Tesla Model Y Complaints

3,785 consumer complaints on file.

#11752840July 25, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
On August 25, 2025, I was in a crowded Trader Joe's parking lot using the vehicle's FSD parking feature. The vehicle was moving backward into a parking position. A stationary vehicle was in the area. Instead of detecting the other vehicle and stopping, the Tesla kept backing up and made contact with the stationary vehicle. The other vehicle was not moving, and there was enough room for the Tesla to park without contact. I do not remember the exact positioning or direction because of the time that has passed. I did not receive a warning that prevented the contact. I reported to Tesla that the vehicle appeared not to detect the stationary vehicle, but I did not receive an inspection result or written technical finding. I do not have an expert determination of the cause. I am asking NHTSA to review this as a possible FSD parking, parking-collision-warning, or automatic-emergency-braking safety defect.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752838July 25, 2026
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
On June 7, 2026, I was driving westbound on I-290 in the leftmost lane in a 2024 Tesla Model Y. I recall FSD (Supervised) was engaged and making a lane change into the left lane. Instead of settling in the lane, the vehicle continued left and struck the divider/median. I braked. The vehicle then bounced back and moved right toward a large truck and collided. I did not receive a takeover warning before the event. The front bumper came off and the vehicle became inoperable. A fire truck traveling behind me blocked traffic after the crash. Tesla event data records a Crash Algorithm Wake-Up at about 9:49 a.m. Central and includes speed, steering, braking, acceleration, ABS, lane-assist, and cruise-control signals. I reported the safety concern to Tesla and asked for review of the FSD/software issue and data, but I have not received written findings. I do not have an expert determination that FSD caused the crash. I am asking NHTSA to review the incident and data for a possible driver-assistance, steering, or lane-control safety defect.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11752724July 24, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
My 2025 Model Y with stalks creates an unsafe driving condition. Under current software, enabling FSD forces a single-pull lockout that completely disables standard Traffic-Aware Cruise Control (TACC). (Advanced Driver Assistance Sytems) FSD routinely follows vehicles at less than a 1 second gap at 70-80 MPH and attempts unsafe merges with tractor-trailers. Drivers must be allowed to drop to TACC to maintain safe following distances without being forced to entirely disable FSD while parked. Because the software removes the single-pull/double-pull distinction, the driver cannot downgrade the system to standard cruise control on the fly to establish a safe following distance. To stop the dangerous FSD behavior, the driver must completely disengage the system to manual control, as switching the underlying autopilot modes requires pulling over and shifting into Park. Tesla customer support has refused to address this software-enforced safety hazard. Following too closely routinely happens on the interstate at Highway speeds while using FSD. This safety issue occurs consistently during highway driving on major interstates at speeds between 70-80. The inability to seamlessly select a safe cruise control mode increases the risk of a high speed rear end collision.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752664July 24, 2026
STEERING
I was backing out of my residential driveway when I suddenly noticed the steering wheel required much greater effort than normal, indicating a loss of power steering. There were no prior warning messages or symptoms before this event. As I began driving, multiple warnings appeared on the display, including “Steering Assist Reduced,” “Stability Control Disabled,” “Traction Control Disabled,” and “Vehicle Hold Unavailable.” The steering immediately became extremely heavy, making the vehicle difficult to maneuver safely. Because the failure occurred without warning, I did not feel it was safe to continue driving except to move the vehicle as necessary. The vehicle was subsequently inspected by a Tesla Service Center, which confirmed that the steering rack and Front Vehicle Controller required replacement. The repair was performed by Tesla after diagnosis. I am submitting this report because a sudden loss of steering assist without any prior warning presents a significant safety risk. Although this occurred while pulling out of my driveway, the same failure could occur while a driver is traveling at higher speeds or in traffic, where maintaining control of the vehicle could be much more difficult.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752663July 24, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
While driving through normal rain with ordinary standing water on the roadway (NOT flood conditions), the rear bumper fascia detached from my Tesla Model Y. There was no impact, no collision, and no debris strike - there are no impact marks or scratches on the bumper. The fascia was pulled off by water drag, tearing a welded body mount bracket from the vehicle structure and damaging the underbody shield. This is a road safety hazard: a detached bumper fascia can drag on the roadway, separate completely, and become a large road obstacle for vehicles behind me. Tesla documented this exact failure mode in Service Bulletin SB-20-12-003 (rear fascia detachment when driving through standing water, with damage to harnesses and body fasteners/mounts), yet the defect persists in Model Y vehicles. Notably, another Tesla directly next to mine suffered the identical bumper detachment in the same rainfall at the same time - two identical failures in identical ordinary weather conditions, indicating a systemic design defect rather than driver error. Tesla Service denied warranty coverage, characterizing normal rain as 'flood water.'
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752660July 24, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact experienced a medical emergency and the vehicle crashed into a tree. The air bags deployed as needed. The contact and wife who was seated in the front passenger seat, were transported to the local medical center. The contact was unconscious when transported. The contact sustained injuries, including burns to the face; both eye corneas were burned, lungs infected due to the inhalation of toxic fumes and a broken talus on the right foot. In addition, the contact was continuing to receive medical treatment. The contact's wife sustained burns to the face and inhalation of the toxic fumes. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the air bags were defective and unsafe. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11752539July 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
As a 100% T&P Disabled Veteran relying on advanced driver-assistance for mobility, I purchased a 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance with Hardware 3 (HW3), which was actively advertised and sold as possessing all necessary hardware for safe, autonomous operation. In practice, the vehicle suffers from safety-critical driver-assist defects—including unexpected disengagements and erratic system choices—due to fundamental HW3 processing and memory bandwidth limitations. Operating a vehicle marketed as autonomy-ready, but constrained by hardware incapable of handling complex traffic scenarios safely, forces constant manual intervention and creates an unacceptable collision hazard for a disabled driver.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752331July 23, 2026
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On 7/22/2026 between 6pm and 7pm PST, I was driving my Tesla Model Y on I-405 southbound in Orange County, CA, between the Westminster Blvd exit and Exit 73, with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. The incident occurred at an express lane ingress/egress transition zone where a physical barrier separates the express and general-purpose lanes. While in FSD mode, the vehicle initiated a lane change on its own. During the lane change, the FSD system misjudged the lane boundary and steered the vehicle into the lane divider/barrier. The vehicle struck the divider on the front right side. The failed system is the FSD/automated steering and lane change function. No forward collision warning sounded and no automatic emergency braking activated before impact with the fixed barrier. There were no warning lamps, alerts, or symptoms prior to the failure; the system initiated and executed the lane change without indicating any problem. The impact damaged the front right body panel, front right bumper area, and the right headlight. My safety and the safety of vehicles in adjacent lanes was put at risk, as the collision occurred at roadway speed during an automated maneuver I did not initiate. Had the divider been a vehicle or a pedestrian work zone, the outcome could have been far more severe. All FSD telemetry, camera footage, and vehicle data from the incident should be available from the manufacturer, and I have requested the vehicle data report from Tesla. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and is being taken to a Tesla-certified collision center for repair. An insurance claim is being filed with my carrier. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or police.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752329July 23, 2026
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
**Incident Report — Tesla Model Y Safety System Failure** The subject vehicle, a Tesla Model Y equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology and advanced safety features, was involved in a collision at an estimated impact speed of 40–45 MPH. The vehicle's onboard recording system captured the incident and clearly documents the impact dynamics, vehicle speed at impact, and the contributing actions of the other party involved. **Incident Details:** - **Impact Location:** Left front side of vehicle - **Impact Speed:** 40–45 MPH - **Damage Assessment:** Vehicle declared total loss by insurance - **Recorded Evidence:** Onboard system footage available **Safety System Failures:** Despite the severity of the impact and speed involved, the following safety systems failed to activate: - Emergency braking system did not engage - Forward Collision Warning Failed - Seatbelt pre-tensioning/locking mechanism did not activate - Airbag deployment systems failed (front, side, curtain, and knee airbags) **Concern:** The vehicle's advanced safety features—which are primary design components marketed for collision mitigation—did not function as designed or expected. Given the impact speed and severity, these safety systems should have either mitigated the collision or deployed to protect occupants. The failure of multiple redundant safety systems raises questions regarding the reliability and function of these critical systems at the time of impact. **Available Evidence:** - Onboard system footage (speed, impact angle, timing) - Insurance total loss assessment - Medical records (if applicable) - Vehicle service history
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11752327July 23, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Tesla took off from a parking lot and was uncontrollable, went through the grass, crossed the street and construction before hitting the barricades and fell into a sewer as the road ended there. There were 2 passengers in the car and luckily both passengers came unharmed. But FSD needs to be investigated on why this happened.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752281July 23, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I want to raise a serious safety concern with a recent Tesla software update related to Full Self-Driving (FSD). When I disengage FSD, a prompt immediately appears on the main screen asking why I intervened, with selectable options. Here is the issue: When I take over from FSD, it is almost always because something requires my full attention in that moment. That is the exact point where I need to be focused entirely on driving, not reading or interacting with a screen. Introducing a pop-up at that precise moment creates a distraction during a potentially critical transition from automated to manual control. From a human factors and safety standpoint, this feels backwards: - The highest-risk moment is the handoff from FSD to driver - The system is adding cognitive load and visual distraction at that exact time - Even if interaction is optional, the visual interruption alone pulls attention This is not just an annoyance—it has real potential to increase risk in already sensitive situations.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752211July 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS
Hello, We have 46224 miles on the car currently. A couple of weeks back the whole battery died. Tesla replaced the battery and we picked up the car this past Friday, the XXX. After picking up the car the driver's seat does not slide. I looked it up online on the Tesla website as well as on the app and at both the places it was strongly recommended to bring the car back to Tesla as the problem was very very likely secondary to the battery replacement. the seat does not move at all. When I spoke to customer service at out local Tesla dealership in [XXX], the earliest date they could provide us was in the first week of August! This is an urgent issue. We happen to be away on vacation that week. So we were told to review the cost estimate and then find a date on the app to bring the car in. When I questioned the estimate price, I was told that this was the worst case scenario. But the invoice clearly states Calibration, and 3 prices for a switch package all amounting to $364.45 with tax!!! Again I questioned this huge charge, considering the battery replacement and I was told almost rudely, "That does not seem to be the issue." Just not right!! 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
#11752088July 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752044July 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
SAFETY DEFECT REPORT: Sudden Power Loss & Falsified Records 1. INCIDENT & 5-HR TOWING (XXX): On XXX at ~16:30, while executing a low-speed (<10 mph) left turn in Cambridge, MA, the vehicle had a sudden, total high-voltage failure mid-turn, losing all motive power and power steering without warning or error codes. Photos/videos were taken on-scene confirming ZERO physical impact or undercarriage collision. The dead vehicle stopped directly in the active lane, completely blocking traffic. With zero power, the driver and several helpful bystanders had to use extreme physical effort to manually push the dead car out of the road. AAA arrived at 18:00 but could NOT tow because total power loss completely locked all 4 wheels/brakes (no Tow Mode). AAA dispatched a 2nd specialized flatbed with dollies (arrived 21:00). Driver was stranded on-site for over 5 hours. Car reached Tesla Dedham Service at 22:00. On XXX at 10:00 AM, driver reported the driving power loss in person at Dedham, handed over key, and got a loaner. 2. WRITTEN NOTICE (XXX): On XXX, explicit written notice was sent to Tesla Service Manager Taso, re-confirming the exact mid-driving power loss hazard. 3. TESLA DIAGNOSIS & REPAIRS: Invoice #XXX confirms a severe high-voltage failure: "A hardware overcurrent event caused small high voltage battery brick imbalance and rear inverter failure." Tesla replaced Rear Drive Unit Inverter (3DU) and Pyrotechnic Battery Disconnect (Pyrofuse). 4. FALSIFICATION OF SAFETY ISSUE: Despite 5-hr towing from wheel lock-up, XXX in-person report, and XXX written notice detailing mid-turn power loss, Tesla falsely recorded on invoice: "customer states: vehicle will not charge." This is deliberate falsification and deceptive practice by Tesla to downplay a critical road hazard into a benign charging issue. I request NHTSA to investigate this high-voltage overcurrent/inverter failure pattern and Tesla's practice of altering safe 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
#11751919July 21, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
The FSD (full self driving) failed when it backed into my garage. All passengers are safe, including my wife (pregnant), mother, and [XXX] child. I was following the supervised FSD requirement by supervising the FSD with hands on steering wheel and foot on brake the whole time. The FSD left very little amount of time for me to react. Tesla insurance judges it is my fault. 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
#11751911July 21, 2026
SUSPENSION
Fore Link Snapped
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751866July 21, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
The vehicle's Indirect TPMS showed a "Pressure Sensor Fault (may clear next drive)" without issuing any "Low Tire Pressure" alert. On July 20, 2026, while driving, the rear right tire lost pressure and disintegrated over a 10-minute drive. Despite severe tire failure that triggered multiple safety system alerts (Traction Control, Stability Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Avoidance disabled), the vehicle software FAILED to issue a critical "Do Not Drive" command or explicit "Flat Tire" warning. Furthermore, the official Tesla App automated response advised that "Most alerts may resolve automatically on your next drive," encouraging continued driving. This total absence of critical emergency alerts and misleading system guidance created an extreme, life-threatening road hazard and resulted in severe tire and wheel destruction.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751833July 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, STEERING
I was pushed to complete an update on my 2023 Tesla Y with an over the air update. This happened last week. Following the update i have been getting a slew of errors when driving my car related to the parking break, brake functions, automatic energy braking and steering are affected. The wording on the app / car says, Alerts - Steering & Braking - Parking brake functions degraded / Parking brake may not apply or release / Parking brake may not apply or release. This causes my auto brake to not engage, my hold break to not engage, my parking brake to not engage. This causes my car to roll at stop / red lights. I have to physically slam by brakes to stop. This is extremely unsafe and Tesla is trying to charge me $130 to diagnose the car to see why the update caused the issue. My car went from fully drivable without any FSD, normal driving to a runaway trainwreck. This happens roughly 20-30 minutes randomly into driving. Not immediately and it is completely random.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751688July 20, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car is having issues with downloading the software and installing it. It usually happens during the summer. 2025 summer i booked an appointment and visited the Tesla Service center. They diagnosed and told me the ECU is having trouble and need to replace same. Its cost around USD 4K. My car faced this issue right after the warranty is over. First the High Voltage batter died next day the warranty got over, but they replaced it under Battery Warranty. But ECU issue they want me to pay for the same. Its a huge cost and i do see lot of customers keep complaining about the same/similar issues all over internet. It looks like a wide spread issue which Tesla ECU fail after the warranty get over. Biggest challenge for the customers are, No Navigation, GPS is not working, All the cameras goes blind, Lane assistant doesn't work. dashcam recording doesn't work. Technically we can just charge the car and drive. No safety features work as expected.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751611July 20, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
We recently got a subscription for Tesla's full self driving (FSD) system. While using the system, on several occasions, the car "jerked" momentarily. Like it is hard braking but then the car resumes its previous pace. Again, this is very quick, perhaps taking less than a second. It is an occasional occurrence, but it has happened enough times that I am not using the feature anymore. For a split second, It feels like the car was stopping abruptly, which startled everyone riding in the car. My wife called Tesla and provided the information above to an automated help center. She was told to try the "Hurry" mode in FSD. We've been using the "Standard" mode.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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