Complaint volume
1068 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
2023 Tesla Model Y Complaints
1068 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, grouped by component category.
1068 Total complaints
137 Crash reports
3 Fire reports
45 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, steering, vehicle speed control,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 137 crash reports, 3 fire reports, 45 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 74 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 13,628 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to forward collision avoidance, steering, vehicle speed control,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 2023 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.
2023 Tesla Model Y
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2023 Tesla Model Y complaints?
137 Crash
3 Fire
45 Injury
1 Fatality
92 Towed
34 Medical attention
What are the most common 2023 Tesla Model Y complaint categories?
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 184
STEERING 97
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 65
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 60
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 54
SUSPENSION 53
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 36
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34
VISIBILITY/WIPER 32
SEAT BELTS 26
1,068 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On [XXX] I was driving North on [XXX] at approximately 70 MPH when my 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range brakes violently applied by them self twice in the space of a few seconds, the sudden unexpected brake application was a shock to me causing me almost lose control of the vehicle and was almost rear ended by a truck that was a few car lengths behind me. My car was in manual mode with the "Emergency Braking" switch enabled (no self drive or cruise control), the weather was sunny and dry and there were no traffic or obstacles in front of my car. The onboard dash cam briefly captured the incident. The problem did not reoccur for the remainder of my drive home. There was no warning prior to the incident, I believe that emergency brakes may have flashed on the screen ( not sure because I was busy reacting to the situation). The car has not been inspected as of yet. I now have to disable the Emergency Braking function each time I drive my car because unfortunately the system defaults to the on position and I don't trust it. This issue appears to be a problem with the system that provides visual information to the Emergency Braking System. I'm making this report because this is an extremely dangerous problem that needs to be addressed by Tesla before it causes injury or worse. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | SEAT BELTS | Rear left seat buckle won’t latch. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING,WHEELS,LANE DEPARTURE | 1. Front Passenger side wheel and auto steering system malfunctioned. Yes it is available for inspection. 2. My car was not drivable and I was stuck on the leftmost lane of highway with fast traffic passing by. Had to call 911 to move myself to safety. 3. Not yet 4. Vehicle has been inspected by the police 5. No warning lamps or message prior to failure | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Tesla remotely disabled my vehicle twice (February 28, 2025, and March 6, 2025) without prior notice, legal justification, or a court order. February 28, 2025 – Tesla Disabled My Vehicle for 3 Days My Tesla Model Y was remotely locked without warning, leaving me stranded and unable to use my vehicle. Tesla refused to provide a reason or reinstate access for three days. March 6, 2025 – Tesla Disabled My Vehicle Again & Attempted Repossession Tesla again remotely disabled my vehicle, then sent a tow truck for repossession without legal notice. I called the police, who confirmed Tesla had no legal repossession order. Tesla refused to restore access, forcing me into a coerced “voluntary surrender.” How This Posed a Safety Risk I was stranded in public locations without notice or transportation alternatives. Had the vehicle been in motion, this could have caused a road hazard. Tesla’s lack of due process denied me the chance to dispute the action before losing my vehicle. Confirmed by Law Enforcement & Tesla’s Own Records Police intervened on March 6, 2025, and confirmed Tesla had no valid repossession order. Tesla has refused to provide written documentation or a legal explanation for these actions. Regulatory Concerns Tesla’s unilateral ability to disable vehicles raises serious consumer safety issues: What prevents Tesla from disabling vehicles arbitrarily? What legal safeguards exist to protect owners from unjustified manufacturer lockouts? Should federal law restrict Tesla from disabling vehicles without court approval? Request for Investigation Tesla’s remote disabling practice endangers consumers and should be urgently investigated by NHTSA to determine if federal safeguards are needed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING | Power steering occasionally cuts out during low speed manoeuvres, such as parallel parking, parking, and turning while stopped. When trying to forcibly replicate the issue (by moving steering wheel lock to lock while doing parking manoeuvres) computer showed codes EPAS3P_a122_olpActive and EPAS3P_a074_overHeatProtect. Tesla says this is "working as designed" and will not fix. I have asked the car to be serviced for this issue twice now. Safety is a concern as the issue is unpredictable and I believe the steering could become difficult suddenly in a situation where it is necessary to move out of the way quickly. (Ie. Stopped in traffic with emergency vehicles incoming) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | SUSPENSION | Front lower control arm bushings are torn. This was discovered at 32000 miles. Premature failure of suspension parts can create a unsafe driving condition. Currently available for inspection. But will be replaced under warranty as soon as possible. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | SUSPENSION | Took my car into tesla service center for alignment and they said that i need to change my front lateral link. I asked if it was damaged by anything i did and they said no. At 31k miles this is not normal. They won't cover it under warranty. It's a critical component and can cause a major accident resulting in injury or death. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,WHEELS | Two weeks I had my model Y serviced for shaking of the car and steering wheel. They deemed the cause of the shaking due to unalignment of the wheels and they claimed to have fixed the issue. After receiving the car for the week after it began to make a sound of something hitting every time I made a U turn or any time I turned the wheel. While driving 3/8 with my family in the car I made a U turn in a parking lot and heard the same loud sound of hitting. When I went to check two large approximately 3 inch bolts were on the ground but no nuts in sight and my control arm broke the bottom plate and was completely unattached from the car. Thankfully the bolts came off while in a parking lot and not 20 minutes prior when I was driving on a windy road. Within 24hours Tesla contacted me saying my car was ready for pickup without any explanation of why the bolts came off, No full inspection completed for other issues and no alignment of the tires. Under the Tesla mechanic notes they only reinstalled the bolts and tightened the front wheels and not the back. Upon further research online I have found numerous other people complaining of the same issue of the bolts for the control arm falling off on Model Y and 3 Teslas due to forgetting to weld the bolt nuts to the sub frame. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | STEERING | 3/5/2024. Upon startup, car does not have power steering. Error code UI_a020 on screen and steering wheel very difficult to move as car reverses. Put car back into park and arranged for alternate transportation. Manufacturer advises "monitoring and reporting back when/if alert re-occurs" | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | SUSPENSION | The two bolts securing the lower lateral link of the front passenger side loosened and dropped out in 14 months of the car ownership, causing the lateral link detached from the subframe of the car. The car makes loud noise when turning, poses danger of suspension failure and possibly loss of control on freeway driving. I have scheduled a service appointment with Tesla service center and see if they can fix it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | SEAT BELTS | The seatbelt does not latch in the buckle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Tesla offers a "Smart Summon" as part of a PAID feature of Full Self Driving. I have used this feature many times without issue. In this incident, it failed to detect a support column next to a parking spot and while pulling out, it turned right and collided with the pole causing damage to the vehicle. Tesla refused to take responsibility for their feature failing. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I am submitting a complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete power loss while in operation, creating a hazardous situation. Below are the details of the incident: •Component/System Failure: The vehicle’s electrical system failed, leading to a shutdown. The following alerts were displayed on the screen: •VCFRONT_a191: Electrical system power reduced – Vehicle shutting down •VCFRONT_a192: Electrical system unable to support all features – Switching off features to conserve energy •BMS_a151: Vehicle may not restart – Service is required •DI_a227: Please wait while high voltage system powers up •Safety Risk: The unexpected shutdown posed a serious safety risk. If this had occurred in high-speed traffic, it could have led to a crash, endangering my safety and that of others on the road. •Reproduction of Issue: The issue has not been reproduced yet, but it is an ongoing concern. I have not received a resolution from Tesla at this time. •Inspection by Authorities: The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Tesla, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. However, I am willing to make it available for investigation. •Warning Signs: There were no prior warning signs before the failure. The alerts appeared shortly before the vehicle lost power completely. This issue raises concerns about the reliability and safety of Tesla’s electrical system. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter to prevent potential accidents caused by similar failures in other vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This is my 4th safety report about the same issue: unexpected braking while on cruise control. Since my last report, Tesla offered another free month of auto pilot but I did not take it for fear of this braking issue. On Tuesday [XXX] I was returning to my home in Las Cruces NM from Colorado. I was on [XXX] toward Albuquerque, and there was very little traffic. I decided to see if I could get away with the cruise control. As I was pulling into Bernalillo, there were some oncoming cars in a left-turn lane at a signal, and my car braked automatically...enough to lurch me forward. I decided to stop at the "new" Tesla dealer in Bernalillo (I got my car in Santa Fe) and ask about the automatic breaking and whether they'd fixed it. The 2 service employees looked at each other and one said "No". I then asked about whether I needed to re-boot my key card since my screen went blank while I was in CO, during a snow storm, parked. I luckily had my phone and on the Tesla App, under Roadside Service, it gave me the option to re-boot the screen! I did so. The serviceman said he didn't think the blank screen had anything to do with my key card, but I could re-boot it if I want to. (A prior complaint also reported the failed key card in less than a year and Tesla's unwillingness to replace it). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STRUCTURE | My Tesla model Y rear passenger window on the right side exploded, and glasses were shattered on February 14, 2025. I was driving on [XXX] and near the exit of [XXX] at approximately 11:40AM.，I was driving at approximately 65 mph. I heard an explosion sound at the back. The noise was very loud and sudden, and I was startled and distressed by the sound, and my eardrum was in pain due by the loud sound and the rush of the wind to inside my vehicle. I took my car to a Tesla svc center at Santa Clara . Tesla service center made me paid for the repair for $339.06. I am very concerned about the safety issue, fortunately there was no passenger at the back, otherwise the passenger could be severely injured. The weather was cloudy and the traffic was light. I found an article on the Internet - There were another similar incident about the rear right window explosion. There were no vehicles adjacent to my car while I was driving. I would like to express my concern regarding the potential safety implication of this incident. I urge your organization, investigate whether this issue is isolated or a part of broad pattern that may affect other vehicles. This left me a dark shadow while my driving now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While in an automatic car wash with the vehicle in "car wash mode" the vehicle suddenly stopped free rolling and the vehicle behind the Tesla Model Y crashed into the Tesla. The Brown Bear car wash reported that these types of incidents are common at Brown Bear car washes and that they ocurr when the drivers of Tesla cars remove their seat belts while the car is in the car wash. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STEERING | While driving heard a noise from front end. As I turned right the steering wheel turned left in opposite direction. I heard something fall and found a bolt that fell off the car control arm. I managed to get the car back to my garage and called Tesla service. They say it needs an alignment and are going to charge me for this repair. A bolt should not be falling off the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STEERING | Subject: Urgent Safety Concern – Steering Component Failure in 2023 Tesla Model Y Dear Tesla Customer Support / NHTSA Safety Division, I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue involving a critical steering component failure in my 2023 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX] 38,917 miles). The failure led to a loss of control and resulted in a collision. On [XXX], my wife, [XXX] , was driving the vehicle on our residential street, shortly after leaving our driveway. At a low speed of approximately 8-10 mph, she suddenly lost steering control as the car rapidly veered to the right. Despite attempts to steer, the vehicle was unresponsive, leading to a collision with a parked car. Damage Summary: •Our Tesla Model Y: Damage to front bumper, headlights, right wheel cover and right fender. •Parked Vehicle: Deep scratches and dents on the rear driver-side bumper and passenger door. Upon inspecting the vehicle after the incident, it became apparent that a suspension or steering component (likely the lower control arm) had failed (broken). After researching online, I discovered that multiple Tesla Model Y owners have reported similar sudden failures of the same part, indicating a potential manufacturing defect. Request for Immediate Action: 1.Tesla Inspection & Full Repair at No Cost – Since my vehicle is under warranty and this appears to be a manufacturing defect, I request a full investigation and repair at Tesla’s expense. 2.NHTSA Investigation into a Potential Recall – Given that similar failures have been reported by other Tesla owners, I urge NHTSA to review this issue for a potential recall before more accidents occur. 3.Tesla’s Official Response – I would like Tesla to confirm whether this component has been investigated for defects in other vehicles and what steps are being taken to prevent other accidents. This incident could have been far worse had my wife been driving at higher speeds. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My car is equipped with autopilot feature which I am unable to use due to safety score system designed by Tesla which is used for calculating insurance premiums. This safety score system doesn’t count the miles driven on autopilot and only counts the miles driven without autopilot to decide safety score which impacts insurance premium. This policy forces consumers to drive car without autopilot to increase number of miles driven to compensate for any mistakes made during driving without autopilot. This not only compromises safety of the vehicle and passengers but also deprives me to use features of my car that I paid for. Since autopilot is a supervised driving and requires driver active engagement the miles driven using autopilot should also be counted to decide safety score. Dealership are unable to help with any issues related to safety score system and there is no customer support available to address customer concerns. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | SUSPENSION | My wife was driving her 2023 Model Y with our [XXX] son in it, suddenly she heard a loud sound back to back twice and the car stopped, she couldn’t drive or move the car, she stepped out and saw 2 large bolts on the ground near the front passenger tire and the tired turned inwards and the tire would not turn upon steering and would not move at all. We called Tesla Roadside assistance. The tow technician reviewed the situation and said this should not have happened and it is a major issue. If this happened on a freeway it could have been a disaster. He also told us that he has to try to get the bolts back in after removing and breaking some of the adjacent plastic cover on the bottom of the car in order to safely tow the vehicle without additional damage. The car was towed after 2 hrs of breaking adjacent plastic next to where the bolts were supposed to be and trying to get bolts back on to straighten the wheel. Truly shaken, if this happened on a a freeway or when car was fast, it could have been a devastating accident involving life of my child and wife. We are still trying to fathom what happened and why. We will talk to the Tesla service center tomorrow. We found at least one other post on forums re: similar issue with Tesla. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Heat pump tends to fail when temperatures reach out temperatures below 0ºF. This is a safety risk as at these temperatures, a failure to the vehicle heat pump could lead to death. There are many reports in forums and social media, such as here: [XXX] and [XXX] that shows this is a common issue. The system started to fail last time the temperatures reached around that point (around the beginning of Jan 2015), however the car quickly recovered from that. The error shows up as vcfront_a447. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | SUSPENSION,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I am lodging a formal complaint about recurring safety issues with my Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor AWD, purchased on June 8, 2023. These issues have led to multiple skidding incidents under normal conditions, vehicle damage, and concerns about its safety and reliability. Incidents: Sept. 23, 2023 (6,279 miles): Suspension noise reported to Tesla Service Center, Clarkston, MI. Service concluded suspension was operating as intended (Invoice No. 3000S0008134598). Dec. 4, 2024 (29,425 miles): Skidding on a highway caused minor contact with another vehicle. Repairs (two rear tires and parking lamp) cost $1,007.28 at Grand Rapids Service Center (Invoice No. 3000S0011836159). Dec. 24, 2024: At 9 mph near a stop sign, the vehicle skidded, colliding with a cement pole, damaging the bumper and parking lamp. Jan. 9, 2025: During a service appointment at Ann Arbor, technicians experienced skidding during a road test. Inspection revealed worn rear tires (recently replaced), damaged suspension, and subframe assembly. Repair costs totaled $10,022.69, but Tesla denied warranty coverage. Concerns: Safety and Reliability: The AWD system consistently fails to prevent skidding, unlike older vehicles from other manufacturers like Hyundai and Toyota. Service Negligence: Tesla Grand Rapids provided worn rear tires. Previous services overlooked suspension and alignment issues, contributing to recurring incidents. Warranty Denial: Despite being under warranty, Tesla refused coverage, advising an insurance claim, which is unjustified given the defects and poor maintenance. Request for NHTSA Action: Investigate potential defects in the braking, traction control, and suspension systems. Recommend a recall if defects are confirmed. Hold Tesla accountable for repairs under warranty and ensure improved service practices. Seek compensation for emotional distress and service deficiencies. I hope NHTSA will act promptly to ensure public safety and uphold Tesla’s commitment to safety measures. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | How did Tesla pass the Safety Standards for the position of rear door handles to manually open the vehicle? The vehicle gets into an accident OR the car plunges into water - and this almost always results in a non-responsive/deal battery. *** The rear passengers are hurt and you want them to find that little piece of rubber mat hidden in a cranny, lift it, and then use their nail to open the plastic cover to reach that piece of junk to manually open the door? ** NO WAY !! Manual door handle in the rear doors should be placed where it's easily accessible, just like you have on the front doors. This is truly a life threatening safety issue with how Tesla has hide the rear passenger manual door handles. Please force Tesla to issue a recall and fix the issue by providing an easy access to manually open the rear door in emergencies. The car gets on fire and rear passengers may burn alive because they won't be able to open the door due to the current system of a super hidden rear door handle. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Occurred on [XXX] at [XXX]. Las Vegas. [XXX] and [XXX] are the closest intersections. My lane had construction cones and I had to merge. There was one Zoox ahead of me and one behind in the left lane and I tried to merge in between with blinkers on. The Zoox car behind sped up to close the gap to block me out. After the stop light turned green zi tried to merge again before my lane ended and the driver did the same thing by closing the cap and almost hitting the Zoox ahead of him. It also looks like that driver intentionally partially blocked the first left turn lane so I couldn't use it. I have everything recorded on my Tesla Front, side and back cameras. I attached the footage in the email for review. We should all be concerned if the autonomous vehicle drives this way or if it's learning from this driver's driving behavior. I wanted to add that I had my wife and infant in the car. There's a baby on board sticker on the back, driver side so the Zoox driver had to have seen it and still decided to run me into the cones unless I stopped despite I was already on the dashed lines merging in. It's all on the cam. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | After leaving the supercharger (car charged to 92%) I came to a stop light. The car was NOT in autopilot. I took my foot off the accelerator pedal. The car had nearly come to a complete stop when it starting accelerating again. My foot was NOT on the pedal. I tried to brake and the brakes would NOT work. I turned the car to try to avoid hitting the car in front of me while pressing on the brake. Brakes still would not work and I slammed into the car in front of me. I believe that the car was not able to put the energy from the acceleration back into the battery (regenerative braking technology) and therefore pushed it back into acceleration mode. I also believe this caused the brakes to not work. I know there have been many recalls in China and other complaints of the same issue. I've had the car for 2 years and had never had this problem before. Another note when the accident happened the screen was showing a software update that wanted to be installed. This was a very disturbing and rattling happening and I'm not worried to drive the car after a super charge. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |