Complaint volume
1069 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
1069 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, grouped by component category.
1069 Total complaints
138 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 138 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?
138 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
1,069 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2023 | AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was going to park in front of the store at the shopping mall. before I reached the parking spot car was not slowing down automatically after releasing the acceleration pedal. I decided to use the brake (which I rarely use because the car stops automatically when you release acceleration pedal) and I really don't remember how everything happened and I might accidentally step on the acceleration pedal instead of brake, but the car was not able to detect any obstacles or objects and I ended up braking heavy metal bench in front of the store and broke into the store. I ended up smashing entire front window and drove into the store as deep as 1.5 feet breaking the liquor boxes. After this heavy impact the airbags were not deployed. My concern is into two safety issue: Airbags not deploying and car safety sensors not functioning. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | Unknown |
| May 2023 | WHEELS | Took delivery for a brand new Tesla Model Y LR 2023 on Apr 20 2023. Wheel alignment issues since the day took delivery. Opened a service request on April 24th to fix the issues. 1st appointment scheduled for May 1. Technician offset the steering wheel to fix the issue. Did not help. Rescheduled again for 2nd service on May 4th. The service technician rechecked the wheel alignment and offset the steering wheel by -1.2. Did not help and the vehicle continues to drift to the right. I need to keep applying force to the steering wheel to bring it back to the road. Tesla is not able to fix the issues and says that its within the range. I have tried other Tesla vehicles and I did not see the issue. Infact in none of the test drive cars I drover before ordering Telsa had these issues. The loaner Tesla offered me while my Model Y was being fixed had that issue. Wheel alignment is a very basic issue and if Tesla is unable to fix this, then I am suspecting there is a bigger issue with the car and are neither unable to verify nor fix the issue. They are unable to replace the car as well and are not offering any options other than saying nothing can be done. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On May 4, 2023 at 11:51am, at 602/Reston Pkwy in the area of Reston,VA Tesla Forward Collision Warning falsely engaged for a moving car in front of me at a legal speed, and having more than abundant distance between two cars. I requested a Tesla service appointment for the third time regarding faulty forward collision warning. I am attaching information about my trip captured at Tesla's mobile app at the Trip View section. Please let me know if I can provide more or detailed information. Best, regards. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I had taken my car to the Tesla Service center twice in the recent past for the same problem: My car is engaging forward collision warnings for the legally parked cars on the street. I had more than several incidents of the same problem. It creates a big safety situation by showing a moving car in front of me, and indicating that there will be a forward collision. This creates a lot of stress while driving the car, and so much confusion so that I need to give my attention to my surrounding to see where the (false) problem may be. I have reported similar incidents to NHTSA, I strongly believe you need to investigate this case thoroughly and issue a recall. I am providing a couple noted false incident with time steps to help your investigation. Please reach out if I can be of any assistance, I share my up to data contact information. Dr. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | LANE DEPARTURE | The Lane Departure Avoidance system fails to trigger consistently when crossing over the lane markings. In the rare instances when the system does trigger, neither of the 2 available modes: steering correction or alert, give a significant enough input to be made aware or correct the problem. Another issue is when the Lane Departure Avoidance system is triggered for an extended amount of time (~10s-ish or more when driving near the lane markings), the system is completely disabled for the powercycle of the car. Thus, this system is not just unreliable and useless when it does work, but also completely disabled after driving near the edge of the road for a little while without any way to re-enable it. Tesla service responded that they won't fix or correct this problem. There are no system failure notices displayed by the car. Vehicle has not been inspect by manufacturer or other. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | I purchased a brand new Tesla Model Y, I noticed that the left (driver) side mirror is shaking violently so that I can only see a blurred image while driving over 60mph. Since I don't do a lot of long distance driving I noticed the problem at our first family trip, which created a great deal of safety concern. I reported the problem to the Tesla Sterling Service Center, at my first visit the technician verified the problem and I was told this is a "common and a known problem" so my mirror was replaced under warranty. But, at my following first long distance trip I noticed the same exact problem persisting. I contacted the same Tesla Sterling Service Center. Following took place: 1. At my validation drive the technician told me he can see the problem 2. After we returned to the service center, the technician noted "there is no problem" and Tesla Sterling service center marked my appointment as "fixed, no problem". 3. I contacted the service center and expressed my surprise, explained what I heard from the technician. 4. They did do further investigation and reported a bent wheel. 5. The service center didn't fix the problem by replacing the wheel, they put the blame on me by saying "I must have gone into a pothole" by creating a good deal of damaging pressure, hence a bent wheel. 6. I asked for pictures of the wheel and the tire, and I am attaching them to this msg. It is clear from these pictures there is no external damage to the tire or the wheel, so it must be the case that Tesla must have put faulty wheels on a brand new car and shipped it to me this way.Tesla Sterling service center didn't replace the bent wheel, even though they kept the car in the service center for 6 days, indicating the wheel is not under warranty. I spoke to friends and family, I heard similar stories. I strongly believe that Tesla ships new cars with faulty wheels and Tesla needs to fix the problem. A bent wheel, which causing a mirror tho shake is a safety problem, a big one. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | SEATS | The second row passenger side seat actuator will randomly engage or disengage the seat. This was discovered while a booster seat with a child was using the seat and the seat unlatched itself while driving causing the seat back to flip forward with the child in it hitting the back of the front passenger seat. The seat actuator continued to randomly engage or disengage the seat with or without passenger or when completely stowed flat. Once the initial incidence occurred the manufacturer was notified and a mobile service visit occurred. At the mobile service visit the technician verbally indicated they've seen another similar incident report on a similar make/model with a similar VIN number. The mobile technician was not able to resolve the issue and a follow up service appointment is scheduled. The incident reoccurs randomly with no warning lamps, messages or symptoms prior. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | 1)2 weeks into owning the car had a powertrain error message which was fixed by replacing the front drive unit oil pump. 2)Static noise behind the display unit was due to the harness of the circuit not being tightened properly. 3)Left hand drive side LatheralLink bolt was loose and dropped off while making a turn. Right hand LatheralLink bolt was not tightened to the recommended torque. Lefthand driver side Latherallink was replaced and bolts have been tightened. I have updated the invoices, videos and pictures of the 3rd issue. Have requested Tesla to replace my car with a new one as I do not feel safe in the car nor do I feel safe having my family in the car. I have raised this issue with Tesla on Saturday (April 30) and have not heard back from them. I could not upload the video of the issue that I have captured on my phone in this ticket. Please let me know how to share that via an email. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Dear Sir/Madam, I was cruising on autopilot on the highway at close to 80-85MPH and the brakes were suddenly applied bringing down the speed to less than 60MPH. There were cars behind me within the same lane(fortunately at a safe distance) and there were no cars in front of me for at least a mile or either on the side. The hard brake being applied unexpectedly, even without cars or obstacles in the front or side lanes, felt very unusual on autopilot mode. I would like to get this checked as to what is causing this issue as a priority as it can pose to be a real hazard if this happens in a packed highway lane or if any other driver is driving the car unaware of the issue. Regards, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I've experienced "phantom braking" about 5 times in the last 3 months, where the vehicle automatically braked aggressively when on Autopilot without another nearby object in front of it. Some of the cases are re-producible, especially going West on Route 66 near coordinate 38.84779147045726, -77.42673470607882, where there are overlapping bridges above the highway. The aggressive braking of my vehicle caused vehicles behind me to swerve. Also, I've experienced false forward collision warnings multiple times. The most re-producible one is going down a little hill and its bumps near 38.88456462883165, -77.49153173786168 going west. The others happened when going around a circle or semicircle curves, with cars parked on the side or another car farther ahead in the circle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | STEERING | April 22, 2023, at 7:00 pm: I stepped into the car at a local store parking lot and pushed my foot on the brake to unlock the vehicle. The wheel jerked hard right and made a thud. The screen warned that “Steering Assist Reduced” with an error code ui_a020. Power steering was disabled. I restarted the Tesla with dual buttons and left it alone for two minutes, but power steering did not return. The vehicle drove but was difficult to steer without power steering. We were less than a mile away and made it home with steering difficulties. I made a service request online to Tesla immediately. At home, I restarted using the dual buttons again and left the vehicle alone for longer. This time power steering felt like it partially returned, but when turning the wheel, it was clunky: every 1/8”, a bump in the steering was felt. I’ve now discovered other Model Ys in online forums with the same issue, and they describe a similar experience that the steering feels ‘notchy.’ The vehicle is available for inspection. I have attempted to drive it a little on my block, and it feels unsafe to steer. Tesla has moved my service visit from May 2 to May 25 due to a backlog of parts. They confirmed this is a recently known issue and noted the steering rack might be replaced entirely. No one has yet inspected the vehicle; it is sitting untouched in my driveway. Aside from the screen warnings of “Steering Assist Reduced” with an error code ui_a020, no other warnings were received. The error happened on a vehicle less than 30 days old: * Model Y * Dual Motor * Plant of Manufacture: Fremont, CA * Software Version: 2023.6.11 * Delivery: March 23, 2023 * Mileage: 800 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving down the freeway on 4/29/2023 my Tesla Model Y slammed the brakes on for seemingly no reason without warning. This incident occurred with auto pilot and auto steering engaged. The day was clear and road was clear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Phantom breaking when adaptive cruise control is on. Manufacturer refuses to help and promises a software fix is on the way. No way to use cruise control without adaptive cruise control, so no way to use cruise control safely. I was pulled over today after the car decided to brake check a sheriff deputy. Lane departure warning activates for no apparent reason. Does not go away when the feature is disabled. Actively corrects for the non existent lane departure; came inches from crashing several times in 8,000mi. Tesla suggests I use an alternate route because this one is "too rough". It's an interstate. Forward collision warning activates for no apparent reason despite being set to off. Does not actively brake but it does make a startling chime. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When I use the autopilot system. The car applied automatic emergency braking abruptly even there is nothing in the front. This could result in the rear end accident. I recorded a video since it kept applying AEB. But your system does not let me upload it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | STEERING,WHEELS | Upon receiving the car the steering wheel never matched the way the wheels pointed. The steering wheel needed to be around 10-15 degrees to the right to go straight. After 3 wheel alignment's, the steering wheel still isn't straight to get the car to travel straight, but having to keep the wheel 3 degrees to the right is better than 10 degrees. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Tesla abruptly reduced speed by as much as 30 mph while using cruise control in various scenerios. @ lanes highway with oncoming traffic, divided highways with no traffic or obstacles nearby. It happened at least 6 different times while on a 1400 mile trip. There were no warnings issued in any of the occurances. I discontinued using cruise control because of this issue. I have an appointment to take the Tesla in on May 5, 2023 to correct the problem, but after researching this issue, I now know this is an ongoing problem At 2 of the supercharger stations we stopped at, 2 other Tesla drivers asked me if I had this issue, because they were experiencing it also. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | While driving down the road in traffic, several errors started appearing on the Tesla screen, and the vehicle lost power brakes and steering, rendering it impossible to drive safely. The complete set of car systems that were disabled all at once was: stability control disabled traction control disabled automatic vehicle hold disabled lane departure avoidance unavailable ABS disabled steering assist reduced (no power steering) regenerative braking features temporarily limited automatic emergency braking disabled The car is only weeks old. We had the car towed to a Tesla repair center, and they said due to a wiring issue, the wheel weight on the right rear wheel was rubbing against the wire connecting the wheel speed sensor, which led to this cascading series of errors. I'm concerned this is a systemic issue with newer Model Ys. There's a QA or manufacturing defect, and Tesla, along with the NHTSA, needs to investigate this dangerous safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | SEAT BELTS | On April 10th I received a notification from the car of a "Front passenger safety restraint system fault" and was asked to request service, which I did right away. Thus far I have been unable to receive any information from Tesla on this matter and they have not allowed me to service the car. This seems like a safety hazard from the description and I would hope Tesla would both share more information on this issue and help car owners who have received the warning. Right now it's unclear if the car is safe to drive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This is the problem know in Tesla world as "phantom braking." This happens to me frequently. I am driving on a clear road, no obstacles, and the car will brake hard for no clear reason. At best this is annoying. But there are times when it is extremely dangerous. This happens on highways and interstates at highway speeds. Drivers behind me are forced to brake hard to avoid a rear-end collision. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | STEERING | I lost the ability to steer the Tesla Model Y. After exiting the vehicle, I found a bolt on the pavement beside the vehicle (see photo) that fell out of the steering mechanism. Had this happened at high speed, a fatal accident could have occurred. We called Tesla Roadside Assistance; they responded within an hour, towed the vehicle to the repair facility, and replaced the parts and aligned the front end. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | VISIBILITY/WIPER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When driving using basic autopilot (i.e., adaptive cruise control), the windshield wipers will often be automatically activated when not needed. This is damaging the windshield, the wipers, and very distracting. It makes the car much less drivable in these conditions and a safety hazard, as I'm trying to figure out how to turn off the wipers, distracting me from the road. Happens often. Basically, the point is this: It is frequently the case that I as the driver have no control over the windshield wipers. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Car just applying brake on its own when I was driving on freeway on April 12, 2023 at 1105AM and 115PM and on April 18 at 1414PM. I was lucky nobody was following me closely, otherwise it could be a different result. I was driving at around 70 mph on cruise control. This incidents happened on Freeway 5 in southern California and the weather was nice during that time. This issue could be accident waiting to happen. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | This incident is related to the previous incident that I filed with NHTSA issue is 11514358 on March 28, 2023. I had my car serviced at Tesla service on April 14, 2023. I shared all the data and my complaint with the service center located at 22400 Davis Dr., Sterling, VA. I was told the issue is fixed. But, I had exactly the same problem: AI/Deep learning technology based Tesla Forward Collision System mistaken a 'parked on the street car' for a moving car, and it gives me crash warning, thinking that I will be crashing to a moving car. This incident happened at April 21, 2023 at 10:25am at Alder Woods Dr, at Fairfax, VA. I have other forward collision warning related mishaps, which I will be filing separately. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | When adaptive cruise control is enable, it will break abruptly when there is no danger. AKA “phantom breaking” | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2023 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | I was driving palisade parkway in NY in autopilot mode at around 65 mph. The car suddenly reduced speed to below 50 mph for no reason. This happened twice in the same trip so I decided not to use the auto pilot function anymore. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |