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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
June 9, 2025 Phantom acceleration. No foot on accelerator. Car jumped from 5 to 35 mph. Breaks unresponsive for 3 seconds, smashed into 4 parked cars, creating a Chain-Reaction crash, my Tesla Model Y Totaled, Airbags deployed. Burlington Police Department arrived, took statements, filed report, no copy yet.
The lower control arm of the passenger front wheel separated from the vehicle entirely while the vehicle was in motion. There are two bolts which attach the bushing to the front sub-frame assembly. These bolts pass through the frame and are secured into nuts which are affixed to the frame. The bolts are not captured; there is no retention device (pins, wiring) which prevent these bolts from backing out of position, other than torque. Blue thread-lock compound was visible on both bolts, which remained present in the bushing after the control arm separated from the frame. When the arm detached from the frame, it dropped to the asphalt and made a loud grinding noise. The passenger side front wheel became directionally unstable and rotated inward and left, out of alignment with the intact driver-side wheel. This misalignment, while the vehicle was in motion, disrupted steering control and forced the passenger front wheel into the fender, causing friction and significant further damage to the frame and the suspension. This damage, combined with the driver's actions, stopped the car immediately. Fortunately, this occurred at low speed. Unfortunately, the cumulative damage left the vehicle immobilized in the middle of public road. Due to the great weight of the vehicle and the unstable front wheel, the vehicle could not be removed from the roadway and thus blocked traffic for several hours. The bolts, frame, and control arm were not visibly damaged. The bolts lost torque and backed out of the frame without noticeable indication that they were doing so. Tesla's characterization of the fault was that the vehicle "ejected" the bolts. Tesla repaired the damage under warranty. Multiple reports of similar (visually identical) events are available: [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
A suspension rod/bolt fell off my car. When I was making a right hand turn my car began screeching and shaking, I lost control for a second and almost hit another vehicle, luckily I was able to stop my car. I had my car towed to a Tesla service station for repair.
While driving, a persistent error appears on the screen with a chime: "Front left safety restraint system issue" (Error Code: RCM2_a128). After researching online, it appears this is a commonly reported issue among Tesla owners and may have serious safety implications. The error code RCM2_a128 indicates a fault in the vehicle’s safety restraint system, specifically related to the seat belt or restraint mechanism on the front left side.
Description of Incident: I was taking my family on a road trip from Disneyland back home to Chandler, Arizona when our 2022 Tesla Model Y displayed a battery issue. We stopped in Palm Springs to charge, but the battery would only charge very slowly and capped out at 32%. We brought the vehicle to the Palm Springs Tesla Service Center, where they diagnosed a failure in the high-voltage (HV) battery and stated it would need to be replaced — a process that would take about a week. Given that the car is only two years old, I found it concerning that a battery expected to last around 10 years would already need replacement. We were provided a loaner vehicle and returned to Arizona. When the repair was completed, I drove the loaner vehicle back to Palm Springs (a 5-hour trip) to pick up my car. On the return drive home, I stopped at a Tesla Supercharger in Quartzsite, Arizona, but the vehicle would not charge. After spending over 90 minutes on the phone with Tesla roadside assistance, a tow truck was dispatched and took both me and the car to the Glendale, AZ Tesla Service Center. There, I was informed — again — that the HV battery needed to be replaced. I explained that this component had just been replaced two days ago in Palm Springs, and asked for an explanation. I was not provided with any specific technical reason for the repeated failure, other than being told that the battery "just needs to be replaced again." Safety Concerns: At this point, I am deeply concerned that there may be a more significant or systemic issue with the vehicle’s electrical or battery systems that has not been properly identified. The repeated HV battery failures — combined with the lack of a clear explanation — raise serious safety concerns for my family and me, especially given how reliant the vehicle is on this system for power, propulsion, and emergency response.
We experienced an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation with Tesla Y model on [XXX] around [XXX] and would like to report to NHTSA. We were driving on [XXX] going towards Nashua and my TESLA-Y car when the steering wheel froze and I got message that front camera was not working. When I tried to steer the car in the lane, the car suddenly braked and took two 360 degree spins (turns) on the highway with cars streaming at high speed around us. We went from the left lane to the right most lane after two 360 degree spins and ended in the right lane. Luckily, no other autos hit us and I was able to take control of the car and pull over in the right lane. The incident is recorded int the Tesla's harddrive which we can make this available to you. the car started working normally so we drove back home. We have had minor control incidents with the lane assist and auto pilot systems of this car in 2023 and 2024. We have complained and showed the problem to Tesla dealer in Watertown, MA. However they said there is nothing wrong with the car. We request you to investigate this incident with Tesla and find out the cause for the car to take this dangerous breaking and spinning incident on a highway. Thanks, [XXX] and [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The primary safety restraint system, specifically the driver's side airbag, failed to deploy during a significant frontal impact collision. This severely compromised my personal safety, as my head struck the steering wheel with force, leading to injury and pain. Had the impact been more severe, the lack of airbag deployment could have led to much more serious, potentially life-threatening, injuries. Immediately after the impact, the primary braking system also malfunctioned, and the vehicle's warning and autopilot systems became compromised, posing further safety risks. The specific airbag non-deployment problem has not yet been reproduced or formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, vehicle is currently scheduled for its first post-accident inspection at a Tesla Collision Center address 6010 Richmond Ave, Houston TX 77057 on June 11, 2025, and is available for inspection. To date, the vehicle has not been formally inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives for these specific malfunctions. Police responded to the accident scene and filed a report, but no technical inspection was conducted by them. There were NO prior warning lamps, messages, or symptoms indicating a malfunction with the airbag system before the collision. However, immediately after the collision, the primary brakes failed and the warning system and autopilot system showed signs of malfunction/disruption; no specific warning lights related to these post-impact issues appeared prior to their malfunction.
On Memorial Day weekend, my car was parked outside, and apparently back passenger window was left open, which caused the backseat area of the car to be soaked in water. We noticed that in the morning, and parked the car inside the garage, and kept the door and windows open so it could dry quickly. However, a few hours later, around 4:30 pm, the car caught fire while parked in the garage. We called 911 right away and quickly using two fire extinguishers, quickly put out the fire. The Frisco Fire Department opened up the investigation, and I believe they concluded the cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit due to water or battery-related issues. The fire incident occurred inside the garage, which could have potentially burned the entire house. However, due to the brave actions of my [XXX] , we put the fire out, but he ended up in the hospital due to severe smoke inhalation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle had a open window during rain storm. Interior got wet. Next day the vehicle was left to dry out. Vehicle caught on fire and engulfed in flames in the backseat. Nobody was harmed fire was contained by the Frisco Fire Department. Vehicle was then towed away.
•Incident Date: [XXX] •Location: Dallas, GA – Intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] •Systems Involved: Forward Collision Avoidance, Automated Driving System Description: While operating my 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range Sport in Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode at approximately [XXX] AM on [XXX], when the vehicle failed to yield at a yield sign while heading west on [XXX] at the intersection of [XXX] . A vehicle was already traveling west on [XXX] , and FSD accelerated through the yield rather than stopping or yielding. I had to apply the brakes rapidly to avoid a near side-swipe collision. The road was dry, with partly cloudy weather. Fortunately, no collision occurred. Dashcam footage was saved and can be made available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have had Supervised Full Self Driving in the vehicle for well over a year. I have used the Smart Parking feature Monday-Thursday to park the vehicle at work and it has worked flawlessly. On [XXX] around [XXX], I went to [XXX] . After entering the gate to parking on [XXX], I drove slowly. I was able to select a parking spot and tapped on it on the screen for the selection and then started the automatic parking. There were no other cars around as we were all just starting to enter the gate and park. The car began to move in reverse. It then paused turned the wheel a bit, turned it back, tried to decide what it was going to do and started to move forward. The car then drove up the curb on to the walkway and almost drove into the building. I was able to hit the brake quickly to stop the process. There was no damage to the building or the car. I had never had an issue with the Smart Parking until this time. I then backed the car off the sidewalk and parked it myself. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
UNKNOWN I was driving with no Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). My vehicle took control of the steering wheel, swerving uncontrollably, almost hitting approaching cars, and a wooden electricity post. It was diffucult to keep the steering wheel steady. I struggled to pull the vehicle to the side of the road until I made a complete stop. A witness checked on me and was concerned that I had almost crashed.
The issue lies with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system 12.6.4 on HW3. While driving on roads with lower speed limits (such as 35 or 45 MPH), the vehicle occasionally brakes abruptly for no apparent reason, even when there are no vehicles or obstacles ahead. This unexpected braking behavior can be dangerous, as it may lead to rear-end collisions if the driver behind is not attentive or prepared to stop suddenly.
This started at about 65000 miles in my 2023 Model Y. The rear camera first lost picture and I received a warning that it may be intermittent. It has progressed now to the point that autopilot, navigation, all cameras, cruise control, auto headlight, and auto wipers are all nonfunctional. The car does not know its location. All safety features such as lanekeeping, cross traffic alert, auto braking are disabled. The rearview camera no longer functions. Software updates no longer complete downloading. While there are numerous reports of computer short circuits in hardware 4 cars, the only solution I am offered is to have the computer replaced at my own cost of just under 3000 dollars. And that would be warranted only for one year or 12500 miles. Reviewing the submissions on the NHTSA website as well as searching online, this problem is not infrequent. I do not feel safe letting my wife or daughter drive the car. Certain 2024 and 2025 models with this problem have been recalled for new computers. This must be expanded to include 2023 models as well.
This is my 7th report. On [XXX] [XXX] pm I was traveling home from Alburquerque and was just past Isleta Resort and Casino heading south on [XXX]. I don't use cruise control very often because of the emergency braking that occurs (and that I have reported several times before). I was on a long drive and decided to try it on a short section of [XXX] on my first day, and found that it was slowing on it's own when I approached a car from behind. Two days later on the way home, when there was no one in front of me, it slowed significantly without needing to and I thought it was better than the past rapid braking...as I was thinking about this, the car abruptly "slammed on the brakes". I was forced forward but had my seat belt on. Stuff fell off back seat onto the floor. The Igloo cooler on the front passenger floor toppled forward. I'm quite sure there would have been a accident had someone been behind me. Additionally, the car is not recording my tire rotation from 16,000 miles, and continually says the last tire rotation was at 8,000. Good thing Discount Tire keeps track, as I am now overdue for another rotation (25k+ miles). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while reversing out of the garage, the message "Camera Temporarily Not Available" was displayed intermittently. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened, and the rearview camera had become inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that a software update notification was displayed; however, upon initiating the update, the center display screen froze in the middle of the update. Additionally, the contact stated that the front and rearview cameras, the navigation system, the cruise control mode, and distant cruise control mode, the blind spot detection system, the self-driving assist system, and other safety systems were inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle appeared stationary on the center display even while driving. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla Service Center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the computer system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Driving less than 5 mph, upper and lower control arms break off, throwing front driver side body onto front driver side tire. It could’ve been extremely bad if we were driving on the freeway and even caused death.
Adaptive cruise control changes speed without warning, often when passing a truck clearly in another lane, but also for no apparent reason. This occurs an average of approximately once every 5 miles, but at irregular intervals. It slows quickly enough to be a hazard. This occurs in all modes (set by speed limit or manual).
While proceeding across the southbound two lanes of a divided 4 lane street the vehicle inexplicably braked violently to a complete stop. When stopped the vehicle was across the two lanes of the road (as I was headed for a divided left turn lane). The was traffic on the road that had to stop for my vehicle. It took a couple of seconds for the car to release the brakes and allow me to continue across the street. This could have cause a wreck if the street traffic had not been paying attention or had assumed I was going to continue as should have been expected. I had to try to hit the gear shift stock in order to get the car to continue moving, although I am not sure that the car required this action. I did not know for how long the vehicle would be immobile. I could have been injured or killed due to this "phantom braking" incident.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed with the full self-driving system activated, the message "System Malfunction - Take Over Immediately" was displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable diagnose the vehicle or duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,000.
Control arm bolts failure. As my wife was driving from a stop light making a right turn at below 10 mph she heard a loud bang. Both of the bolts connecting the control arm had fallen out onto the ground causing the wheel to fail and push back into the wheel arch. The problem has been reported to the dealer but from research and conversations with them this is fairly common. Should that have happened on a freeway it could have been catastrophic.
My name is [XXX] and I'm a 2023 Model Y owner. My car is completing 2 years on [XXX]. It was delivered on [XXX]. I've about 18000 miles. The tires were all in pretty good conditions. My touch screen did not give any low-pressure warning or any sort of warnings. On [XXX] we were driving from Charlottesville to Centreville, Virginia. After about 25 miles on [XXX], car wobbled a lot and we pulled over and find a flat tire with the side teared as shown in attachments. We called Tesla road side assistance and they said we can tow it to Richmond, VA and then replace tire next day which is Monday. We then called AAA and towed the vehicle in a truck back home to Centreville, VA. Next day Tesla road side tire team came. They checked the tire and found no nails and he mentioned that the tire still has good over 50% thread life. I asked him how this could have happened and it is bizarre and totally strange this happened as we don't have any damage on our rims or wheels. I paid 365$ to replace the tire as the technician told replacing is the only choice. A brand-new tesla that came with 4 tires - how can this happen when we have maintained and we have rotated and always maintained the recommended pressure. There was not a warning and suddenly tire became like this. We would like Tesla to arrange for reimbursement of the tire that did not last even 2 years and for the towing expenses of 370$ (attached receipt here). Reached tesla with the only email that I found online: resolutions@tesla.com and got no response in 2 weeks INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, occupied with his son in the vehicle, another vehicle collided into the front center of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to merge into another lane. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to his neck, shoulder, and lower back. The contact son sustained injuries to the neck. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to Al's Towing Yard. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The contact mentioned that the seat belts did retract. The contact stated that the failure was not diagnosed by a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact to call his insurance company. The approximate failure mileage was 30,491.
Vehicle was performing normally until I stopped and put vehicle into reverse to back into a supercharger stall. Heard a clunk when starting to back up. Car started to resist moving and front started to lift in the air a few inches. Stopped and went forward to go around and try again. Vehicle would not turn to left when going forward. Got out and noticed front passenger wheel was not aligned with other front wheel. Then noticed tie rod was ripped out of socket.
Knocking noise coming from front left tire when turning, accelerating, and reversing. Investigated noise and found a bolt hanging (unscrewed) from control arm/tie rod and another bolt loose and working it's way loose. If this bolt unscrew, I'm positive steering would be lost. See pictures.
The panel covering the driver seatbelt popped open & now the seatbelt position cannot be adjusted correctly. It appears as if the track holding the seat belt behind the panel is loose /rattling and the seatbelt system may need to be tightened down. I immediately contacted the dealer/manufacturer & Tesla wants 17 days to simply look at the issue.
This incident happened on [XXX], I just got the Tesla data and police report. Here are the events as I remembered: - I was driving my 2023 Tesla Y with FSD supervised (v13.2.8) along [XXX] entered from [XXX] and driving close to north of [XXX] without any issue - Noticed a car in front of me braking hard (about 6secs from the recording dashcam footage) - Realized FSD was not braking hard enough (or at least it did not feel like it) - Slammed on the brake for what felt like an eternity (about 2 secs from the dashcam footage) - Rear end collision on the front car at ~25 mph, airbag deployed. I remembered feeling the brake pedal vibrating but did not stop the car at all. By analyzing the raw data provided by Tesla, it is found brake, accelerator, AEB, ABS and TSC were completely messed up after FSD failed, please refer to the attached analysis report. Note: The dashcam video file and the original Tesla data are available for reviewing if any need as I cannot upload along with this report. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This is my 6th complaint about Tesla. I wrote recently when my remote drivers could not unlock my car. I solved it myself and when I got home, I called Roadside service for help re-programing the key card that failed. The person told me to call Tesla on Monday about the inability of my other drivers to unlock my car. I did that yesterday, and I told him I thought it was something wrong with my car, and suspected I needed to take it in for service. He said no, it wasn't the car but that I needed Premium Connectivity ($10/mo) in order for my drivers to be able to unlock my car. He put me on hold and came back to tell me that "it's a safety thing" so that no one can remotely unlock my car. The reason I put 2 friends in other states on my profile was for them to be able to help me, as a single woman who lives alone and takes camping trips alone. That is not a possibility. Furthermore, I asked him about the sudden braking on Cruise Control and he'd never heard of it. He uses the auto drive, that they don't call auto drive anymore...presumably because of the safety issues. I think this car needs to be recalled like the trucks were. They are not safe and Tesla doesn't care. By the way, the car has 5G, but I cannot stream my music or listen to podcasts, to which I'm already subscribed, without paying for Premium Connectivity. What a scam.
This is my 5th complaint and involves, again, the key card. This is the used key card the El Paso Tesla Dealer was kind enough to give me, and help me program, when one of the original key cards, less than a year old, stopped working. (Tesla wanted me to pay $45 for 2 new key cards) The used key card stopped functioning so I planned to call Tesla and have them "reprogram it"...something that must be done while I am in the car. I went on a last-minute trip and took my spare, barely-used key card. I also had my phone but didn't realize I'd not re-downloaded the Tesla app when I recently troubleshot my phone. Later in the day I parked at CIty of Rocks State Park in NM, still without connectivity, and locked the car with the "good" key card. Then I misplaced the key card! I called one of my 2 backup drivers and asked her to unlock and start my car for me. Her App did not allow her to do so, even though it showed the location of my car at City of Rocks...it said "move closer to the car". (She lives in CA). I had to get a ride to Wifi, download the Tesla App, and when I tried using it to unlock the car, it said "you must be closer to the car". When I got to the car, I was able to unlock and start it using the phone key. After arriving home, I used my App to get Roadside assistance and asked for a phone call when they texted to confirm my location. I explained that I didn't need service, just needed help re-programing my defective card. (I had since found the good card!) The woman on the other end was helpful but it was difficult for her also. We ended up removing the defective key from my profile, though it required a lot of work and also required the "good" key card. I have to call Tesla on Monday (it was Sunday) to get the card re-programmed. Had my difficulty been in a high-traffic or unsafe area I would have been in trouble. The "backup" drivers on my App are there for emergency access to my car, supposedly from any location.
On [XXX] I was driving North on [XXX] at approximately 70 MPH when my 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range brakes violently applied by them self twice in the space of a few seconds, the sudden unexpected brake application was a shock to me causing me almost lose control of the vehicle and was almost rear ended by a truck that was a few car lengths behind me. My car was in manual mode with the "Emergency Braking" switch enabled (no self drive or cruise control), the weather was sunny and dry and there were no traffic or obstacles in front of my car. The onboard dash cam briefly captured the incident. The problem did not reoccur for the remainder of my drive home. There was no warning prior to the incident, I believe that emergency brakes may have flashed on the screen ( not sure because I was busy reacting to the situation). The car has not been inspected as of yet. I now have to disable the Emergency Braking function each time I drive my car because unfortunately the system defaults to the on position and I don't trust it. This issue appears to be a problem with the system that provides visual information to the Emergency Braking System. I'm making this report because this is an extremely dangerous problem that needs to be addressed by Tesla before it causes injury or worse. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear left seat buckle won’t latch.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that on two occasions while stopped in self-driving mode, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated into oncoming traffic. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stopped after driving a foot. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
1. Front Passenger side wheel and auto steering system malfunctioned. Yes it is available for inspection. 2. My car was not drivable and I was stuck on the leftmost lane of highway with fast traffic passing by. Had to call 911 to move myself to safety. 3. Not yet 4. Vehicle has been inspected by the police 5. No warning lamps or message prior to failure
Front Passenger Seat Occupancy Sensor Defect – Tesla Vehicle In March 2025, my Tesla vehicle began displaying a warning message indicating a fault in the front passenger seat occupancy sensor system. I brought the car in for service on March 14, 2025, and the system was reportedly replaced. However, in April, the issue recurred — the seat sensor alarm would activate randomly, particularly after going over bumps, falsely indicating that a passenger was present when the seat was unoccupied. I returned the car to Tesla service, and they again claimed to have repaired the issue. Despite this, the false passenger occupancy alerts continued. In May, I contacted Tesla and submitted several videos clearly documenting the problem. Tesla performed a remote diagnostic and stated that the seat occupancy sensor was functioning as intended. On June 22, 2025, I brought the vehicle back in for in-person inspection. Tesla physically examined the vehicle and acknowledged that the false alarm could be reproduced in a similar model vehicle, effectively confirming a design defect. Despite this, Tesla maintained that the issue did not affect the safety or function of the front seat. I believe this defect presents two significant safety concerns: 1.The frequent false alarms are distracting during driving, increasing the risk of an accident. 2.The defect raises serious concerns about the reliability of airbag deployment and other safety systems, which rely on accurate seat occupancy detection in the event of a collision. I have video evidence and service documentation supporting the timeline and recurrence of this defect. The problem has been reviewed multiple times by Tesla service teams, both remotely and in person. Tesla has acknowledged the issue can be reproduced but has taken no corrective action. I have videos of the defect I can submit and documentation of my conversations with Tesla.
The driving wheel locked during a turn on back road and ran right into a electricity pole. All air bags deployed and the electricity pole broke. The driver was slightly injured on her forearm.
Front lower control arm bushings are torn. This was discovered at 32000 miles. Premature failure of suspension parts can create a unsafe driving condition. Currently available for inspection. But will be replaced under warranty as soon as possible.
Took my car into tesla service center for alignment and they said that i need to change my front lateral link. I asked if it was damaged by anything i did and they said no. At 31k miles this is not normal. They won't cover it under warranty. It's a critical component and can cause a major accident resulting in injury or death.
Two weeks I had my model Y serviced for shaking of the car and steering wheel. They deemed the cause of the shaking due to unalignment of the wheels and they claimed to have fixed the issue. After receiving the car for the week after it began to make a sound of something hitting every time I made a U turn or any time I turned the wheel. While driving 3/8 with my family in the car I made a U turn in a parking lot and heard the same loud sound of hitting. When I went to check two large approximately 3 inch bolts were on the ground but no nuts in sight and my control arm broke the bottom plate and was completely unattached from the car. Thankfully the bolts came off while in a parking lot and not 20 minutes prior when I was driving on a windy road. Within 24hours Tesla contacted me saying my car was ready for pickup without any explanation of why the bolts came off, No full inspection completed for other issues and no alignment of the tires. Under the Tesla mechanic notes they only reinstalled the bolts and tightened the front wheels and not the back. Upon further research online I have found numerous other people complaining of the same issue of the bolts for the control arm falling off on Model Y and 3 Teslas due to forgetting to weld the bolt nuts to the sub frame.
My wife was driving the car on March 7th 2025. Before she leaves the house, she had her front defroster on and the windshield was clear before she leaves the house. 5 minutes later, the front windshield became so foggy to the point she could not see anything in front of her and the front defroster was still on. And because of that so foggy windshield she moved out of her lane with no lane departure warning or anything and then she hit the railway pole without any emergency brakes going off or any warning signs letting her that she is about to hit something. The whole front of the car was gone and the car was totally lost but no airbags deployed at all and that was also concerning. Also there was no issues or any warning lamps or messages before the loss. The car was taken to a body shop and was inspected by the body shop and I believe a representative from my insurance company went to inspect the car at the body shop. So these are the parts I felt faulty or causing the safety concern: - front defroster - automatic emergency brakes - lane departure warning - forward collision warning
3/5/2024. Upon startup, car does not have power steering. Error code UI_a020 on screen and steering wheel very difficult to move as car reverses. Put car back into park and arranged for alternate transportation. Manufacturer advises "monitoring and reporting back when/if alert re-occurs"
Rear AC fails or does not turn on reliably, even with proper settings and a child in the back seat. • I live in Texas; inside temps can rapidly become dangerous, and a child’s body heats several times faster than an adult’s, increasing the risk of heatstroke. • The vehicle is under warranty, yet the defect remains unresolved and directly affects the safety of a restrained toddler who cannot move to cooler air
My Tesla has a water leak through the liftgate, which is often caused by water ingress through the liftgate assembly. Tesla issued Service Bulletin SB-23-10-003 regarding this issue. When I contacted Tesla for service, they said my vehicle's VIN is not covered under this service bulletin, and I need to pay a service fee. The service bulletin mentions that vehicles built in Fremont, CA, are affected. Additionally, the rear light is constantly clogged with water, even in 80-degree weather. Furthermore, there is an air leak on the driver’s side door whenever the vehicle is moving in the next lane. Tesla says this is not covered under warranty. I paid a service fee for the repair, but it is still leaking. I requested them to take another look, and they are sending me a bill again. Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tesla remotely disabled my vehicle twice (February 28, 2025, and March 6, 2025) without prior notice, legal justification, or a court order. February 28, 2025 – Tesla Disabled My Vehicle for 3 Days My Tesla Model Y was remotely locked without warning, leaving me stranded and unable to use my vehicle. Tesla refused to provide a reason or reinstate access for three days. March 6, 2025 – Tesla Disabled My Vehicle Again & Attempted Repossession Tesla again remotely disabled my vehicle, then sent a tow truck for repossession without legal notice. I called the police, who confirmed Tesla had no legal repossession order. Tesla refused to restore access, forcing me into a coerced “voluntary surrender.” How This Posed a Safety Risk I was stranded in public locations without notice or transportation alternatives. Had the vehicle been in motion, this could have caused a road hazard. Tesla’s lack of due process denied me the chance to dispute the action before losing my vehicle. Confirmed by Law Enforcement & Tesla’s Own Records Police intervened on March 6, 2025, and confirmed Tesla had no valid repossession order. Tesla has refused to provide written documentation or a legal explanation for these actions. Regulatory Concerns Tesla’s unilateral ability to disable vehicles raises serious consumer safety issues: What prevents Tesla from disabling vehicles arbitrarily? What legal safeguards exist to protect owners from unjustified manufacturer lockouts? Should federal law restrict Tesla from disabling vehicles without court approval? Request for Investigation Tesla’s remote disabling practice endangers consumers and should be urgently investigated by NHTSA to determine if federal safeguards are needed.
The two bolts securing the lower lateral link of the front passenger side loosened and dropped out in 14 months of the car ownership, causing the lateral link detached from the subframe of the car. The car makes loud noise when turning, poses danger of suspension failure and possibly loss of control on freeway driving. I have scheduled a service appointment with Tesla service center and see if they can fix it.
The seatbelt does not latch in the buckle.
I am submitting a complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete power loss while in operation, creating a hazardous situation. Below are the details of the incident: •Component/System Failure: The vehicle’s electrical system failed, leading to a shutdown. The following alerts were displayed on the screen: •VCFRONT_a191: Electrical system power reduced – Vehicle shutting down •VCFRONT_a192: Electrical system unable to support all features – Switching off features to conserve energy •BMS_a151: Vehicle may not restart – Service is required •DI_a227: Please wait while high voltage system powers up •Safety Risk: The unexpected shutdown posed a serious safety risk. If this had occurred in high-speed traffic, it could have led to a crash, endangering my safety and that of others on the road. •Reproduction of Issue: The issue has not been reproduced yet, but it is an ongoing concern. I have not received a resolution from Tesla at this time. •Inspection by Authorities: The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Tesla, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. However, I am willing to make it available for investigation. •Warning Signs: There were no prior warning signs before the failure. The alerts appeared shortly before the vehicle lost power completely. This issue raises concerns about the reliability and safety of Tesla’s electrical system. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter to prevent potential accidents caused by similar failures in other vehicles.
This is my 4th safety report about the same issue: unexpected braking while on cruise control. Since my last report, Tesla offered another free month of auto pilot but I did not take it for fear of this braking issue. On Tuesday [XXX] I was returning to my home in Las Cruces NM from Colorado. I was on [XXX] toward Albuquerque, and there was very little traffic. I decided to see if I could get away with the cruise control. As I was pulling into Bernalillo, there were some oncoming cars in a left-turn lane at a signal, and my car braked automatically...enough to lurch me forward. I decided to stop at the "new" Tesla dealer in Bernalillo (I got my car in Santa Fe) and ask about the automatic breaking and whether they'd fixed it. The 2 service employees looked at each other and one said "No". I then asked about whether I needed to re-boot my key card since my screen went blank while I was in CO, during a snow storm, parked. I luckily had my phone and on the Tesla App, under Roadside Service, it gave me the option to re-boot the screen! I did so. The serviceman said he didn't think the blank screen had anything to do with my key card, but I could re-boot it if I want to. (A prior complaint also reported the failed key card in less than a year and Tesla's unwillingness to replace it). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tesla offers a "Smart Summon" as part of a PAID feature of Full Self Driving. I have used this feature many times without issue. In this incident, it failed to detect a support column next to a parking spot and while pulling out, it turned right and collided with the pole causing damage to the vehicle. Tesla refused to take responsibility for their feature failing.
My Tesla model Y rear passenger window on the right side exploded, and glasses were shattered on February 14, 2025. I was driving on [XXX] and near the exit of [XXX] at approximately 11:40AM.,I was driving at approximately 65 mph. I heard an explosion sound at the back. The noise was very loud and sudden, and I was startled and distressed by the sound, and my eardrum was in pain due by the loud sound and the rush of the wind to inside my vehicle. I took my car to a Tesla svc center at Santa Clara . Tesla service center made me paid for the repair for $339.06. I am very concerned about the safety issue, fortunately there was no passenger at the back, otherwise the passenger could be severely injured. The weather was cloudy and the traffic was light. I found an article on the Internet - There were another similar incident about the rear right window explosion. There were no vehicles adjacent to my car while I was driving. I would like to express my concern regarding the potential safety implication of this incident. I urge your organization, investigate whether this issue is isolated or a part of broad pattern that may affect other vehicles. This left me a dark shadow while my driving now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While driving heard a noise from front end. As I turned right the steering wheel turned left in opposite direction. I heard something fall and found a bolt that fell off the car control arm. I managed to get the car back to my garage and called Tesla service. They say it needs an alignment and are going to charge me for this repair. A bolt should not be falling off the vehicle.