Tesla Model Y Complaints

3,785 consumer complaints on file.

#11669835June 27, 2025
TIRES
Owned car for only a week with 470 miles on odometer. At appromately 10am CST on June 26 while on an exit ramp the tire sidewall failed catastrophically causing extraneous damage to fender well liner and molding. Car was stopped immediately as emergency services police and towbtruck were called. Weather was clear and there was np obstructions on the road. There was also no indication of low tire pressure until the failure happened. All tires were at the recommended 42 PSI per Tesla vehicle data. The failure was a complete total circumferential separation of the inner bead /sidewall from the rest of the tire. All tires were replaced by owner with Michelins due to lack of trust in the manufacturing quality of the pirelli tires. Tesla and Pirelli are not acknowledging any responsibility for this failure. This is a major safety related incident which could have caused a lot more damage if the car was traveling at a higher rate of speed. On an exit ramp the speed was not more than 45 mph.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669776June 27, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged, my vehicle proceeded through a red traffic light without any driver input on two separate occasions within the past few weeks. On both occasions: - The traffic light was clearly red. - The vehicle accelerated forward without prompt while first briefly coming to a full stop it then proceeded forward while traffic light remained on red. - There was no visible obstruction or confusion. These are serious failures in the FSD system’s signal recognition and pose an extreme safety hazard. I request a formal investigation and safety recall if warranted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669709June 27, 2025
STEERING
My 2021 Tesla Model Y experienced a sudden loss of steering assist, resulting in an extremely heavy steering and loss of steering ability, at highway speed. I needed extreme efforts to push the steering wheel to go off highway to avoid accident. This happened on 6/14/2025 around 3PM. Tesla service diagnosed "internal electrical/mechanical steering rack failure", but no recall was issued for my VIN. I've reviewed NHTSA Recall SB-25-00-004 (2025) for 2023 Model Y involving EPAS/steering assist failure. The symptoms in my car appear identical. I believe the issue may affect more model years than the recall currently covers and request HNTSA investigate further.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669618June 27, 2025
SUSPENSION
I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model Y under normal road conditions when a sudden mechanical failure occurred. There was no collision or external impact involved. While driving in the San Jose area, the bolt of the front left lower control arm suddenly detached, causing the control arm to disconnect and drag on the ground. As a result, the front wheel became jammed, the vehicle lost steering control, and I was unable to continue driving safely. Upon immediate inspection, I found the suspension system severely damaged, with the control arm completely detached from its mounting point, posing a serious safety risk. The vehicle has approximately 19,200 miles and is still under factory warranty. This kind of failure is extremely uncommon and appears to be a structural or manufacturing defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669531June 26, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
shortly after i purchased this car it began to put itself into park while the car was moving slowly and even when it was in car wash mode going through a brush carwash that requires cars to be in neutral. i reached out to tesla support to investigate and they explained this is a safety feature that engages if the driver leaves the seat while the car is not in park. i explained to them that in both cases i had been sitting firmly in the seat and there should have been no reason for the car to put itself in park and asked them how i turn this auto feature off. they said there was no way to turn it off. i explained to them that ALL automation features should be optional, they argued with me. came to find out some sensor in my driver's seat was malfunctioning. they took the car to replace the seat/sensor, but i reiterated that all these auto features should be optional and a consumer should be able to turn them off. my car was rendered unsafe to drive due to the malfunctioning sensor, i should have had a way to turn off the feature, i asked them to open a ticket with their engineers to add settings to turn off this automation feature. fast forward to 6/25/25, as i am pulling my car into a parking space at a store the car SLAMS itself in park, so hard that i thought maybe i had hit something hard with one of my wheels. i followed back up with Tesla support and am being told there is still no way for me to turn off this automation feature. no automation feature should EVER be hard coded into a motor vehicle. the risk presented by malfunctioning automation features is too great, and if i want to completely control every aspect of my car i should be able to, regardless of how much automation it is capable of. i am filing a complaint now because Tesla is clearly not taking these concerns seriously
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669530June 26, 2025
STEERING
The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 - 50 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to regain control of the vehicle and attempting to correct the steering wheel, the vehicle kept going to the right and to the left independently. The contact was unable to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle struck a railing and a concrete divider with the passenger’s side front bumper and then the rear passenger’s side quarter panel, and the vehicle spun around on the highway and came to a stop. The contact pressed the emergency latch to exit the vehicle out of fear that the vehicle might catch on fire. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side tire was pushed back due to the impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that all the air bags deployed as designed. The vehicle was towed to a local Collision Center. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed destroyed by the Insurance Provider. The contact sustained injuries to the upper back, left shoulder, right elbow, and neck; however, there were no broken bones reported. The contact received medical attention for the injuries sustained. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11669421June 26, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2023 Tesla Model Y has produced concerningly loud mechanical noises while parked, plugged in, and not being driven. I’ve experienced this on two separate occasions—[XXX] and [XXX]—after the vehicle had been parked for several hours in a garage. Upon waking the car (without driving it), it emitted a very loud and persistent mechanical sound, both while plugged in and even after unplugging. The volume and intensity of these sounds were far beyond normal operation and raised immediate concerns of overheating, component failure, or an underlying safety defect. The experience felt unsafe enough that we considered exiting the vehicle both times. We attempted to schedule a service appointment through the Tesla app, but received no response, and the request appears to have disappeared with no record remaining in the app. Based on the nature of the sound, we’re unsure what it could be, and may indicate a malfunction in the cooling system or battery thermal management. I have video documentation of both incidents, along with video from other nights with similar temperatures where this did not occur, for comparison. I’m submitting this report out of genuine concern for vehicle safety and reliability, especially given Tesla’s known issues with thermal and battery behavior in high-heat conditions. These noises began recently, and we have owned the car since 2022 and have driven it consistently in high Texas heat every summer. This suggests a new or developing malfunction, not a feature of normal operation. 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
#11669250June 25, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Smoke began coming out of the vents while driving. Battery was at 2%. Driver pulled over, exited vehicle and within 2 minutes flames could be seen (on video) coming from the center, dash area of the vehicle. Fire developed rapidly. Lt. Copley Detroit Fire Department, Fire investigation section 313-237-0466
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669242June 25, 2025
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his son was driving at approximately 38 MPH with his sister inside the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lost steering and braking functionality and failed to stop as intended, causing the vehicle to drive through a crosswalk. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to respond while being turned, causing the vehicle to crash into a curb and then into a parked vehicle, which was able to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a Tesla Collision Center, and between Tesla and the Insurance provider, the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The Insurance Company reviewed the event data recorder (EDR) reports and confirmed the failure which contributed to the crash. The contact stated that the Police was not contacted because it was a single vehicle crash. The other vehicle owner was notified of the crash and was provided the needed information to file a claim. A Police report was not filed. The contact's son was taken to the local medical center in a family vehicle. The contact's son and daughter sustained headaches and concussions, and both received medical attention. The contact drove his son to the local medical center, where he was admitted and remained overnight. Additionally, the contact's son was continuing outpatient treatment for the injuries sustained. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11668806June 24, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING
Subject: Formal Safety Complaint – Tesla Robotaxi Operation in Austin, TX on [XXX] Dear NHTSA ODI Team, I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern involving a Tesla Robotaxi operating in Austin, Texas on [XXX]. The vehicle was documented drifting into the wrong lane, crossing a double‑yellow line before realigning in the correct lane—posing a definite risk to oncoming traffic The same or a related Robotaxi was recorded exceeding posted speed limits, with speeds reaching approximately 39 mph in a 30 mph zone Visible in these clips were no adverse weather conditions or challenging intersections, contradicting claims that such factors influenced the mishaps Why this matters: The deployment is an early paid, driverless Robotaxi service—yet the performance demonstrated in these incidents raises immediate concerns about the system’s readiness for real‑world, public‑road operations The vehicles appear to be violating traffic laws, compromising the safety of passengers, other road users, and pedestrians. NHTSA’s own inquiry into these behaviors, and Tesla’s desire to keep responses confidential, underscore the importance of fully transparent oversight What I respectfully request: Confirm whether Tesla submitted its full responses by the deadline Ensure that all communications are reviewed under applicable standards, not withheld as proprietary. Promptly assess and address the potential defect in Tesla’s Robotaxi control software or hardware. Require Tesla to provide crash data, performance logs, and operational protocols for these and future incidents. Publish a full report on the safety of robotaxis 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
#11668663June 23, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Squeaking of lower control arms arms around 70k miles. Upper & lower require replacement, per Tesla Service Center
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668644June 23, 2025
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
Shortly after purchasing the vehicle in late 2024, I began experiencing multiple safety-related malfunctions. These issues include: Full Self-Driving (FSD) malfunction: On the third use of FSD, the vehicle attempted to enter a left-turn lane but failed to fully move into the lane, resulting in the right front panel of the vehicle colliding with the bumper of a truck in the adjacent lane. There were no warnings from the system prior to the collision. The incident occurred at low speed. The truck sustained no visible damage, and the rubber from the truck's bumper transferred to the car, which was removed by hand later. This event raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the FSD system. No police report was filed, and the manufacturer was not present at the scene. Backup alert system failure: On several occasions while reversing, the car failed to issue audible or visual alerts despite vehicles being within 10–15 feet. In one instance, the screen finally showed a red zone when a car was within 10 feet, but still provided no audible warning. This issue has been intermittently reproducible but not consistent. It poses a significant risk to pedestrians and other drivers, particularly in low-visibility or driveway situations. Manufacturer's Response: The vehicle was inspected by Tesla. After one in-person service visit and extended discussions, Tesla service representatives stated there was “nothing more they could do” and that a buyback was the only next step. A buyback request was submitted by a Tesla representative but has not been acknowledged or resolved more than 45 days later.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668631June 23, 2025
SUSPENSION
The bolt that connects the control arm to the vehicle chassis fell out of the care (and was recovered) and the mechanic noted the other bolt was also very loose.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668616June 23, 2025
SEATS, AIR BAGS
Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor Defect – Tesla Vehicle In March 2025, my Tesla vehicle began displaying a warning message indicating a fault in the front passenger seat occupancy sensor system. I brought the car in for service on March 14, 2025, and the system was reportedly replaced. However, in April, the issue recurred — the seat sensor alarm would activate randomly, particularly after going over bumps, falsely indicating that a passenger was present when the seat was unoccupied. I returned the car to Tesla service, and they again claimed to have repaired the issue. Despite this, the false passenger occupancy alerts continued. In May, I contacted Tesla and submitted several videos clearly documenting the problem. Tesla performed a remote diagnostic and stated that the seat occupancy sensor was functioning as intended. On June 22, 2025, I brought the vehicle back in for in-person inspection. Tesla physically examined the vehicle and acknowledged that the false alarm could be reproduced in a similar model vehicle, effectively confirming a design defect. Despite this, Tesla maintained that the issue did not affect the safety or function of the front seat. I believe this defect presents two significant safety concerns: 1.The frequent false alarms are distracting during driving, increasing the risk of an accident. 2.The defect raises serious concerns about the reliability of airbag deployment and other safety systems, which rely on accurate seat occupancy detection in the event of a collision. I have video evidence and service documentation supporting the timeline and recurrence of this defect. The problem has been reviewed multiple times by Tesla service teams, both remotely and in person. Tesla has acknowledged the issue can be reproduced but has taken no corrective action. I have videos of the defect I can submit and documentation of my conversations with Tesla.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668493June 22, 2025
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I owned the vehicle less than a month, using full supervised drive, FSD. Today 6/22/2025 1:45 PM almost had an accident. The vehicle was in the right made a left turn crossing a yellow line, then made a turn in a white line, in front of the vehicle behind me. I took control of the vehicle to proceed in the correct lane. On another occasion it made a right turn, corrected itself to the left lane as it should have done. I am hearing impaired, focus on the road, cannot look at the screen monitor while driving. The vehicle stopped, advised me FSD was inoperable, had to manual drive to my destination. There is no warning, alerts for the hearing impaired. Other issues driving in the wrong lane, then at the last minute changes to the correct lane, I am certain cutting off drivers. UNKNOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667991June 19, 2025
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The bolts connecting the front upper control arm and steering knuckle may not have been tightened properly, potentially leading to detachment. This causes the car to have squeaky, leaking noises when going over bumps and making turns.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667889June 19, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE
I am writing to raise a safety concern regarding the use of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system on my 2023 Tesla Model Y when a rear hitch-mounted bike rack is installed. Numerous users, including myself, have experienced dangerous or erratic behavior from FSD when carrying bicycles on a rear-mounted rack. Specific issues include: False detection of a trailing vehicle directly behind the car. Phantom braking or swerving, including abrupt lane changes or acceleration. Unreliable navigation at intersections (e.g., nearly running stop signs) due to apparent misinterpretation of sensor data. In some cases, tailgating or aggressive following behavior by the vehicle. These behaviors appear to stem from the FSD system misinterpreting the presence or visual signature of the rack and bikes as another vehicle. In several online reports, this has led to unsafe maneuvers. To temporarily mitigate the issue, some drivers have resorted to taping over the rear camera, which is neither safe nor user-friendly. While I recognize Tesla has made improvements such as camera obstruction warnings (e.g., in FSD v12.5.6+), these do not address the core misclassification problem. My requests: That Tesla officially acknowledge and investigate FSD misbehavior in the presence of rear-mounted bike racks. That Tesla provide clear driver guidance on whether FSD should be used when such a rack is installed. That the FSD system include an option for a “Bike Rack Mode” or alternative logic to prevent rear-camera misinterpretation. That this concern be escalated within your safety and AI development teams to ensure user safety is prioritized.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667864June 18, 2025
Carry Handle, Shell, Base
I am writing to formally report a safety concern involving the Cybex Calisto G 360 convertible car seat. The issue pertains to a persistent rattling noise that emanates from the seat, specifically from the area near the child’s footrest, just above the belt tensioner lock mechanism. This sound occurs consistently during vehicle operation, regardless of whether a child is seated or the seat is unoccupied. I contacted the manufacturer, and their response was as follows: “After our Product Team reviewed your claim, it was determined that the amount of rattle you hear is completely normal. It passes our quality review for sound. The specific sound that is heard is from the metal rod inside the belt tensioner door.” While I appreciate their response, I remain deeply concerned. A rattling sound originating from a critical restraint mechanism area warrants a thorough safety inspection. The explanation that it is “normal” does not ease concerns about potential long-term reliability, wear, or failure of a restraint system component. Given that this noise may indicate looseness or internal movement of a part involved in child restraint tensioning, I strongly believe this issue requires further investigation by independent safety professionals. Please let me know if any additional documentation, photos, or videos would help in assessing the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667530June 17, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving at a speed of 60 miles per hour in rainy weather when the car’s emergency braking system suddenly activated. At the same time, the steering wheel locked due to the braking, and I completely lost control of the vehicle. The car spun multiple times before crashing into the center divider of the highway and finally coming to a stop. This was an extremely dangerous incident from a safety perspective. This was the first time such a braking malfunction occurred. The incident has not yet been investigated by the insurance company, and no warning or notification was displayed by the vehicle at any point.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11667408June 17, 2025
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTESTATE HWY I-70 EAST BOUND ON THE LEFT LANE AND I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE EXIST 62. I WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL AND IT WAS RAINING AND THE ROAD WAS WET. WHEN I TRIED TO CHANGE THE LANE THE CAR AUTO BRAKED AND CAR SKID AND ROTATED 360 DEGREES AND HIT THE RAILING. THE CAR GOT DAMAGED FRONT AND BACK. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO VEHICLE NEAR US SO MY FAMILY WAS SAFE. BUT I DONT KNOW WHY THE CAR AUTO BRAKED AND ONE SHOULD NOT HARD BRAKE WHEN THE ROAD IS WET. I CALLED 911 AND TESLA INSURANCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE BODY SHOP AND THEY ARE DEEMING IT TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS SO IT DOESNOT HAPPEN AGAIN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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