Complaint volume
811 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
811 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2022 Tesla Model Y, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
811 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
The most common categories are forward collision avoidance, vehicle speed control,forward collision avoidance, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Enriched records include 76 crash reports, 8 fire reports, 32 injury reports, and 3 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 72 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 16,139 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
811 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I had just parked in a spot 30 feet in front of my clinic building. My foot was not on the brake nor accelerator — the car had stopped and was parked. Tidied my hair and was grabbing my purse placed on the passenger seat, the car seemed to “surge” and suddenly ACCELLERATED QUICKLY straight toward the sliding glass doors toward my medical clinic building! I screamed, dropped everything and stepped as hard as I could on the brake. It stopped suddenly about 5 ft, onto the curb, in front of the doors. No damage (except for the scare!), so no reports. The AAA tow truck driver said he had seen this before in electric cars in his recent 3 months ( 4 out of 5 was Tesla; the other a Volkswagen), and that the black box can’t detect the surge because it’s electrical? Didn’t report it because no damage, no proof. Not looking for compensation, am not hurt (yet), but please look into this. I could’ve mowed down precious babies and children, mothers, doctors in my hospital pediatric clinic. I have heard 2 more incidents from a coworker and a family member (model 3 and S), so although my experts not recent, I cannot with clear conscience not report this. Please, please research this, lives are in your hand. Even if it is just one. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Date: 12/1/2023 Time: Approximately 5:20 AM Location: Intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] Vehicle 1: Type: Tesla Model Y Mode: Full Self-Driving (FSD) Direction: Eastbound on XXX Avenue Speed: Approximately 30 MPH Vehicle 2: Type: Sedan (Make and Model Unknown) Direction: Southbound on XXXX Avenue, turning right Incident Description: While operating a Tesla Model Y in Full Self-Driving mode, I was traveling eastbound on XXX Avenue in Summit at around 30 MPH. The incident occurred at the intersection of XXX Avenue and XXX Avenue. At this intersection, the traffic light for XXX Avenue was flashing yellow, indicating caution, while the light for XXX Avenue was flashing red, signaling a stop requirement for vehicles on that road. As I approached the intersection, a sedan traveling southbound on XXX Avenue initiated a right turn onto XXX Avenue. Despite the flashing red light for the sedan's direction, the Tesla's FSD system, which was controlling the vehicle at the time, appeared to misinterpret the right-of-way. The Tesla continued at the same speed without reducing, shifting lanes, or showing any indication of yielding to the turning sedan. Recognizing the impending risk of collision, the sedan driver executed a sharp right turn, narrowly avoiding an accident but coming close to the curb in the process. Realizing the Tesla's FSD system was not responding appropriately to the traffic situation, I quickly disengaged the FSD mode and manually took control of the vehicle to avert a potential collision. Remarks: This incident highlights a concern regarding the current capabilities of the Full Self-Driving system in complex traffic scenarios, particularly at intersections with flashing traffic signals. It underscores the necessity for continuous driver attention and readiness to assume control, even when FSD is engaged. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | SEAT BELTS | Rear driver side seat belt won’t latch. Passenger cannot properly fasten seatbelt. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving south bound on hwy90 at about 78mph using navigate on autopilot. Without warning the car swerved into a left turn lane and then slammed on the brakes when the turn lane came to an end. This caused a number of personal belongings to be damaged. Thus happened as I was on my way home from a service center visit that stated the autopilot systems were all functioning correctly. Tesla was notified immediately a d has not responded to my complaints. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | On the highway I set my cruise control. It registers as the max speed on the tesla screen. Regularly the max speed changes very suddenly and the vehicle brakes. For my most recent trip drove on the highway and this happened 3 times. The max speed changed from 78 mph (the speed I set it at) to 40 mph. Another time it changed to 45 mph and a third time to 55 mph. Sometimes there are cars directly behind me when this happens. The sudden change in speed on a highway is very dangerous. I have also reported this to Tesla. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE | I was driving at 64 mph utilizing the Adaptive Cruise Control and Autosteer (Beta). I was in the first of a two lane divided highway with no vehicles within 1000 feet in front of me and several cars passing me on my left. Fortunately, I had both hands on the wheel at the 10 and 2 positions and have good arm strength. Suddenly, abruptly and violently the car took over the steering and braking swerving to the left about a foot or so then applying the brakes hard while simultaneously turning the front wheels about 65 degrees to the right. I believe another vehicle without the Tesla's low center of gravity would surly have rolled over. I was now heading across the breakdown lane towards the guardrail. With great effort I took over control of the steering just 1-2 feet from the guardrail pulling hard left and pressing down on the accelerator (to release the brakes) causing a second roll over feeling. I then turned right to straighten the car out and continued down the highway in the same lane without contacting any objects. I felt the violent nature of the swerving in my lower back and left arm. The car did not want to release the steering to me. I have no evidence other than the experience of my wife and me. I was coming off a white concrete bridge deck with a slight left curve without any lane markings. At the moment of the incident the bridge deck was covered with a large area of black tar. I believe these two factors caused the car to go into some kind of avoidance maneuver. I also believe a lesser capable driver may have been killed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | I was driving my tesla model Y on the highway and suddenly the steering wheel turn 90 degrees and crash my driver side with the back of the car in the lane to the right. The night before the accident there was a system update for the car. no warning were made by the car | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 2 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On November 12, 2023, approximately 3PM, my family and I were traveling eastbound on Miramar Road, near Camino Santa Fe Road, San Diego, when we experienced an immediate and sudden braking of our vehicle (2022 Tesla, model Y), for no apparent reason. There were no warning lights or symptoms that would have exhibited any kind of problem with the vehicle. This sudden braking caused my wife, the driver, to panic and swerve. We were traveling at the posted road speed of about 50mph. Fortunately, there was no traffic and no other vehicles in the vicinity or there might have been an accident. We have not yet reported this incident to Tesla, the police, or anyone else. I am conducting my initial research. Coincidentally, my daughter just experienced a similar incident this morning in her 2017 Tesla, Model 3. She will file her own report. After hearing of the problem happening to my daughter I decided we need to file immediate reports and contact Tesla today. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle collided with a wall and was stopped by a curb. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was diagnosed by the manufacturer and the contact was informed that the accelerator had been depressed inadvertently; however, the contact was adamant that it was brake pedal that was depressed at the time of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 10,444. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 10,444 |
| Nov 2023 | STEERING | Steering wheel locked and get error message ul_a020 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the contact briefly lost control of the vehicle before the vehicle returned to normal functionality. Upon arriving to his destination and attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into reverse. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly took control of the steering and jerked into the next lane before he was able to regain control of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 13,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Oct 2023 | LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When I drive a Tesla Model Y under Self-Driving mode at night inside YellowStone NP, there is another car on the opposite side with a high beam turned on, and just near that car there is a bison on the road, the Self-Driving computer fails to detect the bison in the beginning, and too late to do emergency break, the car hit the bison after passing that car. The bison died but driver is safe, the front right head light part and right repeater camera was missing. It's very hard to see the bison in the dark when the other car turns on the high beam, for both humans and cameras, the self-driving without radar or LiDAR is not able to detect the obstacle at the blind spot. I want to report this accident as a reference, the car's self-driving software helped me avoid serious injury. The Tesla FSD(Full Self-Driving or Autopilot) is great but I still hope there's more sensor such as radar or LIDAR can be added to the car for better night vision self-driving. The car deemed a total loss and there is a video from the front dash cam record how this accident happen. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | POWER TRAIN,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Vehicle started reversing from a parallel parking spot to get enough room in front to exit. Once vehicle reversed enough to exit the parking spot driver confirmed vehicle was switched to drive. Accelerator was pressed and vehicle moved backwards instead of forward. Street was flat and vehicle was stationary from when drive was selected and before accelerator was pressed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Since I have been driving my car, automatic wipers always worked. On Saturday, they refused to work. I could not see while driving. I called Tesla, and they say they know this is a problem but cannot tell me when it will be fixed. I was told lots of other people have this problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Ever since I bought my car, the mat under the brakes and accelerator jams under them, I can get jammed and prevents me from operating them. I had a Lexus and that car was recalled because of car mat jamming problems. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | STEERING | While stopped at a stoplight, the assisted steering feature stopped working. It was incredibly difficult to steer my car safely off the street, and was fortunate to not end up in an accident. I took my car to Tesla to be serviced, and they told me that they couldn’t re-create it, and it was most likely a one time issue, disregarding that other Teslas have been recalled for a similar issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving at night with the cruise control on, the emergency braking system engaged. It appeared that the road surface went from dark to a lighter color. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | We have had our Tesla back at at Tesla service center twice pertaining to the HVAC system not delivering airflow needed for proper cooling and defrosting of the windshield. Tonight we were unable to drive because the front window was fogged over and the HVAC system would not de-fog the glass. There was little or no heat being applied to the glass in HI defrost mode. It was necessary to use a rag to wipe the glass so we could continue driving. We live in Northeast Ohio and I’m afraid that when we get snow or ice on the windshield that we will have a serious safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Phantom breaking problem with Tesla Y occurred on I90 between Rapid City and Sioux Falls SD, June 2nd between 1 and 2 pm when my wife and I were traveling across country. I was passing a semi-truck in the left lane and traveling at about 80 mph (the speed limit) with a pickup truck following me. I was using TACC (assisted cruise control) without the Autosteer function, when the Tesla Y slammed on the breaks. It was a panic type of stop and everything in the back seat flew forward and both my wife were shaken. I quickly pressed on the accelerator and was able to increase our speed quickly, but we were almost rear ended by the pickup truck that was following us. I noticed the semi-truck was all red on the Tesla screen and I assume the Tesla computer thought it was a potential collision. After passing the truck I pulled into the right lane. The pickup behind passed me pulled into the right lane and then proceeded to break while he was in front of me. He was not happy and I could not blame him. This almost caused a road rage incident as well. thankfully nothing happened but it was very close to becoming an accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Full self driving (FSD), when engaged on the freeway, occasionally causes needless hard braking (phantom braking). This happens randomly and without warning. When this occurs, I and others road users are at increased risk of an accident and serious injury and/or death. Since there has been no accident the vehicle has not been inspected. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Our High voltage battery died on the side of a highway, stranding us until a tow arrived at 4am. During this time, the onboard hazard lights were activated, and no other vehicle systems besides the standard interior features were active. The low voltage battery died within 35 minutes of the high voltage battery. After the low voltage battery died, we were left on the side of the highway at 4am with no active hazard lights, the emergency vehicle door openers were required to be used, however, the windows were rendered unusable, so the doors could not be effectively shut without risking damage to the windows. Having zero hazard or external lighting emitting from the vehicle after just 35 minutes at 4am on a dark stretch of highway put us in an extremely dangerous situation, and in our opinion, the hazards should have functioned for at least 2-3 hours. The vehicle has since been repurchased from the manufacturer as a lemon due to other unrelated issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | SUSPENSION | Here is a Tesla Model Y in the junkyard. [XXX] The front wheel has wrenched itself off. This phenomenon is known as Full Self Whomping. The car has not been in a crash, no air bags have deployed and there is no other damage to the car apart from the wheel going walkabout. The top ball-joint has simply popped apart which indicates woefull manufacturing and lack of quality control. It is fortunate that this car is still intact and available for inspection by your highly skilled and dedicated experts. In most cases the Full Self Whomping leaves only a mangled blood splattered wreck so that it is hard to prove it was caused by a whompy wheel. This is an opportunity to get out of the office and go to see for yourselves. Please note that I am not the owner. I am simply trying to prevent more loss Dummy USA address used to satisfy your website requirements. My genuine contact details are included with this submission. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving over a water puddle, she heard an abnormally loud, scraping noise coming from the vehicle without warning. Once the contact made it to the residence, she discovered that a part of the undercarriage had detached from the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a Tesla Service Center where she was later provided an estimate for the repair; however, the contact was never informed or given an explanation as to the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 21,000 |
| Sep 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | There is a bug in the browser that Tesla includes in all of their vehicles that allow people to play videos/movies while driving. Someone sells a device that takes advantage of this bug: https://teslaandroid.com/ The browser needs to be update to prevent this, as it is a major safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | On 9/4/23, I encountered a serious malfunction with my Model Y. The issue in question involved the vehicle crashing into a wall on the top level of a parking structure while using the “Smart Summon” feature in Tesla’s mobile app. The “Smart Summon” feature allows you to use the Tesla app to retrieve the vehicle and have it move to your location (within 12 meters) while you are standing outside of the vehicle. This malfunction rendered the vehicle unsafe to drive and significantly affected its performance. I immediately contacted Tesla's customer support and was advised to take my vehicle to the nearest Tesla Service Center or certified repair service center. The Tesla Service Center located in West Covina, CA, performed a diagnostics inspection and technicians said that due to the “Smart Summon” feature being a beta version, they do not take responsibility for the damage caused. I explained that the “Smart Summon” feature was first released in 2016 and that it’s original feature design is for the vehicle to stop completely if it detects any objects in its path of travel. I also raised the question on what if it was our children or any other pedestrian that could have been injured. I would like to emphasize that my Model Y is only 1.4 year old, purchased in April 2022 and it has been meticulously maintained according to Tesla's recommended guidelines. It is perplexing and disheartening to learn that a significant malfunction, seemingly unrelated to any neglect or misuse on my part, would not be covered by Tesla's warranty. I understand that warranties have limitations, but I firmly believe that the malfunction I experienced falls well within the scope of what should be covered. This situation has placed an unexpected financial burden on me, as the estimated repair costs are substantial at almost $8,000. It also raises questions about the reliability and durability of Tesla vehicles. I kindly request your time and assistance in the matter. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |