24 of the
557 complaints about the 2026 Tesla Model Y are about the
braking system — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
5,450 miles.
On August 15, 2026, at approximately 5:00 PM, the vehicle was being driven with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged during light rain. As the vehicle approached traffic ahead, it did not slow or brake as expected. The driver recognized that the vehicle was not slowing and attempted to intervene manually by pressing the brake pedal multiple times. The driver reports that despite these attempts, the vehicle did not slow or respond to the brake pedal as expected, and a collision occurred. There were no known warning lamps or warning messages indicating a braking-system problem prior to the incident. The vehicle has not yet been inspected to determine the cause of the reported braking behavior. The incident has been reported to the manufacturer, and a request has been made to preserve and review available vehicle data surrounding the collision, including braking inputs, vehicle speed, Full Self-Driving status/actions, warnings, diagnostic information, and safety/event data. The vehicle is available for inspection. At this time, the cause of the failure to slow as expected is UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11757356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesterfield, MO1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
My tesla model Y was driving on FSD (full self driving) and just did hard full stop brake at a traffic light and brought the car to a complete stop even when the light was green. Both of toddler kids in the back got pulled jolted forward where the seat belt hurt them. This stopping was random was unnecessary as no threat of other cars or the light was present. Luckily no one was behind us or they would have rear ended our car causing a serious accident. This really left my children in shock.
NHTSA complaint #11753870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Delray Beach, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
2026 Tesla Model Y (VIN [XXX]) running FSD Supervised v14.2.2.5 / software 2026.14.200 experienced two unintended phantom braking events while FSD was active. Incident 1: XXX, approximately 9:16 AM, XXX southbound off-ramp at [XXX] exit heading [XXX]. Vehicle braked abruptly and without warning at highway approach speed with no obstacle present. Incident 2: XXX, approximately 2:08 PM, [XXX] westbound atXXX northbound on-ramp [XXX]. Same abrupt, unwarned braking with no obstacle present. Tesla service performed diagnostics XXX, at the Delray Beach service center. No hardware fault was found. Vehicle has been unable to receive OTA software updates. A nearly identical vehicle, a 2026 Tesla Model Y in the same household (VIN [XXX]), is currently running software 2026.20.6.11 and FSD v14.3.6, several versions ahead of the affected vehicle. Tesla confirmed the software disparity is due to VIN batch rollout scheduling and cannot be manually accelerated. Tesla regional management and engineering review team have been notified. While children were not in the vehicle at the time of these specific incidents, they are frequent passengers in this vehicle and this braking behavior represents a serious safety concern for our family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11753635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Jacinto, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
I purchased a new 2026 Tesla Model Y Standard and took delivery on approximately 30 May 2026. Within the first week of ownership, the vehicle displayed multiple safety-related warnings, including: * Steering Assist Reduced * Power Braking Assist Reduced * Automatic Emergency Braking Unavailable * Lane Departure Avoidance Features Unavailable * Automatic Vehicle Hold Disabled The warnings have occurred more than once. They initially disappeared and then returned on a later drive. Both incidents occurred while the vehicle was operating with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged. During the most recent occurrence, while parking at less than 3 mph, the vehicle’s braking assistance appeared reduced and the brake pedal required significantly more effort than normal. As a result, I nearly struck a curb because the vehicle did not slow as expected. The warnings indicated that increased steering and braking effort may be required. Because the vehicle is brand new and these warnings involve steering, braking, and collision-avoidance systems, I believe this creates a significant safety risk. I no longer feel the vehicle is safe to drive until it is inspected and repaired. Tesla has been notified and a service request has been initiated.
NHTSA complaint #11742507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
Service Concern — Front Suspension / Rattling Noise Vehicle is experiencing a persistent rattling/knocking noise from the front area when driving over bumps, uneven pavement, or rough roads. Noise is noticeable at low to moderate speeds and appears suspension-related. Condition seems consistent with known Tesla Model Y service concerns regarding: * front upper control arm mounts, * front damper assemblies, * and wiper bracket pencil braces. Requesting inspection and evaluation of: * front suspension components, * damper assemblies, * upper control arm mounts, * and any applicable Tesla Service Bulletins related to front-end NVH/rattling concerns. Noise has become increasingly noticeable during normal driving conditions and is affecting ride quality. Please document findings and advise whether repairs are covered under warranty. The symptoms typically include: * Rattling noise over small bumps * Knocking or clunking from the front suspension * Noise on rough pavement, speed bumps, or uneven roads * Sometimes vibration or looseness felt near the dashboard/firewall area The repair procedure mentioned is consistent with a Tesla internal service approach for addressing front-end NVH issues (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). Here’s what each item means: Front Upper Control Arm Mounts These are suspension mounting components near the top of the front wheel assembly. If worn, loose, or improperly isolated, they can create: * Metallic knocking * Clicking during suspension travel * Vibration transferred into the cabin Replacing them helps stabilize suspension movement. Front Damper Assemblies The dampers (shock absorbers/struts) control suspension rebound and compression. Faulty or noisy dampers can produce: * Hollow clunks * Rattles over expansion joints * Repetitive knocking on rough roads Replacing the assemblies usually resolves internal damper noise. Wiper Bracket “Pencil Braces” These braces sit beneath the cowl/wiper assembly area. On some vehicles they c
NHTSA complaint #11740760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Johns Creek, GACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving using the ADS feature, the vehicle failed to slow down while making a right turn. The contact stated that when the vehicle came to the turn sign, the vehicle failed to yield and continued making the right turn. The contact's vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front of the contact's vehicle. The contact had to depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. No Police Report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The contact later received a warning that the vehicle's cameras needed cleaning. The technician came to the contact's residence and cleaned the cameras. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11732650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glen Allen, VACrash2 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
On April 11 2026, I was involved in a serious accident involving my 2026 Tesla Model Y. At the time of the incident, I was returning home from my daughter’s event in downtown and had just entered my residential driveway. As I approached the driveway, I applied the brakes and slowed the vehicle. While momentarily stationary or near-stationary, I spoke to my wife, who was seated in the front passenger seat, advising her to secure the food she was holding due to the uneven surface of the driveway. Upon removing my foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated without any input . The vehicle proceeded forward and collided with my garage door. Notably, no collision warning alerts were issued, and no automatic emergency braking system engaged prior to or during the impact. Following the initial collision with garage door, the vehicle failed to stop and instead continued to accelerate into the garage, striking a refrigerator. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the refrigerator and caused extensive structural harm to the property, affecting the garage, adjacent living space, floors, and interior walls. The severity of the collision triggered deployment of the front airbags. At the time, my wife was seated in the front passenger seat, and my [XXX] daughter, along with her friend, was seated in the rear of the vehicle. Emergency services were called, I have forehead bruises and a burn on my hand from airbag deployment. My wife is advised physiotherapy for severe back pain and my daughter has since experienced ongoing emotional distress, nightmares.I am dealing with car and home claims issues for damages I am seeking a formal investigation into the cause of this incident, specifically addressing: 1)The unexpected and unintended acceleration of the vehicle 2)The failure of the vehicle to stop after the initial collision with the garage door 3)The absence of forward collision warnings and failure of automatic emergency braking . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO
NHTSA complaint #11732416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Hyde Park, NY
SERVICE BRAKES
On March 23, 2026, my vehicle experienced a sudden and simultaneous failure of multiple critical safety systems without any prior warning. The alerts displayed included: Automatic Emergency Braking unavailable, traction control disabled, stability control disabled, and additional driver-assistance features becoming unavailable. This incident created a serious safety hazard, as the loss of these systems significantly reduces vehicle stability and braking assistance, increasing the risk of loss of control, especially at highway speeds or in adverse weather conditions. In addition, the front-facing camera exhibits fogging and reduced visibility during cloudy and rainy conditions, which further impacts the reliability of safety and driver-assistance systems. Based on my research, similar issues have been reported by other Tesla owners, suggesting this may not be an isolated incident but a potential pattern defect. I am concerned about the safety of operating this vehicle and request that this matter be investigated for potential defects affecting critical safety systems.
NHTSA complaint #11727101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Jose, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
I've noticed periodically when the car is braking at start stop traffic in autopilot mode, the brake is very jerky and I can actually hear the pedal jerking and engaging. I wrote it off at the time in my head as normal operation of the car. I have brake pressure offset codes and brake booster mia codes. Sometimes I've noticed when I brake, randomly the pedal is super stiff and it feels like the car is driving on ice, as if the brakes aren't working or slowing me down at all, but I thought nothing of it at the time. Today on the 14th, I got into an accident at a relatively slow speed that in any other scenario I should have been able to stop. Yet I hit a parked car because as I was braking, I felt the pedal go very very stiff and unresponsive, and I carried the same speed as when I started braking right until impact, it seems as if I didn't slow down one bit. The brakes did not respond as they did mere seconds before and I hit a parked car. I understand teslas may throw codes left and right in service mode that may mean nothing, but I am worried about the brake booster code and wonder if maybe it caused the accident I was involved in. My friends told me they heard about tesla brake issues and that I should look into it and when I went to go check the codes hours later there they were.
NHTSA complaint #11724394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yukon, OK
SERVICE BRAKES
1. There is a constant thunking noise coming from the front suspension when traveling on slightly bumpy roads at low speeds. 2. Both front seats squeak and squeal as if they are loose and not bolted in correctly. 3. Front brakes screach and squeal when coming to a stop in cold or wet weather, escpecially pronounced during cold weather. (This is an active service bulletin in all vehicles made in their Berlin factory but is happening in U.S. built vehicles as well.
NHTSA complaint #11722218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesMiami, FLCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH into a parking spot, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle drove over a parking bump, struck a bench, and the automatic emergency braking system engaged, preventing the vehicle from hitting the wall. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that she had back pains, but was unsure whether they were related to the failure. There was no medical attention received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who test-drove the vehicle. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not equipped with a manual parking brake; however, the brakes were functioning normally according to the computer, and to wait for corporate's report before taking the vehicle to a collision center for front-end repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened an investigation. The contact was informed that the vehicle was safe to drive. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #11718535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saline, MI
SERVICE BRAKES
It was snowing and I was driving slow. About 8:40am, Feb 6th, 2026, I got a "One pedal driving disabled" alert just for a moment, then tried to stop before an intersection because a signal was turning to red. However, break didn't work and I had to enter the intersection under a red signal. Fortunately, there was no car in front of me, also a car coming from the side didn't notice signal changed. No accident, but very very scary. On Dec 6th, I also got an alert "One pedal driving disabled" and even after I released an accelerator pedal, speed didn't slow down. I reached Tesla on Feb 6th, but the service scheduled 4 weeks later. It's not safe to drive at all, thus, I will try to have them to check my vehicle asap.
NHTSA complaint #11716594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Freehold, NJ
SERVICE BRAKES
Any time you drive my vehicle there’s either violent shaking in the brake pedal, steering wheel, tires. When you try to brake it stutters. Using FSD it failed to stop instead almost hit a pedestrian on scooter and reported the time and date to Tesla. It stuttered and thank god I was able to jam in brakes. After 9 service visit the admitted they missed something and wheel alignment was off and tires were cupped. Along with a bracket for suspension. Which has not solved issues. It scary driving this vehicle especially as a single father who has to make long trips in the weekend for hockey
NHTSA complaint #11713177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jefferson Hills, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
There is a SERIOUS safety-related FSD (full self driving) fundamental design flaw with stop sign behavior. On previous versions AND on the latest and best version of FSD (currently that is v14.2.1.25) when FSD approaches a stop sign AND there is no white painted stopping line, FSD will make its full initial stop (also called the zero-speed stop) directly at or behind the stop sign instead of making the initial full stop beyond the stop sign at a location where the driver can see cross traffic. Sometimes the FSD initial full stop is 20, 30, 40, even 50+ feet back away from the edge of the road. At these distances from the edge of the road, most of the time, there is NO VISUAL of cross traffic left and right. The FSD stop then turns into the FSD "creep" where FSD, after stopping 30 feet back WILL THEN commit to the turn from 30 feet back giving drivers little to no time to see cross traffic. If I am the supervisor of FSD who is liable for my safety and my vehicle's safety, I need to be able to see cross traffic before my car (with FSD engaged) decides to commit to the turn, but FSD DOES NOT CARE IF THE DRIVER CAN SEE. The "creep" is perhaps the least human-like manuever that FSD performs. From the stopped location directly at the stop sign, they creep may inch up and stop again, it may inch up a COUPLE TIMES and stop again, it may pull up to the edge of the road and stop again, OR it may just pull out into oncoming traffic in one swift motion. Bc of this behavior, FSD has almost got rear ended countless times at stop signs. Also, cross traffic see's the creep and thinks i'm about to pull out in front of them Drivers go beyond the stop sign to a location where they can see to make their one and only full stop. To avoid this issue, FSD needs to do this too (i.e. make initial full stop at the edge of the road) This is legal in mostly every state (I live in PA) Tesla has not provided a single response to these reports and nothing seems to be getting done about it.
NHTSA complaint #11705498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Liberty Hill, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
On several occasions, my Tesla Model Y has braked for no reason while using Traffic Aware Cruise Control as well as when using Autopilot. I can re-create this situation on the same parts of the highway. The sudden, uncommanded stopping creates a hazardous situation with the cars being me as I may get rear ended. At this point, I do not feel safe using Autopilot or TACC. I submitted a ticket to Tesla but they declined to work on it.
NHTSA complaint #11703713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Philadelphia, PA
SERVICE BRAKES
My 2026 Tesla Model Y with under 3,000 miles experienced a sudden and total loss of power steering while driving. The car became extremely difficult to control. Tesla towed it to their service center, where they claimed it was a software-related issue that could not be replicated. The service center released the car back to me but refused to provide written assurance that the vehicle is safe to drive, stating only that it is “cleared for release.” I’m concerned this issue could reoccur, creating a risk of loss of control and injury. The lack of transparency and refusal to confirm the vehicle’s safety in writing raises serious safety concerns about potential defects in the steering or software systems.
NHTSA complaint #11699029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little Rock, ARCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
On November 4, 2025, I believe my New Tesla (only 2 month old) had just updated to a new software version. That morning, when I tried to start the car to drive to Walgreens Pharmacy, the vehicle did not start — the screen was locked. I pressed the brake pedal several times, but there was no response. Then I pressed the accelerator and the brake again, and the car finally started. I believe i turned on the Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode as usual. The car backed out of my garage and moved only about ten houses down our street when I suddenly felt it was out of control, and within seconds, it hit a stationary vehicle on our street. I did not hear Forward Collision Warning or feel the Automatic Braking system engage. The tesla report told me that the collision warning failure and the Safety systems are affected, and the passage side (front right) tire shows 0 psi) . The The damage was highly unusual — although I was driving slowly, approximately 10 to 15 miles per hour on my street, the front wheel became completely detached from the suspension, the suspension itself was severely damaged, However, the rest of the car’s body sustained with minimal impact. I had hard time to find Tesla service to help me, so I contacted Allstate and they had a towing company to transport the vehicle to Gwatney Collision Center, the only Tesla-certified body shop in our area.
NHTSA complaint #11698425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancouver, WA
SERVICE BRAKES
Since I purchased my 2026 Tesla Model Y RWD, the vehicle has had a persistent mechanical noise and vibration issue coming from the front suspension and brake area. This issue has been ongoing since the first weeks of ownership and has not been repaired or properly diagnosed after multiple service visits. Details -Component/System Failed: Front suspension/brake assembly (unknown exact component; may involve control arms, bushings, or brake rotors). -Availability for Inspection: Yes, the vehicle and recorded videos are available for inspection upon request. -Safety Risk: The vehicle produces loud clunking or popping noises when driving between 10–20 mph or when turning and braking. It feels unstable and unsafe at times, especially on wet roads. This raises concern about potential front-end component failure while driving. -Reproduction and Confirmation: The issue has been reproduced and confirmed multiple times by Tesla Service in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. Tesla’s internal system shows that the issue was escalated for “in-car investigation by engineering,” but no permanent repair was completed. -Inspection History: Tesla technicians and engineers have inspected the vehicle several times. I also recorded multiple videos with cameras mounted inside the fender to document the sound and provide visual proof of the problem. -Warning Lamps or Messages: No warning lights appear. The issue is purely mechanical but noticeable during low-speed operation. The first symptoms appeared within the first month of delivery. -Manufacturer Contact: Tesla Service Centers in Vancouver and Portland are aware of the issue and have escalated it, but no resolution has been provided. This problem has continued for months despite repeated service visits. The vehicle was identified as needing further “factory-level investigation,” but I was told the local service centers cannot fix it. I believe the issue may be a manufacturing or design defect affecting suspension safety. My life is risk
NHTSA complaint #11694900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,900 milesLaguna Woods, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES
The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal to attempt to stop at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact mentioned that when attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to maneuver, and the vehicle crashed into a curb and merged into a landscaping facility. The contact was able to shift the vehicle into neutral, then reverse. The vehicle began to work as intended, and he looked out of his rearview mirror. He could see smoke coming from the rear passenger side, and he heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger tire. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnosis was unknown. The contact mentioned the dealer, and insurance deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 4,900.
NHTSA complaint #11692571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
Our 2026 Tesla Model Y could not stop at a traffic light and rear ended the vehicle in front of it. Pumping the brake peddle had no effect. The incident did show up in the vehicles app. The front end was damaged (hood, drivers side fender and bumper). I contacted a Tesla representative and was instructed to make an appointment at a collision repair center to have the body work done prior to having the brake system diagnosed. I do not feel safe driving this vehicle at this time. I feel that Tesla should bear the cost for the collision repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11688226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Liberty Hill, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
While driving along a few roads using Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC) or AutoPilot (AP), the car will suddenly brake for no reason at all. Speeds reduced from 75 to 50 in 2 seconds. Had there been a car close behind me, we may have collided. I am able to reproduce this on several other roads as well. I have not yet reported this to the manufacturer, but a review of internet forums shows this to be a relatively common occurrence among owners. They refer to this as Phantom Braking.
NHTSA complaint #11673710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kissimmee, FL
SERVICE BRAKES
We just took delivery of our 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper yesterday. Today, my wife was driving to work at around 40 mph when the car suddenly performed a hard brake (phantom braking), coming to a complete stop for no apparent reason. The driver behind her nearly rear-ended her. Importantly, she was not using Autopilot or Full Self-Driving at the time of the incident.
NHTSA complaint #11669845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Normal, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
My 2026 model Y won't stop on the road when I released the gas paddle and even i felt it speeded up a little bit at 35 miles.it put me, my [XXX] daughter and other's safety at risk. I hit on the brake and feel need to hit harder abnormally to slow the car not even mention to stop the car. It took me long way to stop the car. At Once I stopped the car, it tried to speed up and I hit the paddle again. right after, then it tried to rocking back and forth and vibrated finally stopped. I tried serval time to repeat the issue it still exits. and I called Tesla customer service. they haven't look at it yet. but I in the service mode here is the some components are malfunctioned. 1. Rgenerative braking backfill, braking pedal torque is unavailable. 2. Traction control setting is unavailable. 3. DI_Brake torque is invalid. DI is Drive interface. 4. HOLD stopping mode is unavailable. there is no any warning showed in the console before and after the issue happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11664977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inman, SCCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
I was driving my 2026 Tesla Model Y when another vehicle pulled out from a driveway and struck the front/side of my car. The Tesla failed to initiate Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and no airbags deployed. This raises serious concerns about the functionality of Tesla’s safety systems in real-world scenarios. The vehicle has not been modified in any way and was in standard driving mode. I have contacted Tesla Support requesting a diagnostic and explanation, but I believe this incident should also be reviewed as a potential safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11658970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.