Complaint volume
1019 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Tesla Model Y Complaints
1019 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Tesla Model Y, grouped by component category.
1019 Total complaints
85 Crash reports
6 Fire reports
22 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance, service brakes,forward collision avoidance. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 85 crash reports, 6 fire reports, 22 injury reports, and 4 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 98 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 16,683 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance, service brakes,forward collision avoidance?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Tesla Model Y?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Tesla Model Y
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Tesla Model Y complaints?
85 Crash
6 Fire
22 Injury
4 Fatality
63 Towed
14 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Tesla Model Y complaint categories?
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 280
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 72
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 70
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 64
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 44
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34
SUSPENSION 30
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 29
STEERING 26
VISIBILITY/WIPER 19
1,019 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This incident is related to Full self driving feature in my Model Y. It abruptly stopped on the road even when there was no obstacle. Luckily there were no vehicles behind my car which would otherwise resulted in accident and injuries to myself and my family. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While my vehicle was operating under FSD, it ran a red light at the above intersection, resulting in an accident. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| May 2026 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Phantom brake incident today,5/26/26. Traveling 35mph, brakes slammed on for no apparent reason. Seatbelt tightened and my head launched forward. Neck is very strained. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| May 2026 | SUSPENSION | Component that failed: Front lower lateral link and compliance link suspension bushings. Failed components were removed by Tesla Service and are no longer available for inspection. Safety risk: Failed suspension bushings directly compromise steering precision, vehicle stability, and handling — particularly at highway speeds. A driver unaware of this failure could experience loss of steering control or unpredictable handling without warning. Confirmed by dealer: Yes. Tesla Florida (Tampa, 11945 North Florida Avenue) confirmed the failure in writing on May 22, 2026. Technician repair notes state: “inspection failed due to worn suspension bushings in the front.” Tesla confirmed this was the first time these original components had ever been serviced. Invoice #[XXX]. Manufacturer inspection: Yes, repaired by Tesla Service Center. Cost: $1,669.58. Warning lamps or prior symptoms: None. No warning lights, no alerts through the Tesla app, and no prior symptoms communicated to the owner. Failure was discovered only because vehicle was brought in for an extended service agreement inspection. Assessment: Original factory suspension bushings completely disintegrated at 56,258 miles on a 2021 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX] ). This is not normal wear — photographic evidence shows full structural disintegration of rubber bushing material. Other Model Y owners may be driving with identical failures without knowledge. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I am reporting two unresolved safety-related defects on my 2021 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX] ) that occurred following paid service at Tesla's League City Service Center on 04/16/2026 DEFECT 1 — COMPUTER AND SENSOR SYSTEM FAILURE: The vehicle's onboard computer cuts in and out intermittently. Sensors fail during operation and the problem worsens significantly in high-temperature conditions. Tesla vehicles rely on their computer and sensor systems for core safety functions including collision avoidance, autopilot, and driver assist features. Intermittent failure of these systems while operating the vehicle is a safety hazard to the driver and the public. DEFECT 2 — GLOVE BOX INOPERABLE: The glove box does not open following Tesla service. The glove box in Tesla vehicles houses key vehicle documentation and is integrated into the vehicle's locking and security system. I paid $2,497.50 for service on [06/16/2026]. Both defects were either caused or left unresolved by that service. I have notified Tesla service staff directly and followed up multiple times over more than four weeks. Tesla has not responded, has not scheduled any repair, and has not refunded my money. I am filing this complaint because (1) the sensor and computer failures present an active safety risk during operation, (2) Tesla has ignored all attempts to resolve this, and (3) public reviews indicate this is a pattern affecting multiple consumers. I request that NHTSA investigate and determine whether a safety defect investigation or recall is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The vehicle’s low-voltage battery system failed unexpectedly, causing a complete loss of electrical power and preventing normal vehicle access and operation. The failure resulted in my [XXX] child becoming trapped inside the vehicle. The malfunction appears related to the 12V/low-voltage battery and/or associated power management system. The vehicles inspection invoice is available upon request. This incident created a serious safety risk because the loss of low-voltage power prevented normal door operation and immediate access to my child. The situation posed risks of heat exposure, medical distress, panic, and delayed emergency access. Although the vehicle includes a manual emergency door release, it is not realistically accessible or operable by a baby or toddler secured in a child safety seat. A young child cannot reasonably be expected to understand, locate, or operate the manual release during an emergency. The sudden failure without warning left my child unable to exit independently while caregivers were temporarily unable to access the vehicle. There were no noticeable warning, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The low-voltage battery appeared to fail suddenly and without sufficient warning, resulting in immediate loss of access and vehicle functionality. The problem has not yet been reproduced, but the low-voltage battery failure was identified after the incident. The vehicle has been inspected by Tesla service. No formal police or insurance inspection was performed, but a first responder was present. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My 2021 Tesla Model Y HW3 experienced complete failure of all cameras, GPS, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control following the installation of software update 2026.8.6.1 — the OTA remedy update issued by Tesla for NHTSA Recall 26V283000. The vehicle was fully functional prior to this update. The failure was confirmed and reproduced by Tesla's authorized service center. The service advisor confirmed in writing: "During the update, the computer failed to reboot properly. We attempted to perform a 12V reset but unfortunately it is still stuck in the boot loop state." The Autopilot ECU (Primary/Turbo A) is stuck in a permanent boot loop and cannot be recovered by software means. Safety impact: All cameras including rearview camera are completely non-functional. Automatic Emergency Braking and all ADAS features are disabled. The vehicle cannot safely detect obstacles or pedestrians. GPS navigation is frozen. Tesla has confirmed the computer requires replacement but is classifying it as a customer-pay repair citing expired warranty, despite the failure occurring during Tesla's own recall remedy software deployment. This vehicle meets every technical criterion of Recall 26V283000 — HW3 hardware, 2021 Model Y, software version 2026.8.6.1, complete camera failure — but does not appear in the recall VIN database. I am requesting NHTSA review whether this VIN should be included in recall 26V283000 or a related investigation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The vehicle began experiencing repeated Autopilot/FSD failures while driving. Symptoms included sudden Autopilot disengagements, cruise control becoming unavailable, and loss of road visualization/navigation display functionality. The issue progressively worsened over time. The vehicle was first brought to Tesla service in 2025 for the same overheating-related concern. At that time, Tesla identified a coolant-related issue, topped off the coolant system, and returned the vehicle to service. However, the problem continued and gradually became more frequent and severe afterward. During the most recent service visit, Tesla diagnosed the HW3 Autopilot computer as overheating due to a heat transfer failure between the Autopilot board and cooling cold plate. Tesla stated that heat generated by the board could no longer be efficiently transferred to the coolant system, causing the Autopilot computer to overheat. Tesla further advised that continued operation without repair could eventually impact additional vehicle functions, including the center display screen shutting off due to overheating-related failures. Given the loss of driver-assistance functionality and potential impact to core vehicle systems, I am submitting this report so the issue is documented as a potential thermal management or hardware reliability concern involving the HW3 Autopilot computer system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STEERING,SUSPENSION | My 2021 Model Y has about 24,500 miles began squeaking when turning the steering wheel or hitting bumps. I read online that many tesla owners had the same issue. The design on these weren't great allowing water to penetrate these parts and cause them to ware down faster. I already paid for the replacement of the upper and lower control arms. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | while traveling at approximately 80 mph with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged, my vehicle experienced a simultaneous failure of the Full Self-Driving computer and the Media Control Unit (MCU) touchscreen. Without any prior warning, the touchscreen went completely black, and the vehicle immediately executed an uncommanded, sharp steering maneuver into the right lane. It was very apparent that if I didn’t take over it was going to continue crossing highway lanes and go off road. I have around 45k miles specifically on FSD and never has it failed in such an extreme manner. This sudden steering input put myself and other motorists at extreme risk of a high-speed collision or roadway departure. I was forced to physically overpower the steering wheel to maintain lane integrity and prevent a crash at highway speeds. The failure appeared to be a total loss of the vehicle’s primary visualization and automated steering systems, leaving me with no digital feedback regarding speed or surrounding traffic while the car was still in motion. Prior to this event, there were no warning lamps or symptoms such as GPS drifting or screen lag. I have since attempted a hard reset and a full power cycle, but the critical nature of this uncommanded steering at 80 mph suggests a systemic defect in how FSD manages hardware or software failures. The vehicle and its internal data logs are available for inspection upon request. This incident has been documented in the Tesla App under a service request for a full log review. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The rear camera has failed posing a safety issue when reversing the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE | Incident Date: April 11, 2026 Approximate Time: 6:30 PM Component(s): Unknown (Suspected: Electronic Stability Control, Steering, ADAS) Description of Incident: On April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:30 PM, I was operating my Tesla Model Y on a highway with a self-driving mode engaged. I experienced what appeared to be a sudden, unintended acceleration combined with an erratic "zig-zag" steering pattern across multiple lanes. I am not certain of the technical cause, but the vehicle’s behavior felt like a loss of system control that was not initiated by me or the road conditions. I had to intervene immediately to prevent an accident. Post-Incident Actions and Manufacturer Contact: I have since contacted Tesla Service, and while they confirmed that data for that date exists, my formal "Privacy Data" requests for those specific logs have come back empty or missing the relevant timeframe. Summary of Concern: I am reporting this because I suspect a serious software or hardware malfunction occurred, though I do not have the technical diagnostic to confirm which system failed. The combination of the vehicle’s erratic movement and the subsequent difficulty in obtaining the data logs for this specific window of time leads me to believe there is a potential safety defect that requires investigation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | **What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The vehicle experienced a critical failure immediately on the same day of purchase, rendering it not functioning or inoperable. It was deemed to be preexisting from the dealership I bought it from. The battery is malfunctioning affecting the driving capacity and range. --- **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The failure created a significant safety concern, as the vehicle was not operating reliably immediately after purchase. This placed me at risk of being stranded and potentially exposed to hazardous conditions, including loss of transportation in unsafe or uncontrolled environments. Or stopping while driving. --- **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** The issue was immediately reported to the dealership, and they acknowledged the problem by agreeing to an exchange of the vehicle due to its defective condition. It was confirmed by a service center of the car's manufacturer. --- **Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?** At this time, the vehicle has inspected by the manufacturer. --- **Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** Yes, although the manufacturer can't pinpoint when they started but said they had been on since ATLEAST March 10. My purchase was made April 1, undisclosed to me of this huge issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STRUCTURE | The paint on my Tesla Model Y is peeling and delaminating along both sides of the rear trunk/hatch seam, adjacent to the rear glass. The issue appears in the same location on both sides in a symmetrical pattern. There has been no accident, impact, or external damage to these areas. The peeling began gradually and has continued to worsen over time. The symmetry and location suggest this is not normal wear or environmental damage, but a potential defect in paint adhesion or manufacturing at the trunk seam. This condition exposes underlying material and may lead to further deterioration, including corrosion over time. I am reporting this as a potential manufacturing defect affecting durability of the vehicle exterior | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | SUSPENSION | Squeaking (lubrication failure) of the front suspension components, prematurely, are a common and widespread issue with Tesla vehicles. I have approximately 60k miles on my model Y and the front control arms are making noises. Tesla wants to replace a significant amount of suspension components at a high cost, instead of a recall (or creating serviceable lubrication points on these components). The NHTSA needs to hold Tesla accountable for faulty suspension design and lack of maintainability leading to premature failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | SEAT BELTS | The back drivers side seatbelt belt does not latch. The manufacturer refuses to fix without a fee. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | Getting message on screen since october 2025. That time total milage on my car was less then 30,000 STEERING ASSIST REDUCED and LANE DEPARTURE AVOIDANCE FEATURE UNAVAILABLE. I did reset / restart the vehicle / soft / hard reset, software update. and This both message got disappear and then again after sometimes its keep coming back. So i did appointment to rocklin tesla center and they gave me cost estimate $5770. Thats way too much so i decline but they said those message might keep popping up because of LOW VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTION AND CONTROLLERS. So i accepted that service and paid $359.68. But i am still getting same both messages on my tesla screen. Sometimes it does comes and sometimes it does not. I did online research and people with same problem stating that because of TESLA's poor manufacturing steering wheel and some kind of faulty circuit board causing this issue. My car never been to any accident and its very low on milage. Please look for other tesla owner who has same problem and tesla has to fix this problem without charging this much amount. Thanks | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | I was entering the on-ramp to [XXX] , from [XXX] , to merge onto the freeway east bound towards [XXX] , when my Tesla suddenly lost all power, the brakes did not work and the power steering completely failed making it feel like it was locked up. I was traveling approximately 40-50 mph at the time nearing the gore point to merge onto the freeway. Fortunately I was in the inside lane and I rolled to a stop away from other vehicles. I could not steer at all. Had I been completely on the freeway, I could have been rear ended badly. I had my two young boys in the vehicle with me, both [XXX] and [XXX] . We were completely trapped in the vehicle with no power. My [XXX] old remembered to use the manual latch to get out. I opened my door manually and It broke my driver side glass window. Vehicles were passing us rapidly to enter the freeway. I called my husband who is a police officer and he came and picked us up. We called Tesla who said they could not get a read on our battery whatsoever. We called a tow company and had this vehicle towed to Tesla repair center in [XXX] , after reporting our traumatic event. They claim our warranty is expired, but our vehicle only has 37,638 miles and should be covered under the 8 year, 120,000 mile warranty that covers a major malfunction like this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | While on my way to run an errand, I opened up the back door to strap my 2 year old in, when i closed the door, the car would not open whatsoever, after trying for a few minutes with the phone key app for tesla and the physical key fob, nothing would work. I had to end up calling 911 and firefighters came out and had to physically open the door, which broke the window. The car was completely unresponsive and would not turn on. After researching what happened, it turns out the 12v battery had died. I was able to jumpstart the car with jumpers and that was able to open up the rest of the car's doors. However, during the time my son was stuck inside with the over 95 degree weather, the had no safety mechanism in place to open it physically like a traditional key fob would. It is very disheartening knowing my son could have potentially lost his life over something so simple that could be resolved with a physical keyhole on the outside like almost every traditional vehicle has. This is something that should not occur, ever. The fact that the car was able to open up once more before completely dying and perfectly at the wrong time after closing the door while my son was trapped in there in complete heat was very disappointing. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I own a 2021 Tesla Model Y with approximately 46,500 miles. The vehicle is currently displaying battery error code BMS_a079, and the battery will only charge to approximately 30%, which severely limits the driving range and makes the vehicle unreliable for normal use. I reported this issue to Tesla on March 6, but the earliest service appointment available to me is March 17 at the Tesla service center in Fayetteville, Georgia. Because Tesla service centers are not widely available, I must travel to another city to have the vehicle inspected. The limited battery charge creates a difficult situation because I must determine how to get the vehicle safely to the service center with very restricted range. I may have to arrange towing or attempt to drive a vehicle that cannot fully charge. This issue has also created a hardship for my household. I have a toddler and normal daily responsibilities, including errands and transportation needs, but the vehicle cannot reliably be used due to the charging limitation. Being without dependable transportation for an extended period of time places families like mine in a very difficult position. This problem appears to be related to the vehicle’s battery management system and is not the result of driver misuse. Consumers should not be placed in situations where a major battery fault leaves them with limited transportation options while waiting extended periods for service, especially when service centers are not easily accessible. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | The vehicle's Autopilot/Full Self-Driving (HW3) computer has failed at approximately 70,000 miles. Tesla Service has diagnosed the vehicle as requiring replacement of the HW3 computer. As a result of this failure, multiple safety related systems are inoperative, including collision avoidance, lane assist, lane departure warning, automatic wipers, and other driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control. The vehicle is also unable to receive over-the-air software updates, including potential safety updates. In addition, the vehicle experiences system lag, including delay when shifting into Drive or Reverse. The center display is slow to respond, and certain media and software features are no longer functional due to inability to update. This condition increases safety risk because active safety systems designed to assist with collision prevention are disabled. The failure appears to be hardware-related and not due to normal wear. Tesla has confirmed the need for computer replacement but has declined coverage as the vehicle is outside warranty. The failed component should be available for inspection upon request. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Vehicle will suddenly apply brakes while using standard cruise control for no apparent reason. This is extremely dangerous as it has almost caused several accidents on the highway. I have almost been rear-ended several times. This is a very common problem and well documented problem referred to as "phantom braking" on Teslas and something needs to be done immediately. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS | Both torn bushing and broken links at 29k miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | The car suddenly reduced lane assistance and steering assistance functionality. After calling Tesla they said it is not a software issue. I checked the service mode and it indicated a malfunction in the steering assist motor, which apparently costs $3500 to replace. Online, I have found many complaints about this problem that are not resolved by software updates. In addition, there was a large number used steering assist motors for sale online which indicates a more wide spread problem. This is not normal for cars to have this failure prematurely and is a serious safety hazard. I read online that some had their steering EPAS get locked while driving on the highway and nearly destroyed their Teslas | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STEERING | front subframe and both front lateral links came loose due to welded nut not present | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |