644 of the
7,503 complaints filed about the Tesla Model Y
are about the other systems —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2023.
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.
My Tesla Y/2023 with approximately 43462 miles, developed a center-touchscreen crack that meets the lower edge without any known impact or misuse . Visibility is not affected and screen remains functional. I noticed it on Aug 22 2026. I am concerned about further cracking and possible loss of access to vehicle information or controls. I request review for a potential safety-related defect. The cause has not been determined. Tesla initially provided a $0 warranty estimate, later revised the replacement to customer-pay, and requested a $235 diagnostic authorization. I request that NHTSA review whether this could indicate a glass, mounting or manufacturing-related safety defect affecting other vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11763881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When I manually disengage Tesla FSD while the vehicle is moving, a persistent feedback popup appears. It cannot simply be dismissed and requires interaction or feedback to clear. This has happened every day since FSD 14.3.2 was released, including September 13, 2026, the incident date entered on this form. This creates visual and cognitive distraction at the exact moment I have assumed manual control and need to focus on driving. I sometimes disengage FSD simply because I want to drive; disengagement does not necessarily indicate an FSD failure. Feedback should be optional, readily dismissible, or deferred until the vehicle is parked. I request that NHTSA review this behavior as a potential driver-distraction safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11763938 — 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.
Component that failed & available for inspection? The power window on the passenger-side rear door failed to auto-reverse when it hit an obstruction while closing. It closed with enough force to pinch and injure my child's finger and did not reverse. The 2024 Tesla Model Y is available for inspection on request. How was safety put at risk? The window was closing automatically (auto-lock), with no one touching the switch, when it pinched and injured my child's finger. FMVSS 118 requires power windows to detect an obstruction and reverse during hands-free closing. It did not reverse at all. This puts children and passengers at continued risk of finger and hand injury. Reproduced/confirmed by a dealer or service center? Yes I reproduced it myself. With a child-sized finger-width carrot placed in the window path during an automatic close, the window failed to reverse and crushed the carrot instead of retracting. I have video of this. Not yet confirmed by a service center; I am scheduling a Tesla Service inspection. Video can be viewed in the attachments that's in GIF format. Inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance or others? Not yet. I am reporting this to Tesla Service and filing this complaint at the same time. Warning lamps/messages/symptoms before failure, and when? None. No warning lamps, alerts, or messages appeared before or during the incident, and there were no prior symptoms that the automatic window reversal system was malfunctioning. Our best guess is that its always been malfunctional.
NHTSA complaint #11763849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I brought the vehicle to a Tesla Service Center for a front suspension noise. During the alignment portion of that repair, the technician found a crack in the left side of the rear subframe casting, the structural member that locates the rear suspension links and supports the rear drive unit. The subframe required full replacement. There was no impact event. The vehicle has never struck a curb, pothole, or object, and Tesla's own written finding confirmed there was no evidence of any side impact. Tesla attributed the crack to stress transmitted from failed front lower control arm bushings, which were replaced at the same visit. The front lower lateral links and their subframe fasteners were also replaced during this repair. The Tesla technician stated he had not seen this subframe crack so severely at this mileage, and that he normally sees this failure only on vehicles over 100,000 miles, or vehicles that have hit severe potholes or fallen off steep curbs, none of which applies here. A rear subframe cracking under normal driving loads at 68,000 miles is a structural failure with safety implications. The subframe controls rear wheel alignment and retains the drive unit. Progressive or sudden failure could cause loss of alignment, instability, or loss of vehicle control. I am reporting this so NHTSA can determine whether premature rear subframe cracking, potentially linked to front suspension link failure, represents a defect trend on these vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11763484 — 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.
The car came to a standstill at an intersection with a red light and the proceeded through the red light. I have the video, the car was on FSD I have the video , cannot load it below.
NHTSA complaint #11763245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2022 Tesla Model Y does not reliably activate the rear air-conditioning vents when a baby is properly restrained in a rear car seat. When the climate system is set to Auto, the rear vents remain off because the vehicle does not detect the baby/car seat as an occupant. When an adult occupies the same rear seat, the vehicle detects the passenger and the rear vents activate automatically. This creates a significant safety concern because the driver can have the climate system running normally and the front of the cabin can be cool, while very little conditioned air is being directed to the rear where the baby is seated. On multiple occasions, my baby has been visibly hot and sweating in the rear car seat even though the front of the cabin felt cool and the front climate system was actively running. The problem is particularly concerning because a baby cannot communicate that they are overheating, and there is no obvious warning to the driver that the rear vents have remained off. A driver could reasonably assume that setting the vehicle’s climate control to Auto is appropriately cooling the occupied cabin. I have been able to reproduce and isolate the issue. Applying approximately 20 pounds of pressure to a particular area of the rear seat cushion causes the vehicle to recognize the seat as occupied and the rear climate vents to activate. Removing that pressure causes the normal behavior to return. This indicates that the automatic rear climate behavior is dependent on an occupancy-detection threshold or location that a properly installed child car seat with a baby may not satisfy. A child occupying a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint is a normal and foreseeable use of the vehicle. The automatic climate-control system should not depend on an occupancy-detection method that can fail to recognize this situation and consequently leave the rear vents off. I believe this presents a huge safety defect and request that NHTSA investigate this.
NHTSA complaint #11762887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle: 2026 Tesla Model Y System involved: Full Self-Driving (Supervised) Date of incident: September 2, 2026 Approximate time: 5:20 PM Location: I-10 area near Tucson, Arizona Crash: No Injury: No Near-miss / safety-critical event: Yes I am reporting a serious safety incident involving the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in my 2026 Tesla Model Y. On September 2, 2026, at approximately 5:20 PM near Tucson, Arizona, I was using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) while traveling toward I-10. The vehicle was expected to enter I-10 but did not enter the highway as intended. Instead, the vehicle proceeded onto a service road, then entered an abandoned parking lot. Rather than safely correcting the route it started towards highway ramp against the normal direction of traffic. I immediately took manual control,stopped in an empty emergency area between the ramp and the service road and activated my emergency hazard lights. I remained stopped while approaching traffic slowed after observing my vehicle. Once it was safe to proceed, I manually and slowly repositioned the vehicle in the correct direction and entered I-10 using the ramp. There was no collision and no injury. However, I believe this event created a serious and potentially fatal risk because the vehicle’s automated driving system directed the vehicle toward a highway ramp in the wrong direction, creating the possibility of a wrong-way conflict with incoming traffic. I am also notifying Tesla for evaluation. I wonder if more similar incidents were reported recently (I learned the fatal collision killing passenger on Oct 31st in AZ due to FSD malfunction).
NHTSA complaint #11762399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety concern involving the panoramic glass roof of my 2024 Tesla Model Y. My toddler lightly bumped their head against the inside of the roof glass, after which the glass developed a significant starburst crack. The contact was very minor, and the resulting damage raised serious concerns about the safety and durability of the roof glass, particularly because I regularly transport my children in this vehicle. On XXX, I brought the vehicle to a Tesla Service Center in Orland Park, Illinois. Tesla documented my report as a child/passenger safety concern. The technician verified an impact zone, documented that the top/exterior portion of the roof glass was cracked, that the interior section did not crack, and that a portion of the roof glass was pushed inward at the impact zone. Tesla recommended replacement of the roof glass. I requested written confirmation that the vehicle was safe to continue driving with the damaged roof. After escalation, Tesla’s Regional Manager responded that whether it was “safe” was a decision I would need to make at my own discretion and suggested replacement if I did not feel safe. He also stated that Tesla’s glass is deemed safe for its intended use based on testing and government regulations. My concern is not simply repair cost or coverage. I am concerned that very minor interior contact resulted in significant damage to a large glass panel directly above occupants, including children. I am requesting that NHTSA document and review this incident as a potential vehicle safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11762105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tire pressure machine monitoring system is malfunctioning on 25 occasions since purchase of the vehicle. Took vehicle to the manufacturers service center and they confirmed the problem but stated no fix was available at this time.
NHTSA complaint #11762032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2026 Tesla Model Y was operating with Autopilot engaged. While making a right turn at a school, the vehicle struck a brick area, continued forward, struck a wall and rolled over. The driver and passenger survived without apparent injury. The vehicle was towed and appears to be a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11761625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My passenger rear door is completely broken and unsafe. While I am driving down the road, the car suddenly thinks the door is wide open (ajar) because the window won't roll up all the way. It triggers the car alarm to blast violently while I am actively driving, which is terrifying and distracting. When parked, the car won't lock, leaving it totally unsecured. I have paid Tesla $500 over three separate visits to fix this safety hazard, but their technicians have completely failed to fix it, and it keeps happening while the vehicle is in motion. I was told this is a known issue, but they still cannot fix it, there should be a recall in place for anyone else with this issue and Tesla should fix it without billing their customers.
NHTSA complaint #11761375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Model Y has an intermittent HVAC issue that occurs only when there are more than 4 occupants in the vehicle. I first reported this while the car was still under warranty, at just over 46,000 miles. We had changed the filter as we thought it was resolved. The issue reappeared, and I scheduled a service call within 10 days. Because the fault is sporadic and couldn't be reproduced on demand, the service call was canceled. The problem persisted, and I brought the car back in. This time, at 50,750 miles, your technician diagnosed the root cause and confirmed it is a system fault due to defective parts, and that it has been happening even when the car was under warranty—not something I caused or could have prevented. He also told me directly that if left unaddressed, this will likely lead to compressor failure down the road. Despite the issue being reported and documented while the car was under warranty, I've now been quoted $3,200 to fix it, entirely out of pocket, simply because the diagnosis happened to land a few hundred miles past the warranty cutoff. Had this surfaced further down the road as normal wear and tear, I'd have accepted it as a cost of ownership. But this is a known defect that was reported in-warranty and only went undiagnosed because of its intermittent nature — that shouldn't be the customer's burden to absorb. On top of that, I found an uninstalled HEPA filter assembly sitting loose in my trunk after this service visit — not installed, not packaged, just left there. It had nothing to do with the nature of the visit. That's not the kind of quality control I'd expect, especially given the rest of this experience. This raises real concerns about the quality control on this visit & customer experience from the service team (manager).
NHTSA complaint #11761302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I recently purchased this vehicle. I love it. It has a trial of full self driving, which I love almost all of the time. However, I noticed there is not any of the 5 settings for FSD that do not speed in school zones. I want to use FSD as much as possible, but I will not speed in a school zone. I am amazed that Tesla has been allowed to program the FSD in a way that will allow speeding in a school zone. I have to turn off FSD to maintain safety and avoid a ticket. Please require TESLA to have at least one of the 5 settings that will obey school zone speed limits.
NHTSA complaint #11760999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My FSD in my Tesla was engaged, all of sudden it stopped on the highway without enough warning, and it cause my car to ram into the wall next to HOV lane.
NHTSA complaint #11760745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We (my son was in the drivers seat)my daughter and I were in the Tesla with FSD on. The car was instructed to go to McDonalds. It tried to make a U turn on a busy road ([XXX]) with oncoming cars and got stuck as it was unable to make a complete U turn. The oncoming cars started honking. My son took control of the car and maneuvered it to the side road. It was very scary because the cars kept coming and to back up with cars coming towards you was a nightmare. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11760802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We had a terrifying moment today. Low-voltage battery died instantly, leaving the driver locked inside a completely blacked-out car. No electronic door response, phone app & keycards completely frozen. Luckily, we got out safely after calling Roadside Assistance, but this is a serious hazard: No advance warning: The car gave zero indication the low-voltage battery was dying. Counter-intuitive exit: In a panic, 99% of people won't recall where the hidden manual release is. Two urgently needed safety updates: 1. Advanced, explicit warnings days before low-voltage battery failure. 2. Door safety logic that guarantees standard exit hardware works seamlessly even during complete power loss. In hot weather, this corner case can turn fatal in minutes. Please prioritize this safety redesign!
NHTSA complaint #11759894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.