FaultScore

2023 Tesla Model Y child seat problems

11 of the 1,987 complaints about the 2023 Tesla Model Y are about the child seat — 1% of everything reported for this model year.

A

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness 6 54.5%
Carry Handle, Shell, Base 3 27.3%
Tether, Lower Anchor (on car Seat or Vehicle) 1 9.1%
Insert, Padding 1 9.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Monterey, CA

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness

My child does not eat in his car seat. Every day debris dust etc gets under the release mechanism button causing the harness straps to randomly loosen. Huge safety issue that could lead to a fatal accident. Cybex’s solution is to tell you to clean out the mechanism but there’s no telling when or where the straps will stop tightening again. It’s not feasible to clean the strap every time I use the seat. My son’s straps fully loosen just by him leaning forward. This seat needs to be recalled!!!

NHTSA complaint #11753319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northport, NY

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness

Nuna Exec Next car seat. I have the older version of this car seat for my older child and it works great. The new version ("Next") has an issue where the tigthening/loosening strap folds over and gets stuck, thus making it impossible to loosen the straps and remove the baby from the seat which is very dangerous for the child, especially in case of an emergency. This is not the way the item should work. I contacted the company, they sent me a full replacement. The replacement seat acts the same way, they are willing to send me another shell replacement. This is clearly a production/design issue - not a one-off seat issue.

NHTSA complaint #11728756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northport, NY

Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle)

Nuna Exec Next car seat. I have the older version of this car seat for my older child and it works great. The new version ("Next") has an issue where the tigthening/loosening strap folds over and gets stuck, thus making it impossible to loosen the straps and remove the baby from the seat which is very dangerous for the child, especially in case of an emergency. This is not the way the item should work. I contacted the company, they sent me a full replacement. The replacement seat acts the same way, they are willing to send me another shell replacement. This is clearly a production/design issue - not a one-off seat issue.

NHTSA complaint #11728756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

Carry Handle, Shell, Base

We were driving on the freeway when my son started screaming to a point we had to get over and stop to check what was going on. His arm got stuck in the forward facing belt path and he couldn’t get it out. I had to get him completely unbuckled in order to take him out of the seat sideways as otherwise I would have pulled the arm out at the shoulder.

NHTSA complaint #11722723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandy, UT

Carry Handle, Shell, Base

The shoulder straps will not stay. They are supposed to lock in place once you adjust it and buckle the child in, but unfortunately, they will play back-and-forth and they will not lock in place. It is the same problem that Nuna is having with other versions of their car seat. We followed all instructions for cleaning, all instructions for maintenance, we have contacted the manufacturer and are unsatisfied with their response. They will not tell us what they think is broken, they will not tell us how to potentially fix it, nor will they admit that there is a problem, even though we have shown them video evidence. Instead, they want us to re-purchase a replacement item for half price. This issue allows the child to climb out of the car seat because the straps will not restrain them. The child can simply push on the straps and climb out.

NHTSA complaint #11687035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandy, UT

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness

The shoulder straps will not stay. They are supposed to lock in place once you adjust it and buckle the child in, but unfortunately, they will play back-and-forth and they will not lock in place. It is the same problem that Nuna is having with other versions of their car seat. We followed all instructions for cleaning, all instructions for maintenance, we have contacted the manufacturer and are unsatisfied with their response. They will not tell us what they think is broken, they will not tell us how to potentially fix it, nor will they admit that there is a problem, even though we have shown them video evidence. Instead, they want us to re-purchase a replacement item for half price. This issue allows the child to climb out of the car seat because the straps will not restrain them. The child can simply push on the straps and climb out.

NHTSA complaint #11687035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandy, UT

Insert, Padding

The shoulder straps will not stay. They are supposed to lock in place once you adjust it and buckle the child in, but unfortunately, they will play back-and-forth and they will not lock in place. It is the same problem that Nuna is having with other versions of their car seat. We followed all instructions for cleaning, all instructions for maintenance, we have contacted the manufacturer and are unsatisfied with their response. They will not tell us what they think is broken, they will not tell us how to potentially fix it, nor will they admit that there is a problem, even though we have shown them video evidence. Instead, they want us to re-purchase a replacement item for half price. This issue allows the child to climb out of the car seat because the straps will not restrain them. The child can simply push on the straps and climb out.

NHTSA complaint #11687035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Easton, MD

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.

NHTSA complaint #11667864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penn Valley, CA

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness

After 8 months of use, the harness release button failed completely. This malfunction allowed the harness to loosen with our child in the car seat, while driving on a 3.5 hour road trip. Extremely scary and dangerous situation. NUNA sent a replacement frame and within 2 months the same malfunction has occurred on the replacement frame. After seeing the numerous complaints filed on NHTSA, for the same issues, I am very surprised there has not been an investigation and/or recall. Especially given the prevalence of such a dangerous malfunction. Lastly, I am extremely unimpressed with NUNA costumer service.

NHTSA complaint #11574439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penn Valley, CA

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness

Complete failure of harness release button, allowing my child to loosen the harness by gently leaning forward. This is a malfunction on a replacement frame (used for less than 2 months), NUNA replaced the original frame (used for 8 months) for the same issue. I have contacted NUNA about current frame issue, haver not heard back from them. Given the poor customer service I received with original frame failure, I do not expect NUNA to resolve this issue for several weeks. Consequently, I am working with retailer I purchased the car seat from to replace it with a different brand, as I no longer trust NUNA with the safety of my child.

NHTSA complaint #11574452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness

Harness is fraying from normal use; car seat is unsafe to use. Contacted company and they refused to replace it.

NHTSA complaint #11523174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2023 Tesla Model Y problems

← Full 2023 Tesla Model Y report