541 of the
7,503 complaints filed about the Tesla Model Y
are about the electrical system —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
On June 17, 2026, I experienced a severe and life-threatening entrapment inside my 2020 Tesla Model Y. The incident occurred immediately after I finished charging the vehicle for approximately two hours at a charging station under direct sunlight, which left the car extremely hot. After charging, I drove a short distance, parked, and left the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes. Upon my return, my card key failed to unlock the vehicle. After contacting my wife for assistance, I was briefly able to open the door, but I became securely locked inside the cabin as soon as the door closed. The 12V battery had completely failed without any advanced warning or vehicle alarm. All power was lost. The windows were fully rolled up, the climate control stopped, and there was no airflow. The cabin temperature was rapidly rising due to the earlier sun exposure. In a state of panic and facing a dangerously overheating cabin, I called my wife to inform her that I needed to break a window. I struck the windshield to draw the attention of passersby, which cracked the glass but did not shatter it. I then attempted to force a side window outward to establish ventilation and crawled into the back seat to try to open the trunk, but all electronic and external release mechanisms were unresponsive. After regaining composure, I used my phone to look up emergency solutions online and ultimately located the manual mechanical door release. I was able to escape.
NHTSA complaint #11764144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2023 Tesla Model Y – HW3 Autopilot computer/camera system failure My 2023 Tesla Model Y has approximately 54,000 miles and is equipped with the Tesla Hardware 3 (HW3) Autopilot computer. After receiving Tesla's FSD v14 Lite software, the vehicle began intermittently losing camera-based driver-assistance functionality. I observed an APP_w141 ECU Thermal Issue alert. The vehicle subsequently experienced APS_w134_appMia and APS_w135_appCritical alerts indicating that the Autopilot Processor Secondary was losing communication with and detecting a malfunction of the Autopilot Processor Primary. When the problem occurs, camera/vision functions and driving visualization become unavailable or degraded, and the vehicle has reported Self-Driving Features Limited, Cruise Control Unavailable, Adaptive Headlight Features Unavailable, and other driver-assistance limitations. In Tesla Service Mode I have documented the primary Autopilot processor repeatedly changing between INIT, CRITICAL and COREBOOT while the secondary processor remains NOMINAL. A DAS reset can temporarily restore communication, but the failure returns. Tesla has proposed replacing the entire HW3 car computer at a cost of approximately $3,120. I am concerned that this may represent a safety-related HW3 computer failure, particularly because I observed an ECU thermal alert and because the failure removes multiple camera-based driver-assistance and safety functions. I have photographs documenting the alerts and processor states and have an open Tesla service case.
NHTSA complaint #11764244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Water entusion in the tail light bar. After time causes corrosion of the circuit board on the turn rear turn signal making it inoperable. tesla doesn't have an open document nor a recall. Was quoted over $1300 to replace the assembly. I did a teardown of the root cause. Glue sealing the through hole for the clip that holds the badge of the car on the rear didn't adhere. Water entered the assembly and dripped onto the circuit board, over time corrosion occurred. My rear left turn signal went out on a car that just turned a year. I have documented the location of the fault with pictures
NHTSA complaint #11764041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At only 27k miles in with no accident history and perfect maintenance my camera system began to fail. It started with a delay of the backup camera and then turned into the cameras no longer working and no longer talking to the satellites. This then became a gps issue. Tesla despite me being 1 month outside warranty and well below the mileage charged me for a $4k new computer without diagnosing the failure as to whether it was heat related or what. It said the FSD computer was failing to make connection with the other computer. I had never even used FSD. This Premature failure of the computer system should’ve never been charged to me.
NHTSA complaint #11763776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Today, the Tesla updated while my wife was in the car. During the update all electrical systems went down and the car was locked from the inside and out making it so she could not get out. Because the electrical systems were down while the update was going she did not have any AC either. So she was locked in the car without AC in 107F weather. This is an extreme danger to her health and should be taken care of right away. As well if you had dog mode on it would have locked dogs in the car without AC. This is also an extreme danger because there is not a safe dog mode. the truth is it could be disable at any time without the ability to interrupt or stop the update.
NHTSA complaint #11763206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a driver-distraction safety concern involving Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD). When I disengage FSD and take manual control, Tesla immediately displays a persistent prompt requiring me to select why I intervened or provide voice feedback. The prompt does not automatically disappear and remains on the center display until I respond. I believe this creates a real safety risk. An FSD intervention can occur because the vehicle is not handling a traffic or road situation appropriately. This is exactly when the driver’s full attention should be on taking control, assessing the situation, and safely operating the vehicle. Instead, Tesla immediately presents a persistent interface requesting additional driver interaction. The prompt also blocks access to other functionality, including Grok in my experience, creating additional incentive to interact with the screen while driving. Tesla could eliminate this unnecessary distraction by allowing the prompt to time out, adding a “Dismiss” or “Not Now” option, or delaying the feedback request until the vehicle is stopped. I support collecting FSD intervention feedback, but requiring interaction immediately after the driver takes manual control creates an avoidable distraction during a potentially safety-critical transition.
NHTSA complaint #11763001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in Full Self-Driving (FSD) Mode, while reversing into a parking space, the vehicle initially stopped while approaching a pillar on the driver's side; however, the vehicle then proceeded to park and scraped the driver’s side of the vehicle against the pillar. The contact was concerned about the vehicle failing to stop while approaching an object. The contact stated that the failure might have been reported to the manufacturer through the steering wheel voice recorder. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front left safety system issue. Warning light has come on causing the car, unable to deploy airbags in the event of an accident according to what it’s stating.
NHTSA complaint #11760830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rear passenger door is impossible to open. On using the exterior latch, the window retracts partly and the door opens 1/2 inch only. From inside, nothing works and a passenger would be trapped. Please have Tesla fix this - a very known problem, there are youtubes videos complaining about this door problem - always the same door too - so Tesla knows this is a problem.
NHTSA complaint #11760625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 27, 2026, the 12V/low-voltage battery in my Tesla completely failed without any prior low-voltage warning displayed on the screen or sent to the mobile app. After placing my infant/toddler in their car seat in the rear and closing the door, the vehicle's electronic systems shut down entirely. The electronic door handles and key access became completely inoperative from the outside, locking my child inside the vehicle with no way for me to open the doors or retrieve them. The manual override releases are inaccessible to a young child buckled in a car seat, and the vehicle provided zero advance warning that the low-voltage battery was at critical failure. This severe design flaw creates an immediate, life-threatening entrapment hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11760101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling into the driveway at an undisclosed speed while using Full Self-Driving mode, the vehicle came to a complete stop and unexpectedly crashed into the garage. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer, but was unable to make contact. The failure mileage was approximately 30.
NHTSA complaint #11760028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On the morning of 8-17, 2026, the vehicle experienced a total electrical power loss and high-voltage system deadlock immediately following an official Tesla Over-The-Air (OTA) software update pushed the previous night. Prior to this remote software update, the vehicle had zero operational issues or warning signs. Right after the update completed, the vehicle became completely unresponsive and undrivable. This issue directly compromised safety by causing a sudden, unpredictable loss of vehicle power and propulsion capability, creating a severe risk of stranded vehicle hazards and secondary collisions. The vehicle was brought to an official Tesla Service Center (Whitestone/Flushing, NY) for diagnosis. The manufacturer’s service center inspected the vehicle and confirmed a high-voltage Power Conversion System (PCS) deadlock failure (Repair Estimate ID issued). The failed PCS component remains at the Tesla Service Center awaiting replacement and is fully available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11758131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA SAFETY COMPLAINT WHAT COMPONENT FAILED: High-voltage (HV) battery system. Vehicle experienced complete electrical failure while parked at home, rendering vehicle completely inoperable. Battery is available for inspection at Tesla Service - Las Vegas, East Saharah location (currently in manufacturer's possession for warranty repair). SAFETY RISK: Vehicle suffered catastrophic HV battery failure while parked at residential location. Complete electrical system failure creates potential fire hazard and electrical hazard to occupants/property. Vehicle became disabled and required emergency towing. Sudden, unexplained electrical failure in residential setting with zero warning signs poses serious safety risk. CONFIRMATION: YES — Confirmed by Tesla Service Center: Service ticket documents battery failure Tesla authorized emergency loaner accommodation only AFTER 10-day delay Tesla ordered HV battery replacement under manufacturer warranty Manufacturer admission of defect confirms safety issue
NHTSA complaint #11757845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. While the vehicle was parked and attempting to shift into drive(D), the brake pedal was depressed, and the driver attempted to select the gear, but the gear display icon appeared semi-transparent. The driver was able to select the intended gear after several attempts; however, upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated at a higher speed and struck a tree. The air bags did not deploy. No injuries were reported, and a Police report was not filed. No warning light was illuminated before or after the crash. Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode was not activated during the failure. The vehicle was driven to a collision repair center to repair the damage. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and requested assistance retrieving data from the Event Data Recorder (EDR); however, no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the unintended acceleration. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On XXX, while driving southbound on XXX from [XXX] toward [XXX], my vehicle’s center display (MCU) crashed and rebooted at highway speed, leaving me with no screen for approximately 5–10 minutes. Sequence of events: 1.Earlier in the drive, while using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14 Lite, the vehicle exhibited phantom braking and speed oscillation (repeatedly cycling between approximately 73, 70, and 72 mph without cause). I disengaged FSD and switched to standard Autopilot. 2.During this portion of the drive, three alert codes appeared: UI_a111, APP_w207, and DI_a175 (the latter twice). 3.I stopped to Supercharge in [XXX] at 1:17 PM (33-minute session ending approximately 1:50 PM), then resumed driving on XXX [XXX]. 4.Shortly after resuming the drive, at approximately 1:53 PM, I tapped on one of the displayed alerts on the touchscreen to view details. The screen opened an in-car help/browser page, then the entire MCU crashed and went dark. 5.The display remained black for approximately 5–10 minutes while I was traveling at highway speed. During this time I had NO speedometer, NO navigation/GPS, NO touch controls, and NO visibility into vehicle alerts or state. In a Tesla Model Y, the center display is the ONLY instrument display — there is no separate gauge cluster. 6.The MCU eventually rebooted on its own and the display returned. The incident time is corroborated by a text message my wife sent me from inside the vehicle at 1:53 PM at my request, specifically to create a contemporaneous timestamped record. Safety concern: A driver-initiated tap on a safety alert — an action the interface invites — triggered a total display failure at highway speed. Loss of the sole speedometer and all vehicle status information while traveling at approximately 70+ mph is an unreasonable safety risk. This occurred on the same drive as continued phantom braking and speed oscillation events previously reported in ODI #XXX, o INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILED COMPONENT & AVAILABILITY: 2023 Tesla Model Y front suspension (suspected lower lateral link detachment), steering system, and airbag system (failed to deploy). Preserved intact, but will be at Hendrick Collision ([XXX]; POC: Dendi [XXX]) under Allstate Claim #XXX. Available for immediate NHTSA inspection. SAFETY RISK: At highway speed on Aviation Parkway, the car suffered an unprompted, violent directional loss, zig-zagging uncontrollably in the lane and risking a multi-vehicle crash. Operating manually. Do not have Autopilot or FSD. I was at the mercy of the vehicle's sensor/chassis failure. The car crashed into the grass median, sustaining heavy driver-side damage. Airbags failed to deploy during impact. CONFIRMATION BY REPAIR CENTER: Physical teardown is on hold pending Event Data Recorder (EDR) "Black Box" imaging and chassis alignment inspection. INSPECTIONS TO DATE: Allstate Level 1 Claim #XXX assigned. Evidence preservation and cloud telemetry extraction notices served to Tesla Legal and Allstate. WARNINGS & PRIOR REPAIR HISTORY: No warnings appeared immediately prior to steering failure. Software was fully updated. This crash occurred 14 days after a 2nd High-Voltage (HV) Battery replacement: XXX: HV Battery error code -> 1st HV Battery Replacement (returned XXX) XXX: Recurring HV Battery error -> 2nd HV Battery Replacement (returned XXX) XXX: Unprompted directional failure and crash. INVESTIGATIVE CONTEXT: Matches NHTSA PE26006 investigating 2021-2023 Model Y front lower lateral link detachments causing sudden loss of control. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Full Self Driving Mode activated, the vehicle struck the garage wall, damaging the rear passenger’s side door. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated that the dealer had previously provided mobile service to replace the camera and that a second dealer, Tesla White Plains (250 Tarrytown Rd, White Plains, NY 10607), had performed a hard reset on the vehicle due to phantom braking; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was made aware of the failure but canceled an upcoming appointment and informed the contact that there was no failure found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,001.
NHTSA complaint #11757495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPONENT/SYSTEM THAT FAILED: The service brakes failed to stop the vehicle. While reverse-parking at low (parking) speed, I applied the brake pedal and the vehicle did not stop as expected, resulting in contact with an object and vehicle damage. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request; it has been preserved and driven only minimally since the event. HOW SAFETY WAS PUT AT RISK: The brakes failed with no warning. Had a person been behind the vehicle, the failure to stop could have caused injury. This is the only vehicle for a family with three children who are regularly transported in it, and I no longer feel safe driving them. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED BY A DEALER OR SERVICE CENTER: Not yet. INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER/POLICE/INSURANCE/OTHERS: The insurer opened and then denied the claim and stated that no vehicle telemetry/data was available to preserve. No independent forensic inspection has occurred yet. Police did not attend. WARNING LAMPS/MESSAGES/SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO FAILURE: NONE. There was no warning light, no alert message, and no audible signal before or during the event. The parking sensors did not beep as they normally do. No ABS or brake warning light appeared at any time before or after. ADDITIONAL RELEVANT DETAIL: Approximately one week earlier, the front lower control arms were replaced. It is UNKNOWN whether the ABS wheel-speed sensor or related wiring was affected; the vehicle displayed no related warning at any time. No injuries occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11757226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On 8/10/26, my Tesla experienced a complete low-voltage electrical failure while parked at my home. I owned the vehicle 34 days and put 1,054 miles on it after purchasing it directly from Tesla as a pre-owned vehicle. I entered the driver's seat, and closed the driver's door. The center touchscreen was completely black, the vehicle would not power on, and the Tesla mobile app could not control the vehicle. I attempted to exit the vehicle, but the electronic driver's-door release would not operate. My husband was outside the vehicle and was also unable to open the driver's door from the exterior. The outside temperature was approximately 80 degrees, and the interior of the vehicle became increasingly warmer. For several minutes, we attempted to open the driver's door, lower a window, or restore power without success. I had not been shown or instructed on the location or operation of the manual emergency door release when Tesla delivered the vehicle. I ultimately had to climb over the center console to the passenger side and push the passenger door open with both feet. Tesla Roadside Assistance was contacted and the vehicle was towed to the Tesla Service Center. Tesla's 8/12/2026 service record documents the concern as "Parked vehicle unable to power on" and states that the technician found the 12V battery inoperative. Tesla replaced the 12V lead-acid battery assembly. During the same service visit, Tesla also replaced the left-front door glass and upper trim. Tesla separately verified that the passenger-side window had come out of its track and scratched the trim and documented that the cause was a loose and improperly seated front-right door trim panel. I received no warning on the vehicle display or through the Tesla app before the low-voltage battery failed. My primary safety concern is that loss of low-voltage power disabled the normal electronic means of exiting the driver's door while I was inside the vehicle, with no advance warning.
NHTSA complaint #11756565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.