the suspension. The car was undriveable at this point and had to be towed to the service center. The front lower lateral assembly was replaced. If this had happened while driving at any rate of speed I don't know how I would have avoided any obstacles. I have some pictures of the front suspension area but I couldn't tell anything was wrong from them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754808August 4, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING
The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 16 MPH with the self-driving feature activated the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. Seconds later the contact's daughter attempted to disengage the self-driving feature and then depressed the brake pedal to stop from entering a right-turn-only minor road stop-controlled intersection. However, the front passenger’s side of the vehicle was struck by another vehicle, before striking another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags on the passenger’s side of the vehicle deployed. The contact's daughter sustained minor leg injuries. Medical attention was not needed, and the contact was not sure whether occupants of the other vehicle required medical attention. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle had not detected the oncoming traffic and that the crash could have been prevented. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,986.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11754766August 4, 2026
SUSPENSION
While parking my Tesla in my driveway, I suddenly lost the ability to steer the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle, I noticed that the front driver’s side wheel was locked. I looked underneath the vehicle and observed that components of the front suspension had collapsed. The vehicle could not be driven and required towing to a Tesla Service Center. Tesla repaired the vehicle under the manufacturer’s warranty at no cost to me. Immediately before arriving home, I had been driving on the highway with my children in the vehicle. If this suspension failure had occurred while traveling at highway speed instead of while parking, it could have resulted in a loss of vehicle control and a serious crash. I am submitting this report because I believe this represents a significant safety concern. The Tesla service invoice does not accurately reflect the concern I reported. I did not bring the vehicle in because of a noise or vibration. While parking in my driveway, I suddenly lost steering, the driver’s front wheel locked, and the front suspension collapsed, leaving the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to Tesla. Tesla replaced multiple front suspension components under warranty, including both front lower compliance links, both front lower lateral links, and the left front halfshaft. The attached photos show the vehicle before it was towed. I suddenly lost steering while parking, the driver’s front wheel locked, and the vehicle became undrivable. Although the Tesla invoice lists the concern as “noise or vibration,” the vehicle was actually towed because of this suspension failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754705August 4, 2026
SUSPENSION
Left lower control arm link failure. No collisions had occurred in the history of the vehicle, and small sounds were heard prior to failure, with the total failure sound being obvious. No system malfunction warnings were displayed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754633August 4, 2026
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On July 9, 2025, while making a right turn at about 15 mph on a standard road, the two front-left bolts fell out, causing the entire bracket and lateral link assembly to detach. The vehicle became inoperable and had to be towed for repairs. Not long after, on September 29, 2025, while making a left turn at 20 mph, the two front-right bolts also fell out, and the bracket and lateral link assembly detached just as before. Once again, the vehicle required towing for repairs. I am now afraid to drive the car; fortunately, neither incident occurred on the highway—where a major accident could have easily happened—since the vehicle becomes completely immobilized the moment these parts fall off. What's more, the Tesla's center console computer doesn't show any issues or trigger any warnings, yet the car simply won't drive—it won't move at all.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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