Tesla Model Y

Where it stands out against its peers

• Forward collision avoidance: more complaints than 98% of 2021 cars — 54% of its 2,118 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 9%.
• Vehicle speed control: more complaints than 98% of 2021 cars — 15% of its 2,118 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 3%.
• Lane departure: more complaints than 90% of 2021 cars — 7% of its 2,118 complaints, where an ordinary 2021 car has 3%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 560 owners reported this, 12 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 148 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 140 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE — 88 owners reported this
• SUSPENSION — 78 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 74 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash, 2 involving a fire
• FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE — 62 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• STEERING — 60 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• SEAT BELTS — 38 owners reported this
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 38 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES — 30 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

2% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 20V609000

  Trailer brake lights that fail to illuminate during braking increase the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and has released the firmware update over-the-air (OTA) to vehicles as of September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-20-00-002.

• 20V709000

  A detached upper control arm can cause the wheels to lean in or out, decreasing the driver's ability to steer and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and as necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-20-31-012.

• 21V387000

  Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.

• 21V388000

  Improperly attached fasteners may prevent the seat belt retention system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

  Tesla Service will inspect and replace both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-002.

• 21V389000

  An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.

  Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.

• 21V835000

  A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.

• 21V846000

  Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

• 21V912000

  Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-004.

20 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Lower Lateral Link detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2026, still open.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2026, still open.

• Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2025, still open.

• Electronic door handles become inoperative

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2025, still open.

• Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

  Audit query, opened August 2025, still open.

• Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2025, closed April 2026.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2024, closed March 2026.

• Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

  Recall query, opened April 2024, still open.

• Loss of steering control

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2024, closed June 2026.

• Loss of steering control

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2023, closed February 2024.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened June 2023, still open.

• Defect Petition Interlock Request

  Defect petition, opened April 2023, closed March 2026.

• Steering Wheel Detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2023, closed April 2026.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Autopilot System Driver Controls

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2022, closed April 2024.

• Unexpected Brake Activation

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2022, closed June 2026.

• Tesla Passenger Play

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2021, closed May 2023.

• Autopilot & First Responder Scenes

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2021, closed June 2022.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Tesla filed 8 bulletins about the 2026 Model Y.

• Seats: 3
• Suspension: 2
• Electrical system: 1
• Structure: 1
• Wheels: 1

• On some vehicles, degraded or excessive glue under the front seat cushion(s) may cause creaking noises during cornering or when pressing on the seat cushion(s). Upon customer complaint, inspect the… · July 2026
• Certain Model Y vehicles may emit rattling or knocking noises when driving over bumps or rough road. The condition can be improved by replacing the front upper control arm mounts, replacing the front… · June 2026
• On some vehicles, insufficient lubricant at the front seat recliner tube ends may cause creaking noises during weight shifting when the seat is occupied. Upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle… · June 2026
• Some Model Y vehicles may emit rattling or knocking noises when driving over bumps or rough road. The condition can be improved by replacing the front upper control arm mounts, replacing the front… · June 2026
• On some vehicles, the LH and/or RH front seat backrest blower(s) may emit a loud grinding noise in the shoulder area of the backrest when front seat cooling is enabled. Inspect the vehicle for… · April 2026
• On some Model Y vehicles, water may ingress into the front fascia camera via the channels on the front fascia harness. This may corrode the camera connector or submerge the camera lens, which results… · March 2026
• On some Model Y Standard vehicles, the gap between the front door glass run seals and the moving glass might not meet Tesla specifications, resulting in high-pitched wind noise from the A-pillar… · March 2026
• On certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor battery may drain at an accelerated rate. Identify and replace the affected TPMS sensor. · January 2026

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.