39 of the
7,374 complaints filed about the Tesla Model Y
are about the doors, latches and locks —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the trunk release button was removed. The contact stated that the manufacturer no longer produced vehicles with a trunk release. The contact was concerned that a child might become trapped in the trunk. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #11731779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the model year was advertised with a front trunk emergency release and interior lighting. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not designed with the front trunk emergency release or interior lighting, which the contact considered a safety issue and a violation of FMVSS No. 401. The Tesla Service Center was contacted and confirmed that the model year and other vehicles were no longer designed with the missing parts. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 570.
NHTSA complaint #11718717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the TPMS displayed that the PSI of the tires was low. Additionally, a notification advising that the vehicle was experiencing low voltage and drainage and would shut down was displayed. The contact called towing services. The contact stated that the towing agent who assisted in towing the vehicle informed the contact that the tires were losing air, and the front passenger's side tire or wheel was defective. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center, where the power converter system(PCS) was corrected. Additionally, the technician informed the contact that the passenger's side tire was leaking air due to a rim defect, but the vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was advised to pick up the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be driven at 20 MPH due to the failure. The contact had not retrieved the vehicle from the Service Center. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V935000 (Tires), but the Tesla Service Center informed the contact that the recall repair was completed. The contact stated that NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V554000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages, Electrical System) and 24V935000 (Tires) were marked as complete on the Manufacturer's website; however, the NHTSA VIN tool displayed that the recalls were incomplete. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's seat was not adjustable. The contact stated that while attempting to move the seat higher and forward, the seat turned inward towards the right. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11706075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving uphill at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud pop coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle lost automotive power and rolled away in reverse downhill towards oncoming traffic. The contact was able to avoid oncoming traffic and reverse onto the shoulder of the road; however, the driver’s side rear driver’s door failed to unlatch or open as intended while using the interior door handles. A local tow truck arrived on scene, and the passenger’s side door failed to open as intended with the exterior door handle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but remained at the local dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11697715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description of the problem: The front trunk (“frunk”) of my 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper is missing the interior emergency release button and light. This component, which was present in earlier Model Y versions, allows a person trapped inside the frunk to open it from the inside. In my vehicle, there is no visible button, glow-in-the-dark handle, or wiring harness for this feature. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The malfunction involves the frunk emergency release mechanism (illumination and release button assembly). The component appears to have been omitted during manufacturing. The frunk and all relevant panels are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Without an interior release, a person—especially a child—could become trapped in the front trunk with no way to exit, posing a risk of suffocation or heat-related injury. The frunk is large enough for a small child to enter and can be closed from outside the vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The issue was confirmed by Tesla Service, which stated the vehicle was “built as designed” without the interior emergency release. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Yes. The vehicle was inspected by a Tesla Service Center representative. No other inspections have been performed. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. There were no warning lights or error messages. The absence of the emergency release was discovered immediately after delivery. Assessment: The removal of this safety mechanism may violate the intent of FMVSS 401and presents a potential safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11695965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On July 22, 2025, at about 6:30 PM in a western suburb of Illinois, on a hot, humid, sunny evening after my car had sat in direct sun all day, my 2022 Tesla Model Y Long Range (Dual Motor AWD) suffered a total electrical failure. As I walked up, the car unlocked automatically with my phone key as usual. I placed my dog in the back seat, closed that door, and immediately tried to open the driver’s/front door—but it would not open. The phone key failed, and the backup key card at the B-pillar also failed to unlock the car. I then tried resetting and reconnecting my phone key through the Tesla app, but nothing worked. There were no 12-V or low-voltage warnings on the display or app. I could not find a phone number or live help in the Tesla app; my son and I searched YouTube for guidance but could not fix it. My dog was trapped inside in dangerous heat, so I called 911. Police first tried a slim-jim tool without success and then broke the driver’s window to reach in and open the front door, but the rear doors and windows remained inoperative. The dog was in the car for 30 to 45 minutes before the window was broken. Once inside, I found that the front seats would not move forward or backward, none of the windows would not roll down, and the rear doors would not open from inside. It took another 30 to clear enough glass to evacuate my 75-lb dog through the front seats; we both sustained cuts, and I sprained my ankle. The event was traumatic and posed a serious heat-injury risk (~85 °F ambient, interior >110 °F within minutes). Police documented the incident. Tesla Service Center (Naperville IL) later confirmed a 12-V failure as the cause, replaced the 12-V battery with an upgraded model under warranty, and repaired the driver’s window and door trim. Tesla Insurance was notified the next morning but closed the claim and covered repairs under warranty. No warnings appeared until the following morning, when a low-voltage alert appeared in my Tesla app when being serviced.
NHTSA complaint #11694211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What happened：While driving at 20 mph on [XXX] Sunny without any prior “Hood Ajar” warning, the hood suddenly popped open and smashed the windshield. The vehicle became undrivable. Safety risk：Obstructed forward visibility; near-miss crash. When/where：[XXX], Sunnyvale, CA 94086, California Vehicle info：2025 Tesla Model Y Evidence：TeslaCam (Front cam) [XXX] (skip to 0:25 in the video.) [XXX] (skip to 0:33 in the video.) [XXX] (skip to 0:01 in the video.) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11692153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear passenger door was stuck in the closed position and would not open. We brought this to Tesla to fix 5 separate times. My kids sit in the back seat and were not able to get out of the car. We were very worried about their safety because if there was an accident or emergency and they had to get out, they would be stuck inside the car. Each time we brought it to Tesla for repair they "fixed it," only to have the problem occur again weeks to months later. This is a HUGE safety issue. We will attach invoices to this but the dates this occured were 10.3.22, 5.2.23, 6.5.23, 6.21.23, and 4.25.25,
NHTSA complaint #11691938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 20th, 2025 at 2:50pm, my eight-month-old infant was trapped inside my Tesla Model Y for approximately 30 minutes due to a critical systems failure. The vehicle experienced an error with the 12V battery that rendered the doors, windows, and trunk completely inoperable, preventing any means of access or escape. My infant was flushed, diaphoretic, and crying while stuck in his car seat with an indoor temperature exceeding 104 degrees fahrenheit. Despite all attempts to override the system, the car remained locked, and the battery dead, and emergency services had to be contacted. Officers from the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and Montecito Fire Department arrived on scene and, in order to rescue my baby, were forced to smash a window to gain entry. The police officer was advised by a Tesla representative to do so, as he confirmed there would be no way to override the system to open the doors. My baby was found screaming in a pool full of sweat and was carried to an ambulance, where the paramedic warned me of concerning vital signs and advised me to go to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to have his condition assessed and treated, if necessary. I have obtained a copy of the police report (Case No. XXX) and will provide it upon request. Tesla confirmed that this problem with the 12V battery is common, nonetheless we were made to pay for a new window and a battery replacement. There were no warning signs leading up to the shutdown and not notifying us of this system failure and the risk involved is complete negligence on behalf of Tesla.
NHTSA complaint #11689915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On July 5, 2025, I entered my vehicle parked in my home garage and the door latched shut. Upon putting my foot on the brake. Center screen was blank (did not power on). I attempted to press the unlock button on the door and there was no sound from the motor to open the door. The door was still locked from the inside of the vehicle and I was locked inside. I waited around 5 minutes (after attempting to call my wife to try to let me out of car and tried the open the drivers door again by pressing the exit button. The door unlatched by normally the window rolls down partially to exit. This time the window did not move and I have to force the door open by pressing my shoulder hard against the interior door panel. I hear a popping sound from inside the door and the window would not roll up. I did not drive the vehicle fearing that the car would not start and my family could be trapped inside the car. I created an appointment for Tesla service for July 7, 2025 for the door locks and the driver's window that would not roll up completely and also would roll down but return to a 70% rolled up position automatically. I did received an error warning on the late evening of July 6, 2025 that the 12 volt battery voltage was low on the main center screen of my vehicle. I took the vehicle to Tesla service on July 7, 2025 and it was determined that the 12 volt auxiliary battery that was faulty and my window was repaired and recalibrated. I never saw an alert for the 12 volt auxiliary battery low voltage prior to when I was locked inside the car.
NHTSA complaint #11688401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A [XXX] child could not open the left rear passenger door due electrical failure. This is a known safety failure for Teslas. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11688047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
- Open rear passenger door and secured child in car seat. - Try to open driver side rear passenger door - which would not open. - Tried to open rear passenger door where child was in, and the door would not open. - Car was powered off and none of the doors opened. - After approximately 5 minutes, front passenger door opened, and child was removed form the car through the front door. - Requested roadside assistance with the diagnosis of 12V battery failure. - No warning that 12V battery was near end of life - Software updated the previous night.
NHTSA complaint #11688228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On [XXX], the car was parked at my regular parking garage. The valet entered to the car to bring it down for pick up. After he entered, the power on the vehicle went out and the door would not open. He did not know about the manual door release. I walked up to see what the delay was and found him locked inside. The car was parked on an upper floor and the it was over 100 degrees in the car. We contacted 911 but eventually found the door release. Tesla was notified and towed the car several hours later. They jumped the car to get it open. It seems that the 12V battery had died without warning. Notes from Tesla Concern: Car won't power on/enter drive - Case MergedCustomer States : vehicle will not power on or drive Originating Phone Number : [XXX] IVR Context - No Results. Please check AutoDiag. | Repair Notes: Verified customer concern. Diagnosed and Found An internal short in the 12v battery: One or more of the six internal series cells has been bridged, resulting in five or less cells now being in series, reducing the voltage by at least 17%. This resulted in the e-fuse for the VCLEFT to trip and shut down the left side of the vehicle. Replaced 12V Battery. Proactively Perform 12v Disconnect procedures. Update vehicle software to the latest available firmware. Performed Validation Test Drive. Vehicle operating currently within Tesla Specifications. Verified Proper Operation. No further action is needed at this time. Correction: General Diagnosis Correction: Battery - 12V (Lead Acid) (Remove & Replace) - Remove and Replace INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11687980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
[XXX] , my [XXX] son, was strapped in his car seat, wide-eyed and confused, as we sat trapped in our Tesla for thirty agonizing minutes. The battery had died without warning, leaving us locked inside our own garage. No power, no way to open the doors. I tried to keep [XXX] calm, singing his favorite songs, but my heart raced as I called for help. A tow truck finally arrived and jumped the car—not enough juice to start the engine, but just enough to unlock the doors. Freedom at last. Tesla’s response? No roadside service; they insisted the car be towed to their service center. Easier said than done—the tow truck couldn’t maneuver it out of the garage. Frustration mounted as I realized I’d have to miss work. Days later, I drove to the service center, where they replaced the battery. But the ordeal wasn’t over. The trim was damaged during the chaos, and now every drive is accompanied by relentless wind noise, a constant reminder of that day. [XXX] still talks about being “stuck in the car,” and I can’t help but feel let down by a system that left us stranded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11687538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In December 2023 I strapped my [XXX] son into his carseat in our Model Y and walked around to the front to get into the car as well. In those few seconds the 12v car battery died (I did not get any notification in my app) and I was unable to open any doors, so my infant son was trapped. We live in Florida and this was an 80 degree day. With no other recourse I was forced to call 911 to have my son removed from the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11687633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle shut down and individual was locked in the car. Unable to release the doors. Incident occurred on June 23rd with a temp of 95 degrees and higher heat index. Individual was Stuck in the car in a parking garage with no one around to hear screams for help. Called home for assistance to come to the parking garage to help free them. Informed by online article about the Model Y 2021 model having other incidents of the same. We thought it was just a freak occurrence of our vehicle until reading about the probe. No warning indications that the auxiliary battery needed replacing that controls such functions. Tesla's Repair Notes: "The vehicle was unable to power on when parked, which was verified by the technician's inspection and the customer's report. The issue was caused by a failing 12V battery. The technician replaced the 12V battery to resolve the problem. After the replacement, all systems were checked and confirmed to be running properly"
NHTSA complaint #11687747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I saw that the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the Tesla Model Y (2021 and over) due to the electronic door handles becoming inoperative. I am happy and relieved to see this is being looked into since this recently happened to my vehicle a couple of months ago. The rear passenger side door unlocked initially for me to put by [XXX] old into the car seat but when I went to open the driver's side door, the handles would not open. I tried all other door handles and all were locked. Luckily, I had not shut the door next to my child's car seat yet, otherwise it would've locked my child inside the vehicle. I opened a ticket with Tesla and they sent a technician out. He said the low voltage battery needed to be replaced and when this happens all electric door handles will be unresponsive and locked. However, the vehicle never showed any warning or notification leading up to this. He said when the 12V battery fails, the only way to unlock the unresponsive doors is to use the manual release inside the car or jump the 12V battery under the frunk (assuming you have the right jumping cables outside of the car). The Tesla technician said it is a flaw in the Model Y design and he said I would've had to break a window to get my child out if they are not old enough to locate and release the manual door release inside the vehicle. This poses a huge safety risk to parents with young children. I really hope Tesla implements another emergency way to release the doors from outside the vehicle to avoid young children from being locked inside. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11687532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
on July 19, 2025 my 10-year old daughter entered the back seat and shut the door. When I (her mother) went to get into the drivers door the electricity in the car completely shut down locking my daughter in the vehicle. There were no visible icons or labels showing where the emergency/manual latch was. She was hystercial and heating up quickly. We called Tesla roadside assistance and the agent spent 10-15 minutes explaining how to get out of a Model 3 (we had a model Y). He then proceeded to tell us that he did not know how to advise her how to get out. He told us not to break the window and to search it on Google. when we asked for his name he would not provide it and he displayed hesitation and resistance to connect us with his superior. We explained that he was dealing with a potentially fatal situation and he displayed ZERO sense of urgency or compassion for the situation. We were able get her out of the vehicle after researching it online. But Tesla did not provide any guidance to help. Our car was at 80% charge and we did not get any low voltage notification or warning that the auxiliary battery was dead or low. My daughter was dehydrated and is forever traumatized by this situation and could have been seriously harmed. Tesla does not provide a standard vehicle delivery process when you purchase or lease a vehicle from them. They do not provide any tutorial or notification on what to do in the case you lose electrical power. The manual emergency latch is not labelled at all. You would never know it was there unless you search online. We sent an email to Tesla notifying them of the situation and they never responded. We even shared this with the service manager who replaced the battery and he said it is a common occurrence and brushed it off.
NHTSA complaint #11687672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.