NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Tesla Model Y. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The rear subframe wiring harness on my Tesla contains a significant design flaw that creates an unreasonable safety risk. The factory-installed corrugated protective tubing (wire loom) terminates prematurely, leaving approximately 1 inch of critical wiring completely exposed at the connector. This specific harness uses soy-based insulation, which is a known attractant to rodents. Because of the 1-inch gap in protection, rodents have been able to sever the same connector twice within a 30-day period Safety Risk: The exposed wires in the rear subframe harness are responsible for Rear Drive Unit communication / Wheel Speed Sensors / Brakes]. A failure of these wires while the vehicle is in motion could result in a sudden loss of propulsion, unexpected braking, or the loss of stability control systems. This creates a high risk of a collision, particularly at highway speeds.
Excessive inside tire wear even tough tires are not at tread wear indicator cause dangerous situation. Tesla knows of this problem. And it is designed this way with no camber adjustment to rear suspension
Parked into driveway. Placed car into park. In doing so, car suddenly rapidly accelerated into reverse until I slammed on the breaks. My son was behind the car grabbing something out of the trunk at the time. I could have ran him over if I wasn’t there to slam on the breaks!!! Car was NOT placed into reverse and accelerator was NOT pushed.
The FSD has been failing more often. Yesterday we took a one00 mile trip and the car twice tried to veer into the side cement barrier, more times than I can count. It breaks hard while we were driving over 55 miles an hour. And two times it weirded left over the double line into oncoming traffic lane.
This is about my tires, follow-up from my previous report ID 11726883 regarding inadequate original tires. Since 1. Tesla was unresponsive to my defective tire issue, 2. Discount Tire insisted on my continuing to drive until all 4 tires reached 4/32" tread depth, and 3. My local tire store, where my Tesla would get towed in the event of a flat while I'm near my home town (since the nearest Tesla dealer is >50 miles away), is unable to access the warranty on the original Continental Contact RX tires. He was originally told that they had to be worn to 2/32", I was advised to call Continental Tires Customer Service and chose the option of Warranty claims. I was immediately advised that Continental does not warranty original equipment tires. I was therefore forced to spend significant extra money at my local tire store, which does not get the volume discounts that Discount Tire gets. It is no longer practical for me to use Discount Tire, an hour's drive down the interstate, for my tire needs. It is further impractical for me to drive on tires that do not provide the safety that I need, despite the fact that Discount Tire would give a credit of approximately $50/tire once all 4 reached 4/32". I also now realize that Discount Tire is providing that credit at their own cost, despite the fact that they told me that the Continental with the TE on it (mine has a T2) is eligible for warranty rebate. They scanned my tires with the hand-held scanner and their computer indicated it was rebate-eligible, though the Warranty was for 40,000 miles instead of the 55,000 that the first Discount Tire person told me on the phone. I bought new tires yesterday at 33,002 miles. Bottom line is that both Tesla and Discount Tire are protecting Continental Tires from the unsafe original tires for (at least) the Tesla 2023 Long-range Y. None of the 3 are responsible to the at-risk public who is paying for their profits.
On the evening of April 8th 2026, my wife was driving our 2023 Tesla Model Y home in San Francisco, CA when she noticed unusual noise coming from the front left wheel area. The vehicle was otherwise functioning normally aside from the noise. The following morning, I inspected the vehicle and found a large hex bolt (Class 10.9 grade) on the ground directly beneath the car. The front left wheel was binding and the vehicle was completely undrivable — the wheel felt stuck and made grinding/scraping noises when attempting to move. Based on the bolt size, grade, and location, this appears to be a front suspension lateral link fastener that detached from the subframe. This is the same defect described in NHTSA recalls 21V-835, 22V-895, and 23V-235, involving under-torqued or improperly secured front suspension fasteners on Tesla Model Y vehicles. The vehicle had 28,482 miles at the time of the incident. There was no prior collision, impact, or road hazard event. No warning or alert appeared on the Tesla touchscreen at any point. The vehicle displayed no diagnostic message despite having a compromised suspension component.
I believed Tesla full self driving (FSD) was in effect. My Tesla proceeded at 35 miles an hour toward a stop sign and I had to manually stop the vehicle to prevent blowing the sign. It turns out that Tesla sent an email 2 days ago (April 7 2026) that notified me that FSD had been cancelled because my credit card was declined (I had to replace a card on April 7 due to a lost card). I did not see this email. There was no notification in the vehicle that FSD had been deactivated. When I thought I was engaging FSD, I was in fact engaging an autosteer mode with much lesser capabilities, essentially only acting like adaptive cruise control and lane guidance. Engaging this lesser mode is done in EXACTLY the same fashion as FSD, and any driver using it in my situation would always assume FSD was active. This problem, if not corrected will absolutely cause accidents and potentially fatalities. Tesla needs to inform the driver via the head unit that FSD is not active in an obvious, unmistakeable way.
While performing a low-speed reverse turn into a driveway, a loud clunk was heard and the driver side front wheel completely separated from alignment. The vehicle became immediately undrivable. Upon inspection, the ball joint retaining nut was found to be absent from the front driver side suspension assembly. No torque verification mark was present on the fastener. The vehicle is currently at an authorized Tesla service center for repair and is available for inspection. Safety risk: Complete loss of wheel alignment and directional control. Failure occurred at low speed in a private driveway. Had this occurred at highway speed the consequences could have been catastrophic. Confirmed by dealer: An authorized Tesla service advisor confirmed that a Technical Service Bulletin exists in Tesla’s system for this exact condition. No owner notification was issued prior to failure. The advisor confirmed the retaining nut is installed by an automated robot assembly process with no human torque verification step and no verification mark applied. Prior warning symptoms: NONE. No warning lamps, no messages, no audible symptoms prior to catastrophic failure. The absence of a retaining nut on a safety-critical suspension fastener with no quality verification process represents a systemic assembly defect potentially affecting all vehicles produced under the same assembly process.
The bolts attaching the front passenger wheel's lower lateral link to the body fell out. Luckily this occurred while pulling into a parking lot. Once both bolts had fallen out the vehicle was not steerable. There have been many instances of this reported online, but usually they occur with far fewer miles and I was not experiencing the symptoms. The day prior there was an alert stating that an alignment was needed but it was still okay to drive. I could tell there was a slight alignment issue while driving. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center and is currently being repaired.
I was parking my vehicle in my driveway, turning left to park in front of my garage and heard a loud pop. I got out, looked underneath the car and didnt see anything unusual. I later investigated by moving the vehicle and noticed my steering wheel was turning without any driver input, and heard the tires scrubbing more than normal. I got out of the vehicle and noticed my tires were not aligned, having one tire pointing to the left, and the other tire pointing straight. Then I noticed a large bolt on the ground. I called Tesla and they told me my car was 2000 miles out of warranty and would have to pay for towing and the repair. I feel the steering should still be covered under warranty.
My 2023 Tesla Model Y suddenly became inaccessible via key card and phone key with no prior warning. The tow operator successfully jump-started the vehicle with a 12V jump and it powered on — suggesting a 12V battery failure, not an HV system failure. Tesla diagnosed water ingress in the HV battery pack and HV harness, citing an isolation resistance fault and open flood port. Their conclusion escalated from "water ingress" to "vehicle submerged," with an $11,000 battery replacement recommended and warranty denied. I am disputing this. The vehicle has never been submerged or exposed to flooding. The only physical evidence provided was clean water droplets on a single HV connector — no waterline staining, no sediment, no debris, no pin corrosion. No ingress pathway (seal, gasket, or breach point) was identified. The flood port mechanism was not explained and may activate from pressure changes or seal failure — not exclusively submersion. The vehicle powering on after a 12V jump is inconsistent with catastrophic HV failure from submersion. I believe this may represent a manufacturing defect in the HV battery pack sealing system allowing moisture intrusion under normal conditions. Tesla has classified this as owner-caused damage without sufficient physical evidence. If similar cases exist across 2023 Model Y vehicles, a systemic defect may be present. Safety risk: sudden, complete vehicle shutdown with no warning — potential loss of propulsion while driving. Vehicle is currently at Tesla Service, undisassembled, and available for inspection.
This is my 10th report; it relates to 2 issues I have reported before 1. The "phantom breaking" on cruise control that I have reported a few times previously has apparently been fixed on a software update, but we were not notified. I went in to Santa Fe Tesla where I took delivery of my vehicle and got into a discussion about my disappointments with this car, specifically the tires (see #2). I mentioned my past problems, including the phantom breaking. The man was dismissive and a bit defensive and asked if I'd made an appointment. I said I'd been told several times they hadn't figured out a software fix (and even Tesla employees were simply refraining from using cruise control, which is what I did). He said they "fixed it a while ago" and he's not had complaints since then. I tried cruise control on my 45 minute freeway drive and indeed, the problem did not occur. Interesting that they knew it was an ongoing problem, didn't deal with it, and didn't announce when they finally did fix it. I do not yet know if it is an ongoing safety problem for me but I'm planning to gradually increase my use of cruise control, since most of my driving is high-speed freeway driving. 2. I asked about getting warranty rebate for my original tires that have failed at 38K miles. He said I would have to pursue that through the distributor (American Tire?) and that he'd only had 2-3 customers ever do that. He said most customers just pay for better tires. He offered to sell me another Continental tire in the $400 range and implied that I could find tires through a tire store. I went to Discount tire who can get me a rebate on only 1 of the 4 tires because it's down to 4/32" tread. The other 3 can't be warrantied until they reach 4/32"...and I've already hydroplaned/slid on the freeway in a sleet storm with wet roads. The company knowingly provides inadequate tires and does not stand behind them. This is an unacceptable safety risk and a moral outrage.
Catastrophic Axle Failure, I was driving out from my driveway when this happened. Just the day before my wife was driving on the highway, and I was driving with my two boys. I have video of the complete failure of the left driver's side axle. The vehicle was towed by the dealer and is at the dealer as we speak. There has been no inspection by the police or insurance representative. We had reported it to Tesla at our last appointment but they said they could not recreate the noise.
Rear seat belt latch won't latch. This becomes a problem because dirt and debris fall into the seat belt latch since the seat belts latches are lower than the seat cushions. Child eats something with crumbs and the crumbs fall into the seat belt latch. Over time these build up to the point the seat belt won't click in.
Vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range Complaint: I am reporting a serious safety issue involving a vehicle sold by Tim Dahle Nissan Murray in Murray, Utah. Approximately three weeks ago, I purchased a 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range from this dealership. After purchase, I discovered that the rear seat belts were not functioning. I have evidence indicating that the dealership was aware of this defect prior to the sale. This is a critical safety issue, as seat belts are required safety equipment under federal motor vehicle safety standards. The vehicle should not have been sold in this condition. Additionally, the vehicle had an issue with the right rear wheel/tire losing air. When I returned to the dealership, they failed to properly inspect or repair the issue. Instead, they reduced the air pressure in the other tires to match the leaking tire, rather than addressing the defect. After leaving the dealership, the tire again lost air. Upon inspection by another service provider, the wheel rim was found to be bent. When the tire was inflated to proper pressure, it began leaking air immediately. This created an unsafe driving condition, as the vehicle could not maintain proper tire pressure. I was forced to have the vehicle repaired by Tesla at my own expense ($1,390). The combination of non-functioning seat belts and an unsafe wheel condition placed my family, including my newborn child, at significant risk. I am requesting that this matter be investigated as the dealership knowingly sold a vehicle with defective safety equipment and failed to properly address additional safety-related issues. Also a police report was filed but I do not know how to get ahold of that it was filed with the Murray police department
I was driving on the freeway and suddenly my care start moving to the right and screen shows me the message steering alignment service recommended ok to drive. When i stopped the vehicle one of the bolts fell off from underneath of the car and I was no longer able to turn the wheels. I towed the car to Tesla Burlingame dealership, and they told me that I have to replace front lateral link assembly, nut and washer, half shaft assembly front. Even though tesla stuff confirmed my issue i the same as previous recall but because my vin number not in the list and this is wearable parts I have to pay 2000.00
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver's side seat belt retractor unit detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,581.
Nuna Exec Next car seat. I have the older version of this car seat for my older child and it works great. The new version ("Next") has an issue where the tigthening/loosening strap folds over and gets stuck, thus making it impossible to loosen the straps and remove the baby from the seat which is very dangerous for the child, especially in case of an emergency. This is not the way the item should work. I contacted the company, they sent me a full replacement. The replacement seat acts the same way, they are willing to send me another shell replacement. This is clearly a production/design issue - not a one-off seat issue.
While driving under normal conditions, without any prior impact, collision, or road hazard, the control arm on my vehicle suddenly detached. This occurred during active driving and caused an immediate loss of vehicle stability and control. The failure happened without warning and posed a serious safety risk. At the time of the incident, my children were in the vehicle, which significantly increased the danger. The vehicle had not been involved in any accident or misuse. This appears to be a potential manufacturing or assembly defect involving a critical suspension component. Tesla towed the vehicle and repaired it at no cost. However, a suspension/control arm failure during normal driving is a serious safety concern that could lead to loss of steering control and possible crash. I am reporting this incident for safety investigation purposes, as this type of failure may pose a broader risk to other drivers.
The front trunk (frunk) actuator failed due to an under voltage condition. During repair, Tesla technicians also found corrosion in the wiring harness connectors. The vehicle has been garaged its entire life and has never been exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Tesla's own service documentation specifies that underwood and underbody connectors should be protected with anti-corrosion grease during assembly. Premature corrosion on a grade vehicle at 78,000 miles suggests a manufacturing defect in either the harness materials or the factory assembly process. Repair cost $860.20, partially offset by a $200 goodwill credit. A non-functional frunk also represents a potential safety concern as the hood latch mechanism is part of vehicle safety systems.
I was driving home with Tesla FSD engaged, and my right turn was approaching. Since the Tesla did not activate the right turn signal on its own, I turned on right indicator manually while FSD was still engaged. But FSD changed the lane to the left and accelerated, and rear-ended the vehicle in front of me.
Incident Date,March 07, 2026] Current Mileage, 31625 miles I am reporting a catastrophic structural failure of a safety-critical suspension component on my Tesla Model Y. Upon inspection, I discovered that one of the bolts securing the driver-side lower control arm has completely detached and fallen off. A second bolt is approximately 50% loose. This has caused a significant safety hazard, as the control arm is no longer properly secured to the subframe, leading to a high risk of total steering loss and wheel detachment while driving. Furthermore, when I contacted Tesla Service, they demonstrated extreme negligence by instructing me to drive the vehicle in this lethal condition to their service center. They also initially refused to cover the towing and repair costs, claiming it was not a factory defect despite the clear evidence of fastener failure (improper torque or thread locker application during manufacturing). This is a clear manufacturing defect that poses an immediate threat to the driver, passengers, and other road users. I am requesting NHTSA to investigate this batch of Model Y vehicles for suspension fastener integrity issues to prevent potential fatal accidents.
We were driving on the freeway when my son started screaming to a point we had to get over and stop to check what was going on. His arm got stuck in the forward facing belt path and he couldn’t get it out. I had to get him completely unbuckled in order to take him out of the seat sideways as otherwise I would have pulled the arm out at the shoulder.
My wife was driving our Tesla Model Y when she suddenly became very lightheaded, headache and had trouble breathing. She also noticed a strong chemical smell coming from inside the cabin. She rolled down the windows and the smell started going away immediately and she began to feel better. She felt it was unsafe to continue driving so she pulled over and we had the car towed to a Tesla service center. Tesla inspected the vehicle and confirmed there was an unpleasant smell coming from the air conditioning system. They cleaned the evaporator with foam cleaner and replaced the cabin air and HEPA filters. They told us there were no leaks and considered the issue resolved. We do not believe this fully explains what happened. A dirty evaporator or old cabin filter does not cause someone to become lightheaded and struggle to breathe while driving. The chemical smell and physical symptoms our wife experienced point to something more serious that was never identified. The HVAC system and evaporator are available for further inspection. No warning lights appeared before or during the incident. Safety risk: The driver became lightheaded and had difficulty breathing while operating the vehicle, making it unsafe to drive and requiring the vehicle to be towed.
Hello, I am reporting a safety issue with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system on my 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle has been taken in for service four separate times for this issue. During these visits, Tesla service technicians were able to reproduce and confirm the problem. I have been explicitly advised in writing by Tesla service not to use the Full Self-Driving system due to safety concerns and to use standard AutoSteer instead. While FSD is engaged, the vehicle exhibits dangerous and unpredictable behavior, including: Crossing over double yellow lines into opposing traffic, Driving significantly below the speed limit (e.g., ~4 mph in a 25 mph zone), Stopping in the roadway without any traffic or obstructions, Swerving within the lane while attempting to maintain position, Hesitation during turns, stop signs and at intersections. Tesla has attempted multiple repairs, including replacing steering-related components and multiple cameras across separate service visits. These repairs did not resolve the issue. At my last service visit Tesla has since indicated that the problem is likely software or firmware-related and that there is currently no available fix, with a recommendation to wait for a future update of an unknown timeline. If their statement is correct, this issue should be affecting every vehicle out there on the same software. At this time, I have been advised not to use a system that controls steering, braking, and acceleration due to safety concerns, and no timeline or resolution has been provided. I am submitting this complaint because the system behavior presents a potential safety risk to myself, passengers, and other drivers, and the manufacturer has not provided a current fix despite multiple confirmed service visits. I am attaching my last service invoice only in regards to this matter where they indicated to not use FSD, but I can provide other documentation showing the replacement of cameras and steering parts as well as videos if needed.
While driving, the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, making a loud screeching sound. The sound persisted when the vehicle was made to drive. Checking underneath, I noticed a large bolt fell off. Along with the noise, the suspension also felt very stiff while driving forward. In any case, the car coming to a halt all of a sudden in the middle of the road is a life threatening experience and needs to be looked at.
On February 23, 2026, I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model Y under normal city conditions. While parallel parking at very low speed, I suddenly heard a loud metallic bang from the driver’s side of the vehicle. Immediately afterward, the vehicle lost mobility and the steering wheel became unresponsive and would not turn. I exited the vehicle and observed a detached metal suspension component and a bolt on the ground underneath the driver’s side. The vehicle was not drivable and required towing. I contacted Tesla Roadside Assistance through the Tesla app, and the vehicle was towed to Tesla Service Center in Coral Gables, Florida. At the time of the incident, there had been no collision, no impact with a pothole, curb, or road debris, and no prior warning signs or noises indicating a developing issue. The failure occurred suddenly during a low-speed maneuver. Tesla Service initially indicated that the vehicle was under warranty and that repairs would be covered if no external impact was found. However, after inspection, Tesla attributed the failure to an alleged “external impact” and declined warranty coverage, providing an estimate of approximately $4,000. After involving my insurance company, the vehicle was inspected by a Tesla-certified repair facility, which found significantly more extensive damage to the suspension system, estimating repairs at approximately $11,000. This incident represents a sudden and complete failure of suspension components resulting in immediate loss of steering control. Such a failure poses a serious safety risk, particularly if it were to occur at higher speeds, as it could lead to loss of vehicle control and a crash. I am reporting this issue as a potential safety defect involving suspension component separation and steering loss in a 2023 Tesla Model Y.
Front Control Arms were replaced in January of 2025. I replaced all 4 tires and during the alignment on February 18, 2026 the technician reported to me that the front control arms were beginning to crack. He told me it is a known issue on Tesla model 3 and model Y. I have set up a service appt to address the issue again. Of note, Tesla service centers refer to control arms as "links" which is very deceptive on the service receipt.
like many have mentioned, the control arm bolt came off or broke. [XXX] / [XXX] / [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On January 29, 2026 my 2023 Tesla Model Y was serviced by Tesla for windshield repair and routine maintenance. Within a week after the service visit, the vehicle began displaying a service warning message on the dashboard. I contacted Tesla and was advised to bring the vehicle back for inspection. Before I could return to the service center, while slowly reversing out of my garage, a large bolt fell from the vehicle and the front left wheel assembly dropped, causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. Tesla service later confirmed that a bolt from the front suspension link assembly had detached, resulting in damage to the front halfshaft, steering gear, wheel speed sensor, and other related components. The vehicle had approximately 38,000 miles at the time of failure. This appears to be a critical suspension hardware failure. If this failure had occurred at highway speed it could have resulted in loss of vehicle control and a serious accident. The vehicle had been serviced by Tesla shortly before the incident and had displayed a warning message prior to the failure.
The vehicle has a phantom breaking problem. It does that 3 times daily on the same route in the same place. This is a big safety flag. It has the same problem on the Autopilot & normal cruise control.
When I backed the car out of our driveway and turned the steering wheel to go on the street in front of our house, there was a loud scraping sound and the car was stuck. Thinking that it could be ice or something, I tried to drive it forward but the same thing happened. Straightening the steering wheel helped but I stopped and checked. The control arm of the suspension had dropped and was scraping on the ground. I called Tesla who asked me to stop driving and had it towed to their repair facility in Sterling VA. Without even putting it on a lift, they told me there was too much damage and they would not fix it under warranty - despite me saying multiple times that the control arm of a car's suspension should never drop and it is a manufacturing defect/issue. Finally, I filed a claim with my insurance company and had the car towed to a Tesla authorized repair shop. They did an assessment and estimated over $24k for repairs. At this point the insurance company deemed it to be a total loss and asked me to take my personal belongings from the car so they could have it towed to their shop/location.
I was driving with the car in Autopilot in the center lane of the highway. I could see a white vehicle move close on my right, and I confirmed that it had crossed over into my lane with both its front and back left wheels on my Tesla screen with a quick glance. I then tried to maneuver to the left lane (which my screen showed was clear) but the steering wheel had significant tension. All of a sudden, I heard the chime signaling that Autopilot disengaged, the car jerked hard, and my car was headed toward the median. I swerved quickly to the right and hydroplaned. As I straightened out, my vehicle hit a vehicle in the right hand lane. The strong tension followed by jerk and quick release of tension prevented me from having full control of my vehicle. I believe that if Autopilot had not been engaged, I could have safely moved into the left lane with control. The police arrived but I was very shaken up and simply said I swerved to avoid a car in my lane but in retrospect wish that I had gone into detail. I’d also like to note that I have a clean driving record, was not in a hurry, did not have loud music on, had both hands on the wheel at 10 and 2 o’clock, and was focused on the road.
While dropping to school in my Tesla Model Y on [XXX] , I experienced a severe safety incident. A lower control arm bolt on the driver's side came off, causing the suspension to collapse. Before this, I noticed symptoms consistent with reported Model Y issues: rattling, clunking/popping noises, particularly when driving over bumps or turning, and unstable steering. This appears to be a manufacturing defect, similar to previous recalls for under-torqued bolts. I am reporting this for investigation to ensure Tesla takes prompt action to prevent future, potentially dangerous incidents. Currently it is towed to telsa service center to resolve the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Safety complaint: intermittent uncommanded rear-seat folding while driving; rear (3rd-row) seat belt anchorage integrity. Issue 1 — 2nd-row right seat: Since the purchase, the right-most rear passenger seat in the 2nd row intermittently activates its seat-folding motor while the vehicle is moving. In each event, a passenger was seated in that seat with the seatbelt fastened. The motor engages (audible whirring), and the seat attempts to fold fully forward; the passenger’s body prevents a complete fold, so the seat partially collapses while occupied. This has never occurred when the seat is unoccupied. The most recent documented event times provided to the manufacturer for electronic log review (CST): • Fri Jan 23: 7:40 AM; 7:41 AM • Mon Feb 2: 7:26 AM; 7:29 AM; 7:53 AM; 7:54 AM The manufacturer requested these exact times to check vehicle logs, but reported they could not find evidence in the logs and could not reproduce the issue during service/test drive. Issue 2 — 3rd-row seat belts: During a service visit on Feb 3, 2026, the manufacturer found that the 3rd-row seat belt anchors were not secured to the vehicle (documented as a safety concern) and performed a repair/adjustment to secure the left 3rd-row seat belt, then validated its operation afterward. The manufacturer had also previously documented (March 17, 2025) that the 3rd-row seat belts were not properly mounted and were unsafe/operational for passengers, but took no action in March 2025. No crash, fire, or known injuries to date. Request to NHTSA: Please log and review this as a potential safety defect involving (1) uncommanded activation of a rear seat-folding mechanism resulting in partial seat collapse while the seat is occupied and the vehicle is moving, and (2) rear (3rd-row) seat belt anchorage/installation integrity, based on recurring real-world events and manufacturer service documentation.
The vehicle display flashed red and then the vehicle turned off completely while in traffic with no ability to change gear, operate the electronic door releases, or turn the hazards on. Safety was put at risk because insufficient notice of failure was given so it was impossible to get out of traffic, the vehicle could not be put in neutral so could not be pushed out of traffic, further the hazard lights could not be turned on so I had to stand in traffic waiving people around the vehicle. Because the electronic door releases didn't work, the doors could not be opened from the outside, had a front window not been open, it would have been easy to trap our child in the car. The dealer confirmed that the failure took place from vehicle logs but was unable to reproduce the problem. The dealer/manufacturer inspected the vehicle. Prior to this happening the vehicle showed warnings that power was reduced and vehicle may not restart about 20 minutes prior to the event, but the warnings disappeared after a minute. Even though Tesla confirmed the failure, they refused to diagnose the problem or fix it so the vehicle remains dangerous.
Worn or broken Bushings control arm is under warranty but Tesla service declined to cover it under warranty I have checked all reviews and feedback This issue is under warranty and free of charge by Tesla service
I am requesting an urgent review of the airbag non-deployment for my 2023 Tesla Model Y involved in a front-impact collision on [Jan 19th 2026]. Because the vehicle has been declared a total loss and may be released to salvage at any time, I urgently request that Tesla preserve and review the vehicle’s crash data (EDR/SRS) and confirm whether the restraint system performed as designed.
While making a left turn at normal turning speed, the steering system became unresponsive. The steering wheel was able to move; however, there was no corresponding movement of the front tires/wheels. The front wheels appeared to remain stuck at approximately a 45-degree left position and did not return toward the straight-ahead position despite steering input. It is also possible that the steering wheel itself became locked or partially locked during this event. As a result, the vehicle could not be corrected and collided with the median and a pillar. The collision caused the airbags to deploy and resulted in severe front-end damage, with an estimated repair cost exceeding $40,000. This steering failure occurred without warning and resulted in a sudden loss of vehicle control, creating a serious safety hazard to the occupants and surrounding traffic. The vehicle was subsequently declared a total loss.
While driving my 2023 Model Y Long Range I heard a loud grinding noise. I was able to get home and park. When I further inspected the vehicle, I jacked up the car, removed the front driver side wheel, and immediately what I saw horrified me. The "FRONT LOWER LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY" was completely disconnected from the vehicle, just hanging with a bolt missing, and another bolt barely hanging on. Upon searching the internet for issues I found several other people who had the same exact issue as me. As of now I have no vehicle to drive due to this mishap, but the bigger issue at hand is how many others are affected by this lack of workmanship, and how many accidents could be caused by the entire wheel disconnecting from the vehicle at high speed. In other vehicles I am used to seeing a Crown Nut, which has slots that allow a pin to cross and lock in place to prevent this from happening, yet here we are.
While driving my Tesla, the front suspension abruptly failed. Two bolts from a critical suspension/control arm component fell out while the car was in normal motion. There was no impact, no debris, no road hazard, and no prior service that would explain missing bolts. The vehicle suddenly dropped, and the chassis collapsed onto the wheel, causing grinding and severe loss of drivability. This failure occurred without warning. Tesla Service inspected the vehicle and confirmed the bolts were missing but could not explain how they came loose or fell out. The bolts showed no damage, and there was no undercarriage damage, indicating a structural or manufacturing defect. This was a life-threatening incident. This type of suspension/separation issue appears to be a known problem with Tesla vehicles. I request that NHTSA review this failure as it poses a significant risk to vehicle occupants and the public.
Mechanics found that the front passenger side control arm is missing and completely disconnected. Video evidence from inspection is available. How was this found and safety risk- Car lost steering control The component was inspected by my mechanic. No vehicle indicator / warnings.
The contact's dad owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated the owner opened the liftgate, attempting to unload the vehicle after a trip, when the liftgate inadvertently fell on the head near the left ear area, fracturing his skull on the left side, causing him to fall backwards and hit his head on the asphalt. As a result, the contacts dads brain bled within both fractures. The contact's dad was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the failure. The vehicle was inspected by Tesla, and advised that a power lift strut replacement part was needed; however, the contact wanted NHTSA to inspect the original part before the replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed. The vehicle remained at his dad's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that there was a faulty power lift strut and that the taigate had 1 powered strut, causing the liftgate to close inadvertently. The approximate failure mileage was 17,273.
Make/Model: Tesla Year: 2023 Component / System: Autopark system (vehicle’s automated parking feature) Description of Failure/Malfunction: While reversing under Autopark control, the vehicle collided with a parked vehicle whose door was open. No driver input was provided, and the system gave no warnings prior to the collision. The incident appears to result from a failure or limitation of the Autopark system, not driver error. Safety Risk: The vehicle moved autonomously without any driver input, creating a risk of injury to pedestrians or damage to nearby vehicles. Had someone been standing near the open door, they could have been struck. Reproduction/Confirmation: The malfunction has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by Tesla, a dealer, or an independent service center. Inspections Conducted: No inspection has yet been performed by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. Photographs of the incident have been documented and attached. Warning Lamps/Messages/Symptoms: No warning lamps, alerts, or system messages were displayed prior to the incident. The system gave no indication of a failure during the parking maneuver. Incident Details: Date/Time: Saturday [XXX] Location: [XXX] Weather Conditions: Light drizzle Attachments / Evidence: Photographs of both vehicles involved Incident report Request for preservation of vehicle telemetry and Autopark logs Additional Notes/Requests: I request that all relevant vehicle data be preserved in their original form to allow a full investigation. The incident occurred solely under system control without driver input, and I assert that responsibility lies with the system malfunction. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
UNKNOWN
The computer in my car has been undergoing short circuiting, rendering all driver safety features inoperable. This is a known problem with hardware 4 and reported many places. I was backing out of my garage and the read camera and automated braking are not functional and it is nearly impossible to see out the back. When backing out, I struck another car in the driveway, resulting in damage to both cars. Had the system been functional, visibility would have been there and the automated braking would have avoided the collision. The vehicle has been seen by Tesla and I have been told that the warranty has expired and the computer must be replaced at my cost. Tesla has replaced other computers under a recall for the same issue reported. This is a serious safety issue as without a functional computer, features such as software updates, navigation, bilnd spot monitoring, lane keeping, cruise control, all cameras (rear, side, front), autopilot, autobraking etc. are nonfunctional.
The front suspension lower 'lateral link' bolts that go into the subframe side of the lateral link fell out. One completely fell out of and was only held loosely in place by the undercarriage plastic. The other bolt (there are two holding the lateral link into the subframe) had backed out about two revolutions. This resulted in a very loud banging noise and the us having to stop the vehicle to inspect. We had to slowly drive the car back to a safe area to diagnose and temporarily rebolt this prior to getting Tesla to inspect. I have photo and video documentation that I can provide showing the incident and how I had to repair this to make the car safe to drive again. There were no warning lamps or messages on the vehicle, just a very loud banding we heard when starting from a stop and or turning the vehicle. Prior to this we heard a faint thump that we could not diagnose. Fortunately the second bolt did not come out and we did not have a catastrophic failure while driving the vehicle. Bolts were not properly torqued and do not appear to have any sort of paint pen marking to document the torqued location.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla Service Center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side upper control arm had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.
while driving in light city traffic at low speed the right front wheel developed a terrible grinding noise and would not steer properly, pulled off of the road and called a tow truck car is now at a Tesla service center waiting on repair service
I am reporting a catastrophic suspension failure on my 2023 Tesla Model Y that matches the description of Recall 22V-895 (Manufacturer No. SB-22-31-002), despite my vehicle being excluded from the official recall population. On [XXX], the front driver-side lateral link separated from the subframe while driving. Tesla Service /confirmed the separation in their repair notes, stating the cause was a "separation in the lateral link and subframe" which resulted in damage to the wheel and halfshaft. Recall 22V-895 was limited to only 26 vehicles due to a "manual torque validation" error on November 2, 2022. My vehicle's failure suggests that this manufacturing defect is not limited to the identified 26 units. I am urging the NHTSA to investigate whether the scope of Recall 22V-895 was insufficient and if a larger population of 2023 Model Y vehicles is at risk of sudden suspension collapse. This is a major safety concern. Luckily I was not on a highway and was driving around 35mph when the bolt fell off. Tesla is not responding to me with the details. They just fixed the issue under warranty and are saying, we do not know what caused the issue. Please investigate. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026