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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact discovered cracks on the front-end structural casting. The contact stated that some cracks went through the structure and were close to the strut mounts, which might lead to a failure with the suspension. The vehicle had been taken to Tesla (2710 S Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22206) and Tesla (8500 Tyco Rd, Vienna, VA 22182) on five separate occasions; however, no repairs were made. The contact was assured that the vehicle was safe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH with Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking and decelerated to 50 MPH before releasing. The contact stated that he was overtaking an 18-wheeler at the time of the failure. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure had since become a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 450. | Crash: No Fire: No | 450 |
| Aug 2023 | SEAT BELTS | Car seat belt sign is on when there is no one sitting in passenger seat . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING | While driving the steering locked up and driver was unable to turn in either direction | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Forward Collision Warning (FCW) throws false positive alerts every time. The sudden false warning notification takes the attention of the driver away from road even though there is no reason for the driver to be alerted. This is a safety hazard as driver can make unnecessary mistake due to the false warning chime. FCW throws warning chime even when there is no vehicle ahead, or there is a vehicle coming in from the opposite lane or when the vehicle ahead takes a turn etc. Tesla insurance is also monetising a faulty beta version of FCW (released to all users) by penalising driver with false warnings in real time driving analysis and thus increasing insurance premiums. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The front aero shield under the car broke off after driving over water on the road. It was a very rainy day and impossible to avoid. We started hearing I scraping noise after driving over the water (2-3” deep) and the part ripped off when backing up. Seeing that Tesla has had this issue before* with their Model 3s, I’m worried it might be an issue on their Model Ys as well. * SB-19-12-001, September 25, 2019 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle's rear drive unit failed suddenly while traveling on a highway. Rapid deceleration with only seconds to react has created a hazardous conditions for the driver and those around him. Throttle was unresponsive. Tesla confirmed the failure and replaced the rear drive unit with a "remanufactured" part. Follow warning/fail codes were shown during the incident: APP_w009, DIF_a062, BMS_a170 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Concern: The "Autopilot" system in my 2023 Tesla Model Y AWD LR has shown diminished performance, particularly in adaptive cruise control, compared to the 2018 Model 3 RWD Long Range. Account: I aim to notify NHTSA about a concerning "Autopilot" behavior in my 2023 Model Y AWD LR. I am comparing this to the performance of my previous 2018 Model 3 RWD Long Range, driven under similar conditions. Incidents: Near Accidents: During commutes, my Model Y AWD LR frequently doesn't slow timely. In some cases, I've had to override Autopilot and brake abruptly to avoid collisions by risking letting the car either fail to brake fully or slam on the brakes so hard. The car's sudden deceleration at the last moment is concerning as it is not only a dangerous scenario for myself and my occupants, but also other drivers behind me, who might also crash. Conditions: These instances took place during daylight with a spotless vehicle, ensuring no camera obstructions. Settings: I set the distance threshold between levels 4 and 5 and ensured the speed was no more than 10 mph above the speed limit. Lane Keeping: The lane-keeping function is efficient. However, adaptive cruise control's reliability is questionable. Sensor Absence: The 2023 Model Y lacks radar and USS (ultrasonic sensors). This could be affecting the performance drop I've noticed. Accidents: Due to these issues, I've narrowly missed three accidents just this week alone, endangering my safety and others. Conclusion & Request: While Autopilot should enhance safety, my experience with the 2023 Model Y AWD LR suggests otherwise. This unexpected performance dip, especially with supposed hardware upgrades, is alarming. I urge NHTSA to investigate this issue swiftly. Given the popularity of this model, many drivers could be at risk. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING | Power steering failed for unknown reason. Operating the vehicle without functional steering made turning through traffic dangerous. The vehicle is now at the Tesla service center for diagnosis. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Automatic emergency braking activated without any car in front. The car came to sudden stop. Acceleration was disabled. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | When placing foot on brake to shift into gear, vehicle goes into multiple faults and disables all safety features. Also mid drive vehicle loses power steering and cause unsafe driving conditions. Brakes also start to behave erratically when this occurs. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Today at 8:30am while Driving, my brand new Tesla: the touch screen went completely BLANK. I did not know how fast I was going. I was beyond scare. The safety FAILURE of this car is at its limit. What's next? The screen was blank the entire time while driving to a safe destination in Pasadena, CA. While I pulled over, I still had no way of know whether the car was in park, I could not control any devices as the screen was blank. (BLACK SCREEN). I called my husband who is a techy and he told me to hold down the two buttons on the steering wheel for 15 secs. which did reset the touchscreen. This car has too many BUGS and I do not want to die in this car. I can't pull over safety on the freeway all the time nor do I want to wait and see what happens down the road. I do have an appointment TOMORROW for something completely different (the dash cam ) but have been in contact with TESLA through the text portal and they have been made aware of my issueS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS THE CAR IS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD. MILES ON THE CAR 7,656 THERE IS A LEAK IN THE TRUNK CURRENTLY. THE DASHCAM DOESN'T WORK. The dash cam will turn on if the glovebox is open but it doesn't always work, however when the glovebox is closed it does not work at all. There is a list of problems and I hate doing this. $70K 6 months of waiting for what, a darn LEMON of a car. Last thing I want to say: I do NOT WANT to DIE IN THIS CAR. I'm not religious at all, but I DO NOT WANT TO DIE as this car doesn't seem safe. 7 months into owning it and man does it have problems. I don't know what more to say. I have contacted a lawyer to see what can be done. Mr. [XXX] from Woodland Hills, CA, appointment is on Wednesday. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while attempting to make a left turn, she became aware that electric power steering (EPS) system had failed. The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V204000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 2,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING | Had my vehicle for under 1 month. I was driving on a busy highway and the steering wheel completely seized up. It was unable to respond to turns or even curves in the road. Luckily, I was eventually able to pull over gradually, stop the car and contact roadside assistance. However, this was a very dangerous condition that could have cause multiple fatalities, including my own. Tesla replaced the steering column and sent me away without explaining the cause of the condition. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | While I was driving my car earlier today, my Tesla Model Y experienced an unexpected steering freeze right in the middle of the freeway. This incident occurred while I was accompanied by my 2-year-old son. Initially, I was quite alarmed and attempted to exert force to guide the car towards the slower lane, but unfortunately, the steering remained unresponsive. After trying the brakes a few times and executing forceful maneuvers, I was fortunate that the steering finally began to respond. Thanks to these actions, both my son and I are safe and well today. It's worth considering the safety implications of Tesla vehicles on the road, and some individuals believe that the NHTSA should intervene by imposing fines and addressing the use of the autopilot feature promptly. Thanks Dr. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was trying to make right turn from Mcdonald's but suddenly, unintended acceleration, Tesla went into the intersection and hit the other side of car. - The emergency brake did not work and as a result of the accident , there was a severe damages in the front of the Tesla. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving along Hwy 37/151 between San Antonio and Mission, Texas. The trip is long straight and flat highway. During the round trip, my Model Y had 5 episodes of phantom braking. Twice in auto-steer mode and thrice under regular cruise control. In each case there were no cars within meaningful proximity, and no debris or other obstruction that should trigger the brakes. In every case the car was running at 60-80 mph, and the braking ranged from light to near emergency stopping force. The incident that prompted this report was when I was crusing at 80mph when the brakes engaged. Within seconds, my speed dropped by nearly half in what seemed like a couple hundred feet. The car responded to my immediate use of the accelerateor, so I don't know how close to a stop I would've come. Had this happened with a car close dehind me I would have absolutely be struck by it. I know that it is a known problem, but I wanted to add my car to the list of effected vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. As a result, the vehicle jumped the curb and crashed into a barrier wall. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A Police report was not filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,800. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 1,800 |
| Aug 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | On 2 occasions, my 2023 Tesla Model Y, accelerated more than expected with the slightest pressure to the accelerator pedal. No one was injured and no damage done, however, damage and injury COULD have resulted if this happened at a different place and time. At this time, I have not contacted the dealer as recent Google searches revealed other such complaints having been reported. The outcome was determined to be driver error each time. This, because the vehicle has no way of recording speed at time of accelerator depression. The acceleration was NOT in proportion to the surprise result, instead a "spurt of speed" rather than the slower anticipated speed required when pulling into the garage or into a parking spot. These 2 episodes occurred after a time of, what could be considered, a normal day of driving, parking, stopping and accelerating at intersections, in parking lots and regular street driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | STEERING | Steering assist reduced. Notification on screen alerted me. Could not turn steering wheel to make turn while in a Chick-fil-A drive thru. Needed to park car and shift to drive a couple of times before I could eventually make the turn. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I have had at least 7 incidents of phantom braking when using adaptive cruise control. There were no vehicles (or other obstructions) in front of me or vehicles along side me when the cruise control resulted in braking and, in some of the incidents, sharp/rapid deceleration that could have caused a serious accident if another vehicle had been following close behind. This happened on several different dates while on a road trip to Colorado (June 30-July 10) and another date in the following week. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1. Wireless charging extremely slow., connected charging is also slow. 2. Safety Issue (Camera): driving side left camera and blind spot monitoring camera specially sometimes stopped working automatically during driving in the highway or city, it’s pretty dangerous Specially in the highway driving. During my long drive over July 4th weekend between 3-7 July happened several times, it caused auto steer mode forced disengage 3 times. occurrence 8/8 between 12-3 am it happened about 6 times. It happens on and off almost everyday in some part of drive. 3. Safety Issue Phantom Braking, in Auto steer, brakes are suddenly getting applied when even are no objects in the front of car for no reason. Aug 4, it happened about 4 times between 7-9 am.(around 7:30-7:40)Due to this big accident in the highway could have happened with Truck, as Truck was in normal speed 65 mph and due to sudden brake, vehicle speed came down to 35-40 mph, took control and move car out of road avoiding accident. This happened earlier instances as well during driving in the highways. But this time, I avoided death but got injuries. I need this car fixed for good OR a Replacement new car (preferably)OR a refund. Enough, I’m scared of driving this car afterwards, as I’m concerned about security and life risk all the time. Aug 12 braking issues happened on around 6:40 and 7:30 PST. Aug 15 braking issue happened on the highway around 7:45 and 8:15 am pst Hard to get a hold of customer service. they try to avoid Physical Service by Service Center by telling I need to provide exact timestamp and other nonsense remote debug and worst experience with the servicing. I asked for refund, no customer support no way to reach to discuss. 4. Range: Promised range for model Y is 330 m, get only 150-200 max, numbers are bloated and wrong. They tells it’s based on driving pattern and this range is based on 60-65 m/hr drive on a Flat surface, which was not told or advertised in website or during purchas. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Yesterday updated Tesla car SoftWare version with 2023.26.7. Today, I am going to work with AutoPilot mode. Traffic was slowed down and stopped and car should apply the break automatically. However it didn't apply the break or slow down the Vehicle. I forcefully applied the break still car didn't stop fully and collided with in front of the car. I strongly believe, there was a bug in. new software version 2023.26.7 | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES | While day driving on a 4 lane divided highway during light traffic, we experienced phantom braking several times. We were at the posted 70 mph speed limit while autopilot was engaged. Phantom braking also occurred when cruise control was only engaged. No problem occurred with surrounding traffic. Our car has yet to have a Tesla service center look at our car. No car warnings occurred during these events. These events occurred on July 16th and 24th, 2023 and earlier since we’ve owned this car. Thanks. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Model Y 2023 displayed Phantom braking 8/12/2023 - Driving from Phoenix to SD. Highway 238. On Auto Pilot, we encountered Phantom Braking (Speed - 65mph) on 4 separate instances and the speed reduced > 25mph. We were lucky that there was no accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |