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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Car acquired [XXX]. Drive train warranty till [XXX]. Car stopped on the highway in Arizona. Got it towed to Tesla Service. They claimed coolant leak but never showed me or returned the parts even tho I specifically asked for return of parts. They gave me a phone number to call and an email address. There has been NO RESPONSE to Several phone calls and emails. Charges incurred which should be refunded are: [XXX] Uber. $ 47.52 [XXX] Tesla. $ 917.09 [XXX] Uber. $. 61.49 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This Tesla engages in "phantom braking" on a daily basis. I will be driving along at 70 mph on Adaptive Cruise Control, no other cars or otherwise around, and the brakes will suddenly slam on reducing speed to 40-50mph. It is clearly a sensor type issue. Seems to happen when a turn lane is sensed? a side road? who knows?? This has been a know issue for a very long time. it's dangerous as it will lead to rear end collision if anyone is behind. this happens without warning, almost daily, and I am not the only one experiencing this. Tesla people have no solutions. I do not routinely report things, but I feel very strongly that this is a major safety issue, so much that I am considering trading in the car for something else. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | While driving on a freeway during very heavy rain, the windshield wipers were working in auto mode. All of a sudden the wipers stopped working. Even though the visibility was almost non existent due to windshield wipers not working, I managed safely to pull over to the curb of the freeway. Upon further investigation, I realized that the auto mode of windshield wipers was not working, but manual mode was working. With the manual mode I was able to get home safely. At home in my driveway I tried the auto mode again and it worked for a few seconds and stopped. Two days later my wife contacted Tesla about the issue and was informed by service representative that it`s a known problem to Tesla for the vehicle, but as of now they do not have a fix for the problem and there is no known expected time for the fix. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Was traveling along the [XXX] about 5 miles north of the [XXX]. Vehicle was in traffic awareness cruise control when it suddenly applied the brakes. Vehicle did not sound any warnings. Vehicle did not display any warnings. Vehicle made no attempt to warn driver of a braking event. Vehicle traffic awareness cruise control was set to 79 or 78 mph in a 70 mile per hour zone. I was able to push the accelerator pedal to regain speed but had already dropped to about 65 mph. Vehicle did not pass under a shaded section ( I. E. no bridge or trees or big rigs) There was change in color of the road top. My foot was resting just in front of the accelerator pedal. Fortunately for us, there was no vehicles directly behind us. This incident is the 3 of this kind in this vehicle. This has me spooked to use any of the convenience software. I already do not like using the autopilot feature because of it erratic behavior. It feels very unsafe and unpredictable. We are unable to predict when this car will act on its own and feel it will cause us harm one day with actions like this. We are glad that no one was following us closely because they might have hit us. We are also upset that the vehicle never stated why it braked suddenly. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Windshield wipers put in manual maximum sensitivity mode. During the trip they stopped working multiple times. They just froze. When a manual one time wipe button was pressed wipers menu showed “II” manual sensitivity and started working. Selected back manual III sensitivity. Wipers worked for a while and stopped again. SW version: 2024.14.6. Autopilot was not engaged. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving with the adaptive cruise control on, the vehicle suddenly braked. There was a large truck approaching from the other direction, but it was in its lane. There was no present danger. The hard breaking could have caused the following car to rear end us. It happened more than once, but this was the most dramatic braking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | FSD Stops in front of oncoming traffic. The car stops at a two-way stop sign. It pulls out into the intersection and detects traffic heading my way. It stops right in the middle of the oncoming traffic and just sits there. The oncoming traffic was moving about 50MPH. I had to hit the accelerator to get out of the way. FSD SEEMS TO WORK WELL 99% OF THE TIME. THE OTHER 1% MAY GET YOU KILLED. FULL SELF-DRIVING MODE. Tesla sent me a 30-day trial. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | During two hour trip I experienced at least five incidents of so called Fantom Braking, when car engaged in Autopilot or adaptive cruise control brakes suddenly for no apparent reason. At least two time during this trip, the braking was really hard. This is very dangerous conditions and could result in serious accident if someone closely follow the vehicle. I had to keep my foot on the gas pedal during this trip to act if necessary. I have experienced these conditions before and reported it to Tesla. They basically ignored this complaint. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | AIR BAGS | My car collided with another car and a fine white powder was released but no airbag was deployed along with a slight burning odor | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 4 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| May 2024 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? >>> The passenger detection hardware underneath the front passenger seat had faulty wiring. The repaired hardware completed by Tesla this week is available for inspection upon request. I did take amateur photos of my seat hardware before-and-after repair. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? >>> MY PASSENGER'S AIRBAG COULD RANDOMLY FAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRIVE. Anywhere from 10 seconds to 10 minutes while driving with a damp passenger in the front passenger seat (e.g., a 100 lb. person after swim practice), a red airbag indicator will assert with error code rcm2_a636 ("Front passenger safety restraint system fault"). The indicator would stay asserted for days, then start toggling on-and-off randomly. According to Tesla Model Y documentation, "If the airbag system detects a fault in any of the previously mentioned components, the airbag warning indicator stays on. In this case contact Tesla service immediately. Do not drive the vehicle until the airbag system is inspected by Tesla." (reference: [XXX] ) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? >>> YES! I was able to reproduce the problem WITHIN MINUTES with the loaner Model 3 given to me by Tesla (sorry, I did not get that vehicle's VIN but I wager Tesla Ridgepoint Austin TX has it). SURELY THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM! Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? >>> Yes, but only after three attempts by Tesla. Each attempt was incremental (first: cable shielding, second: upholstery, third: replace the entire seat). Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? >>> No. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | SEAT BELTS | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the car seat installed, the technician pulled on the seat belt and the rear passenger’s side seat belt buckle fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| May 2024 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS | I’ve received repeated errors of front right safety restraint system needs service with an indication of the airbags being disabled. Tesla has attempted to fix this on two occasions by replacing various wiring and seat belt parts, but the problem returns each time. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle stopped inadvertently while the cruise control was engaged with an unknown red warning light illuminated. The contact had not depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. An unknown Tesla Service Center was notified and stated that the Firmware was being updated; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the Firmware was not updated in the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 2,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| May 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I bought a 2023 Tesla Long-range Y in June 2023 at Tesla Santa Fe, New Mexico. I have had trouble with the brakes applying on their own during cruise control. It was very scary the first time it happened, but luckily there was very little traffic on the 2-lane highway I was traveling on. The Tesla dealer in Santa Fe told me they don't have a software fix yet and he simply avoids cruise control. After a few months I cautiously tried cruise control again and got away with it...but the third time, months later, it happened again. When the free month trial of Auto Pilot was installed, I did not intend to use it. Toward the end of the trial, I used it on [XXX] coming home to Las Cruces and realized it might actually auto-brake on the freeway, which could be a disaster. After that trip a Tesla friend shared his near-accident-causing experience with the cruise control braking. Another issue is that the key card didn't unlock the car, then wouldn't start the car. I called Tesla and was told I could reset the key card using the Tesla App, but it did not work. The next day I called Tesla support; he ran the diagnostics and said "oh yes, your car needs to be re-booted". He did so, and the key card worked to lock the car, but not to unlock or start it. I asked him to send me a new key card. "We sell a set of 2 for $45" (this is what came with the car). I told him I paid $53,000 for the car less than a year ago, it did not come with a charge cable, and now the key card didn't work? He looked to see if the key card was covered under warranty and found it was not. I have been unable to reach a person to speak with at either the NM dealer where I bought it or the El Paso dealer where I test-drove and attended the seminar, and have waited on the phone for exorbitant amounts of time while the bot tells me I can manage most problems on the Tesla app. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | STEERING,STRUCTURE,LANE DEPARTURE | On Sunday [XXX] I was driving to work, there was a moment where I felt the steering wheel was very stiff to the point where it felt weird and hard to control. I felt the two front wheels a bit odd, but then it went back to normal. I paid no attention to it after. As I was driving on [XXX] , my car started to automatically move to the left and I tried steering my wheel to get back in lane, but the steering wheel got so stiff that even using all my might I could not steer it. Eventually the car slammed against the cement wall three times as it spins. At the end, the police came on site and saw that the two front wheels were pulled inward. I believe it was a software/technology malfunction. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I purchased a new 2023 Tesla Model Y long range Dual motor AWD in September 2023. On March 20, 2024, while I was parking my car in parking lot of strip mall, I somehow became confused and panic. I unintentionally pressed the accelerator with some force which resulted in movement of car in speed and it hit a structure. The car failed to apply the emergency breaks before collision and hit the glass wall of a structure (dining room beside footpath) with great force and break the glass wall. Even then it did not stop after passing through the glass wall. I then turned the car on the foot path beside main boulevard road and then applied the break to stop the car. Front of the car, windshield and battery was badly damaged. The car was latter shifted to Tesla collision center. Battery damage was irreparable and needed replacement. Since the estimate sent by Tesla collision center to Insurance was very high, the Insurance decided to totaled the car. Although nobody was hit by the car and I was also safe, It could have severely injured other person or I could have severely injured if I was not able to stop the car before another collision with fast moving cars on the boulevard. This was a "complete failure of application of Emergency Brake" before the collision - important safety feature to save a life. Please report this to Tesla and send me the feed back. I do not know whether I will get compensation from Tesla for this technical fault as it put my life in danger and there was financial loss. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| May 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | Took Tesla's 30-day free trial offer of Full Self-Driving (supervised) for my Model Y. Encountered several concerning situations: 1. Autopilot failed to detect a parking barrier arm, causing acceleration towards it; fortunately, I intervened in time. 2. Merged onto the highway in the wrong lane, prompting honks from vehicles behind me. 3. Wheel hit the side road curb when making a right turn, damaging the hubcaps and tire on the right rear side. Unsure if Tesla will take responsibility for repairs, but I feel it's important to share my experience to highlight that Autopilot may not be as advanced as expected. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V051000 (Electrical System). The recall repair was performed; however, the contact stated that the warning messages "Pay Attention", and "Keep Hands on the Wheel" were excessively displayed. The contact was concerned that the excessive alerts could cause a crash because the alerts had become a distraction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving on the highway at 75mph, with "Traffic Aware Cruise Control" (aka, "Adaptive Cruise Control") enabled, a white napkin had blown into the lane ahead. This caused the car to slam on the brakes, and rapidly reduce speed to 20 mph, before I was able to re-accelerate back up to speed. I consider this a dangerous malfunction of the Adaptive Cruise Control system (and possibly the Automatic Emergency Braking system as well) on a high speed lane on a highway, which easily could have resulted in a high speed rear end collision and injury. (Fortunately, there wasn't any traffic close behind in the the lane.) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at approximately 55 MPH on autopilot, the brakes independently engaged, and the vehicle decelerated abruptly to approximately 12 MPH. The contact stated that there were no obstructions, or oncoming vehicles on the roadway during the failure. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 18,000 |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving from Asheville NC to Maryland on [XXX] using auto pilot driving 74 on 70 speed limit on the left lane of two lane highway and all of sudden the Tesla slam on the break to speed of 15-20 miles. There was a car on the right shoulder trying to merge to the right lane about 20 ft in front of us when this happened. My wife and daughter were in the car and we were all shocked on what happened. We were so lucky that there was no one behind us otherwise serious injuries could have happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Vehicle was on autopilot. Pulled out of driveway, hesitated, and then accelerated into a parked car. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While having Autopilot on, Tesla’s version of adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, vehicle suddenly breaks while driving at 65mph. The software erroneously detects oncoming vehicle shadow as an object and suddenly breaks. This has not been the issue with their Full Self driving software. Tesla knowingly has a safer, more advance software, but decided to not release them to the general public without purchase. Big safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | The "auto" setting of the windshield wipers does not work 90% of the time. It cannot sense rain properly. My grandmother's 2002 Lexus had better rain-sensing wipers than my 2023 Tesla. This is extremely hazardous in the sense that at medium speeds, when water from rain does NOT quickly evacuate the windshield, it causes a massive block to the view of all patrons in the car. Do you think it is important for the driver to see the road in front of them? It is also very dangerous because when this does not work, the quickest way to change the setting is to tap the end of the left stalk with your left hand, and then QUICKLY use your right hand to select the desired wiper speed on the car's screen. This is a dangerous task to have to do quickly when you cannot see what is in front of you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Ever since the first few miles on the car, the forward collision warning (FCW) system triggers all the time for no reason. I cannot drive the car without it triggering, and I use the car almost daily. It constantly thinks I am going to run into the car in front of me when coming to a stop at a light, for example, however I am never anywhere near running into the car in front of me. It also triggers when making a turn if there is a car parked on the curb. It thinks I am tracking straight, however my wheel is turned and I am simple following the curve of the road. These constant alerts cause me and my guests panic, and occasionally cause me to jerk the wheel in an unsafe manner for, again, no reason. Its embarrassing. This feature does not work as intended whatsoever. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |