NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Went for a tire rotation. Service tech noticed the following- THE PASSENGER REAR CONTROL ARM HAD A BOLT THAT WAS BACKING OUT OF IT & THE NUT WAS MISSING. THE BOLT HAD RUBBED THROUGH THE WHEEL WEIGHT ON THE WHEEL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE RIGHT REAR. Photo is included of the rear control arm bolts for both sides of the car. Only the right rear had a problem.
The passenger side seat heat was on and burnt the leather of passenger side seat.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 59 MPH with the Autonomous Self Driving feature activated and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate or signal while making the turn. The contact manually made the turn and then continued driving and reengaged the Autonomous Self Driving feature. The failure had occurred twice on the same day. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure through the Mobile App. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.
The forward trunk also known as the Frunk does not have the legally required interior release. I have children. I train them how to use a trunk emergency release. This car does not have one for the Forward trunk. This is a serious safety hazard.
I am reporting a safety issue with my 2026 Tesla Model Y. The rear seatbelt system has experienced three separate mechanical failures, each requiring service and replacement. The vehicle was purchased new from Tesla, Inc.. Due to these repeated failures, I have had to adjust seating arrangements for my two children in booster seats, including temporarily relocating one child to the middle seat when a side seatbelt became inoperable. The issue has since recurred on the opposite side. This pattern represents a significant and ongoing safety concern.
On full self driving, there is no way to change the follow distance and it follows way too close very often. This generates incidents that the car reports to Tesla insurance and we are penalized for something we can't always control. We also can't change our speed but I'm more concerned about the follow distance on highways. Last incident at 7:46PM on 1/25/2026.
Any time you drive my vehicle there’s either violent shaking in the brake pedal, steering wheel, tires. When you try to brake it stutters. Using FSD it failed to stop instead almost hit a pedestrian on scooter and reported the time and date to Tesla. It stuttered and thank god I was able to jam in brakes. After 9 service visit the admitted they missed something and wheel alignment was off and tires were cupped. Along with a bracket for suspension. Which has not solved issues. It scary driving this vehicle especially as a single father who has to make long trips in the weekend for hockey
Rear-end collision. My Tesla impacted the rear of another vehicle at approximately 15–18 mph. No forward collision warning observed. Owner-provided data shows AEB status as SNA. Impact is such that the car is totaled.
On January 20, around 9:35 am, Phoenix time, I had the car in self-driving mode for a left-hand turn at the intercession of Camino Real and River Road in Tucson, Arizona. A real-time view shows that it’s a tricky and dangerous left-hand turn. For the past 3 weeks, the car navigated it well, waiting until it was perfectly safe to do so. Today, however, the car moved quickly and unexpectedly into the center of River Road, narrowly escaping a head on collision with a west-bound car, and then paused, squeezed in between west and east-bound lanes when I tapped the brake and took the wheel. Everything happened so quickly. I made the left turn into the east-bound lane, but, looking back, I don’t know how an accident didn’t occur, as traffic was still moving in east-bound lanes rapidly. There must have been enough distance between two cars at just the right time, that nothing hit me.
The vehicle repeatedly [XXX] [XXX], and [XXX] displays critical safety alerts indicating failure of the parking brake and automatic vehicle hold systems. Specific error codes documented include: •DI_a246: Automatic vehicle hold disabled (Use brake pedal when stopping) •EPBL_a179: Parking brake functions degraded (Parking brake may not apply or release) •UI_a019: Parking brake functions degraded INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
New vehicle was delivered from the factory with an inoperable seat belt. After removing a trim piece, I found the seatbelt wrapped around several trim clips inside the pillar.
The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. While reversing out of a parking spot using the Full Self-Driving feature, the system turned the wheel and maneuvered the vehicle into a pole, striking the left side of the front bumper. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,803.
One only needs to google or ask an AI about "Tesla Model Y Juniper" front end suspension noises and you will find links to hundreds of complaints and at least two YouTube videos now. Based on reports from recent 2026 Tesla Model Y owners, particularly those with the Juniper refresh, the front-end noises over rough or bumpy roads at very slow speeds sound like a widespread suspension-related issue. It's often characterized as a clunk, rattle, or knocking from the front suspension, especially when the suspension compresses and unloads over uneven surfaces like driveways, speed bumps, or minor road imperfections. Youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECerCsSdEeI&list=WL&index=3 For the rubbing-type noises when turning the wheels all the way left/right (full lock), this is another frequently reported quirk in Model Ys, though less tied specifically to 2026 builds. It often presents as a grinding, scraping, or creaking sound. I had scheduled an appointment with Tesla Service, however, there are a lot of cases where the Service Center provides a repair or is supposedly removing the Pencil Braces. Based on all the repairs I've read, 1. The issues still remain. 2. Service Center's don't really seem to know how to provide repairs to fix the issues, and it seems different Service Centers are providing different repairs (they don't really have a fix). 3. There are many cases where supposedly, Tesla Service Technician's are informing customers that Tesla is aware of this widespread issue and their engineers are supposedly working on a permanent solution. I currently don't see any reason to have a Tesla Service Center tear apart my brand-new Tesla, simply to provide a temporary solution. And, if Tesla engineers are indeed working on these issues, I would rather wait. Finally, I am filling this complaint to 1. Notify NHTSA if they're currently unaware of this issue and 2. To have a record of my complaint, if it turns out I need to utilize the Lemon Law or a buy back.
the lane departure warning and lane assistance features generate numerous warning that are false. the false alarms are shocking and distracting creating alarm fatigue. alarm fatigue is dangerous. The lane assistance feature is much too aggressive. Tesla does not allow for these features to default to off. They are mandated for every start up and have to manually turned off every drive. Tesla told me, "they are working as intended." Other car makers allow you the choice of on or off. I have to go through multiple steps every single time i drive the car to remove the alarm fatigue and false steering interventions. Both are hazardous. I actually get an alarm that says "take the wheel" while my hands are on the wheel. I get numerous fantom alarms. please make Tesla release a SW update that allows people to choose their own driving defaults. thanks
Dear Transportation Safety Board: On January 12, 2026, at noon, I was involved in a traffic accident while using Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) function on the [XXX] between [XXX] and [XXX] . I am the complainant's wife. The accident was caused by a malfunction of FSD, which has had a tremendous impact on my family and my husband. He suffered a head injury, followed by intracranial hemorrhage and hematoma, rendering him unable to work. The accident has resulted in frequent cramps in his hands and feet, dizziness, headaches, and drug allergies due to the need for long-term medication. I need your help. Tesla does not state in its app that the product cannot fully drive itself; instead, it advertises that its FSD can drive independently in various road conditions without human intervention. This has misled the driving habits of many Tesla owners and caused immense harm to me and my family. I earnestly request your assistance in helping this helpless woman resolve my husband's problem. Thank you very much. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tesla driver seat folding down and moving forward automatically, especially when the driver is seated: It keeps happening when I enter the car. It might be triggered by my pressing the brake before i decide to start driving, or even while I am simply parked for a while, without giving any instructions to the seat. My searches online point to the easy entry setting.This dangerous behaviour is not part of a correct definition of easy entry. Why are sensors and stupid programming now allowed to override the safety of the driver? There is no such thing as "correctly detecting the driver or not" dangerous stupidities with older and even more mechanical driver seats, and with older versions of motorised driver seats in other cars. The seat was not empty and the seated driver gave no movement and no folding instructions to the tesla car driver seat.
Right rear passenger seat belt malfunctioned after owning the vehicle for one month. When I called the service department to discuss the issue, they said the part would take 5 days to come in. They denied me a loaner car to drive while I waiting for the part. The malfunction was confirmed by the dealership the following week and required replacement. I still cannot believe that a company who values safety, expected me to continue to drive my children in a car that had a malfunctioning seatbelt, until the part came in.
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my Tesla Model Y (2026) licence plate : [XXX] that occurred on [XXX], at approximately [XXX]. While attempting to slowly park in a parking lot located at [XXX], East [XXX] and forcefully accelerated forward. I was performing a low-speed parking maneuver and did not intentionally press the accelerator. The vehicle suddenly moved forward with very strong power and high speed, making it extremely difficult to control the steering wheel. If there had not been bushes directly in front of the vehicle, the car would have continued accelerating forward and could have caused a serious accident involving property damage or personal injury. This was a very dangerous and alarming situation. Despite my attempts to stop and control the vehicle, it continued to move forward rapidly. As a result of this unexpected behavior, the vehicle struck bushes within the parking lot. The vehicle’s response was sudden, abnormal, and completely inconsistent with a normal parking situation. This incident raises serious safety concerns regarding the vehicle’s behavior during low-speed parking and a possible malfunction of the automatic or driver-assistance systems. I am submitting this report for official documentation, investigation, and appropriate follow-up. Please let me know if additional information, vehicle data, or a formal inspection is required. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] XXX [XXX] n [XXX] [XXX] E FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving in full self driving mode on my Tesla model Y. The car stopped at the left turn stoplight as it does normally. And then while the light was still red and the cross traffic was green (traffic flowing), the Tesla released the brake, accelerating into the intersection. I stomped on the brake and kept the car from fully entering the intersection, then continue home without using Full Self Driving mode any further. If I hadn’t intervened, the Tesla would have caused an accident, injury, or even death.
Tesla Model Ys built after September 2025 are no longer equipped with an interior emergency frunk release. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 401 mandates that all new passenger cars with trunks must have an interior trunk release (49 CFR § 571.401) to allow people trapped inside to escape, a rule established after children died by getting trapped in trunks. And for the handle's identification to be illuminated (visible) under both day and night conditions, often achieved with lighting or glow-in-the-dark features, to prevent entrapment fatalities, ensuring the release mechanism is always findable by a trapped person
The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y lacks internal lighting and an internal emergency release mechanism. This creates a foreseeable entrapment hazard, particularly for children or small adults. Unlike rear trunks regulated under FMVSS No. 401 (Internal Trunk Release), the frunk provides no illuminated internal release, no glow-in-the-dark handle, and no means of escape or signaling if the hood is closed. In low-light conditions (nighttime or enclosed garages), the absence of lighting would immediately impair orientation and increase panic, raising the risk of injury or suffocation. I identified this hazard during routine cleaning when my [XXX] child was able to sit comfortably inside the frunk while it was open. Although no incident occurred, this demonstrates that a child can easily enter the frunk and could become trapped if it were accidentally closed during loading or unloading. Once closed, there is no internal method of release. While FMVSS 401 currently applies to rear trunks, it establishes a federal safety precedent that enclosed compartments capable of child entry must include internal, operable, and visible escape mechanisms to prevent entrapment deaths. The frunk presents an analogous hazard and fails to meet these basic entrapment-prevention principles. This is a design defect, not misuse. The risk is foreseeable, preventable, and severe. I request that NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation evaluate this condition, review similar complaints for this model year, and consider corrective action (recall or retrofit) requiring an illuminated internal emergency release. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
January 4 in evening my Tesla run red light. Weather is clear. It’s happened in evening at Lee Hwy and Vance Rd crossing in Chattanooga. We are coming from Sam’s Club we take back road and we take Vance RD we have FSD on and our car is stop at red light to turn left on Lee HWY. When Lee Hwy light turn yellow and my car suddenly take left turn on Lee Hwy. I believe that light is cross so FSD is confused and take left turn. My location is below [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
URGENT SAFETY DEFECT – CHILD INJURY 2026 Model Y, rear right window. While a child was entering the vehicle and the door was closing, the power window trapped the child’s fingers. Pinch protection failed to reverse. The vehicle locked and the windows closed while the child’s fingers were trapped. Injury occurred. Request immediate safety investigation, preservation of vehicle logs, and written findings. Vehicle must not be altered prior to inspection.
In bright sunlight or at certain sun angles, the central touchscreen in my 2026 Tesla Model Y becomes unreadable due to glare and washout. This screen is required for essential driving functions. Safety Concern: The touchscreen is used for selecting drive and reverse, viewing the rear camera, and accessing other safety-related controls. During glare conditions, I have difficulty seeing the screen clearly, which interferes with safe vehicle operation. Why this is dangerous: There are no physical backup controls for gear selection or rear camera viewing. Inability to clearly see the screen creates a safety risk, particularly during parking, reversing, or low-speed maneuvers. Conditions: The issue occurs repeatedly during bright daylight when sunlight strikes the screen at certain angles. This is not a rare event and has occurred multiple times. Requested action: Investigation into screen glare and visibility for safety-critical controls in Tesla vehicles, and evaluation of whether a design modific
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH with the ADAS Autonomous Self Driving Mode activated and the TESLA Navigator set to operate lane changes, the vehicle attempted to enter the EZ-PASS lanes while the gates were down, and the contact had to take corrective action. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to yield to the gates being down. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that an unknown software update had been performed on December 31, 2025, and might have caused the failure. The failure mileage was 5,900. The VIN was not available.
Vehicle equipped with Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised v 14.2) software exhibits unsafe automated following behavior. The system maintains following distances that are too short at steady speeds, including behind stable lead vehicles with no braking or traffic disturbances. Tesla’s own Safety Score system flags this behavior as “following too closely,” indicating elevated collision risk. However, the driver has no available control to adjust minimum following distance or impose safer headway while using FSD This represents unsafe autonomous tailgating behavior with loss of driver control authority over safe following distance, creating increased risk of rear-end collision and hazardous automated driving conditions. Tesla offers several controls (Sloth, Chill, Standard, Hurry, and MadMax) modes, none of which solve the issue if the driver in front is driving the speed limit. My car under FSD will crowd (or tailgate) the front car regardless of the mode. In one instance, I was following a car under FSD in sloth mode and it made the car in front of me pull over just to get me off their tail.... this is certainly now how I wish to drive, and don't want my car driving this way. Failure mode: automated headway policy dominance, lack of driver override, unsafe autonomous following distance.
Front suspension makes knocking and rattling noise - Tesla's solution was to remove structural braces from the car that transmit the noise - the car has not been recertified with the braces removed, I am concerned about adverse safety, especially in small frontal overlap collision.
I have no front hood (Frunk) emergency release button. Seems like it should have one.
Tesla decided to remove the safety unlock illuminated button from its front trunk (frunk) sometime in mid 2025. This can be a safety issue which was present in earlier models and against the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 401, mandating an interior release mechanism for enclosed trunks to prevent entrapment. I contacted Tesla and they told me that my vehicle was made after Tesla decided to remove this safety feature.
The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper lacks both internal lighting and an emergency safety release mechanism. This design flaw creates an unnecessary and severe safety risk, as a small adult or child could easily become trapped in the frunk with no way to signal for help or escape. In low-light conditions—such as at night or in a garage without adequate illumination—the absence of a light would exacerbate disorientation and panic for anyone trapped. Without an internal release latch or glow-in-the-dark handle (standard in many vehicle trunks to prevent entrapment deaths), this could lead to a life-threatening suffocation or injury situation, especially if the frunk is accidentally closed on a person during loading/unloading. I discovered this issue while inspecting the frunk during routine cleaning and noticed that my four-year-old sat very comfortably inside the frunk listening to music while I cleaned the car. No incident has occurred yet, but the potential for harm is clear and warrants immediate investigation, as it violates basic entrapment-prevention standards observed in rear trunks and other vehicles. This defect compromises occupant safety and should be addressed through a recall or a retrofit that includes an illuminated emergency release. Please investigate similar complaints for this model year.
New 2026 Model Ys made after October 2025 no longer have an emergency release/opener for the front trunk. Easily large enough for a child to lay in and be trapped.
The model Y performance wheels make it really hard to remove the valve stem caps on the tires. Similarly, trying to unscrew the air pump form the valve stem is difficult due to very small clearance between the wheel cover hole. I see this as a safety related issue. Having a hard time doing this while on the side of the road is the last thing you want to happen when you're repairing a flat.
There is NO emergency release button and light inside the frunk (front trunk) of my Tesla Model Y Performance 2026.
The frunk emergency release switch/button is not present on brand new purchase.
The rear door releases contain no easily accessible mechanical back up for releasing the door. In an emergency during a loss of power rear passengers would either have to know how to access the hidden door releases cable or would be trapped.
On December 21, at approximately 9:17 PM, my Tesla was operating with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged while reversing out of a parking space at 4 Cook Cir, Medford, MA, USA. During the maneuver, the FSD system failed to detect a low-positioned barrier and collided with it, impacting the rear right quarter panel near the rear right wheel. The damage was caused by the actions of the FSD system while under active control. The vehicle remained drivable; however, the incident represents a failure of the Full Self-Driving system to ensure safe operation during a low-speed maneuver. I believe this incident resulted from a defect or malfunction in the FSD software and request a formal safety investigation. On December 21, at approximately 9:17 PM, my Tesla was operating with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged while reversing out of a parking space at 4 Cook Cir, Medford, MA, USA. During the maneuver, the FSD system failed to detect a low-positioned barrier and collided with it, impacting the rear right quarter panel near the rear right wheel. The damage was caused by the actions of the FSD system while under active control. The vehicle remained drivable; however, the incident represents a failure of the Full Self-Driving system to ensure safe operation during a low-speed maneuver. I believe this incident resulted from a defect or malfunction in the FSD software and request a formal safety investigation. Photographs of the vehicle damage and the incident location are attached.
Tesla self driving detects and sets a speed limit and displays it as a speed limit icon. I used self driving to exit my driveway, which turns onto a dirt road with a speed limit of 15 MPH. Near the bottom of the driveway self driving suddenly reset the speed limit from 10 MPH to 55 MPH. The car then accelerated abruptly shortly before the turn onto the dirt road. There is no mechanism for overriding the speed limit the Tesla self driving automatically selects. It is clear that the speed of the vehicle is adjusted according to the speed limit that Tesla self driving selects. Before I could regain control of the vehicle I was almost into the field opposite the driveway. The inability to re-set the automatically selected speed limit is dangerous. The speed limit has spontaneously reset to 55 MPH on two other occasions, and the vehicle spontaneously speeded up.
While driving on a residential street at night with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged, the vehicle suddenly applied Automatic Emergency Braking without any visible obstacle, vehicle, pedestrian, or hazard present. The braking was abrupt and unexpected and did not correspond to traffic, road conditions, or driver input. No collision occurred, but the sudden stop caused a whiplash effect to occupants, creating a risk of injury despite the absence of an external hazard. The driver immediately disengaged the system after the event. Tesla later reviewed vehicle data and confirmed that an Automatic Emergency Braking event occurred while FSD (Supervised) was active. Tesla identified the software version as FSD v14.2.1 and documented the incident as unexpected emergency braking, with the date, time, location, and environmental conditions recorded.
There is a SERIOUS safety-related FSD (full self driving) fundamental design flaw with stop sign behavior. On previous versions AND on the latest and best version of FSD (currently that is v14.2.1.25) when FSD approaches a stop sign AND there is no white painted stopping line, FSD will make its full initial stop (also called the zero-speed stop) directly at or behind the stop sign instead of making the initial full stop beyond the stop sign at a location where the driver can see cross traffic. Sometimes the FSD initial full stop is 20, 30, 40, even 50+ feet back away from the edge of the road. At these distances from the edge of the road, most of the time, there is NO VISUAL of cross traffic left and right. The FSD stop then turns into the FSD "creep" where FSD, after stopping 30 feet back WILL THEN commit to the turn from 30 feet back giving drivers little to no time to see cross traffic. If I am the supervisor of FSD who is liable for my safety and my vehicle's safety, I need to be able to see cross traffic before my car (with FSD engaged) decides to commit to the turn, but FSD DOES NOT CARE IF THE DRIVER CAN SEE. The "creep" is perhaps the least human-like manuever that FSD performs. From the stopped location directly at the stop sign, they creep may inch up and stop again, it may inch up a COUPLE TIMES and stop again, it may pull up to the edge of the road and stop again, OR it may just pull out into oncoming traffic in one swift motion. Bc of this behavior, FSD has almost got rear ended countless times at stop signs. Also, cross traffic see's the creep and thinks i'm about to pull out in front of them Drivers go beyond the stop sign to a location where they can see to make their one and only full stop. To avoid this issue, FSD needs to do this too (i.e. make initial full stop at the edge of the road) This is legal in mostly every state (I live in PA) Tesla has not provided a single response to these reports and nothing seems to be getting done about it.
Vehicle equipped with Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised v 14.2) software exhibits unsafe automated behavior due to removal of driver speed control. The system infers speed limits and driving speed without allowing the driver to set a safe maximum speed. In residential neighborhoods with children, pedestrians, and shared social spaces, the vehicle drives at model-inferred speeds that are socially and physically unsafe. Driver is unable to impose a lower safe speed limit without disengaging. Tesla removed previous option for driver to adjust speed. In a state park campground, the system failed to detect a posted 15 mph speed limit and inferred a 55 mph limit. The vehicle accelerated to unsafe speeds on narrow, pedestrian-heavy roads, with no driver ability to cap speed while under FSD. This represents a loss of human override authority and unsafe autonomous system behavior, creating pedestrian hazard and safety risk. Failure mode: automated speed inference dominance, map prior misclassification, lack of driver override, unsafe autonomous acceleration in pedestrian environments.
A structural chassis component (V-brace) was permanently removed from my vehicle by Tesla Service during a service visit. The removal was performed under a Tesla-described engineering retrofit (Tesla Service Article 9188600). The component was not reinstalled or replaced, and Tesla stated that once removed it cannot be reinstalled. The service visit was originally initiated due to a persistent rattle/noise from the vehicle The safety concern arises from: •A permanent modification to a structural chassis component, performed without my authorization. •Removal of a component originally installed for structural reinforcement and stability, creating uncertainty regarding vehicle rigidity, crash behavior, and handling. •The continued presence of an unresolved structural noise/rattle, which can be distracting to the driver and may indicate an underlying structural or mechanical issue. The vehicle was sold and delivered with this component installed, and its removal was not disclosed or approved prior to service. The noise/rattle was present prior to the service visit and prompted the service appointment. The structural component removal occurred during the service visit. The problem was reproduced and confirmed by Tesla Service and they: •Acknowledged the noise/rattle concern. •Performed a structural retrofit involving removal of the V-brace. •Marked the concern as “resolved”, despite the noise still being present. •Later stated the noise is considered “normal”, even though it is not present in all Model Y vehicles, including the Juniper variant. No warning lights or system messages appeared. The only symptom was a persistent rattle/noise originating from the vehicle chassis The vehicle was inspected and modified by Tesla Service, acting on behalf of the manufacturer. The modification was performed under a Tesla engineering directive. No independent service center, insurance representative, or law enforcement agency has inspected the vehicle.
When in self driving mode, which activates the adaptive cruise control, it is not possible to set the following distance. The following distance automatically selected by Tesla self driving is much too close to the vehicle in front of me. Tesla has removed the ability to set the following distance. It follows at approximately 2 seconds behind the car in front of me, regardless of my vehicle speed .... at 80 MPH 2 seconds is not enough time for a driver to react. Following distance should be controllable by the driver. Taking away this ability deprives a driver of driving within their own limitations.
No emergency release inside frunk
Incident Date: December 11, 2025 Vehicle: 2026 Tesla Model Y Location: DFW Airport, Irving, TX System: Full Self-Driving (Autopilot / FSD) Description: On December 11, 2025, my 2026 Tesla Model Y was operating under Full Self-Driving while exiting an airport when the vehicle struck a gate arm, causing property damage and windshield/body damage. No injuries occurred, but the collision happened while the FSD system was actively controlling the vehicle. Following the collision, I requested the vehicle operational and FSD engagement data from Tesla for the incident timeframe. Tesla provided a CSV dataset; however, the FSD engagement and autonomy decision-layer data were almost entirely missing, despite the vehicle being in motion and presumably under FSD control. On follow-up requests, Tesla stated they are unable to provide additional autonomy data and that “Tesla does not collect all your vehicle data,” despite marketing the system as Full Self-Driving and collecting extensive telemetry. This raises a safety concern because: 1.A collision occurred during FSD operation. 2.Tesla is not providing complete autonomy data for safety assessment. 3.There appears to be no transparency into FSD decision-making, object detection, or control authority at the time of impact. 4.Owners, insurers, and potentially regulators cannot review how FSD behaved during a safety-related event. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware that: (1) A collision occurred under FSD control, and (2) Tesla refused complete operational autonomy logs for evaluation.
While Full Self-Driving (Supervised) was fully engaged (blue steering wheel icon active), the vehicle approached an uncontrolled intersection, selected the wrong path, hesitated severely (camera shaking violently), provided ZERO visual or audible warnings, and completely ignored driver's emergency brake input (pedal depressed >90% approximately 1.5 seconds before impact). The vehicle continued forward by inertia and collided with a roadside curb, resulting in wheel damage. Attached dashcam video clearly shows: • FSD active throughout the event • No alerts or chimes • Violent steering oscillation/hesitation • Driver's foot slamming brake pedal with no deceleration • Impact despite timely braking This incident matches the ongoing NHTSA investigation PE25-012 regarding FSD intersection hesitation and failure to respond to driver input.
The defect involves the front suspension and/or steering system of a new 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Symptoms—persistent front-end clunking/thunking (primarily driver-side), steering instability, and vibration—began immediately upon delivery in late 2025, with Tesla notified same afternoon as delivery. The vibration now begins around 60 mph and intensifies with speed. Steering feel is excessively vague on-center (requiring constant correction to maintain lane position) yet overly twitchy and sensitive to inputs, creating inconsistent and unpredictable handling. The condition has progressively worsened and now renders the vehicle unsafe at highway speeds due to risk of loss of control. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms have appeared prior to or since onset. Tesla service centers have had multiple opportunities to evaluate the vehicle under warranty. The problem has not been confirmed objectively by Tesla; during at least one evaluation, a technician drove only at speeds below complaint threshold (despite requests to test at the speeds where symptoms occur), stated he did not feel the issue, and performed no further diagnosis. Multiple appointments were canceled or rescheduled by Tesla (including one after I arrived). The vehicle was repeatedly returned without documented objective testing or repair addressing the complaint. During one visit, the Tesla app indicated an active “visual quality check” while the vehicle remained parked outside and not being worked on for an extended period (documented). To rule out tires, I installed a brand-new set; the vibration worsened afterward. Safety risk: Unresolved steering/suspension instability increases the risk of loss of vehicle control at highway speeds, endangering occupants and other road users. Odometer at onset: 15 miles Current odometer: 3596 miles
See attached document for complaint.
The contact is a police officer from the Simi police department, who called on behalf of the owner of a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated the owner was driving at 30 MPH with full autopilot mode with direction destination set, the vehicle increased in speed to make a U-turn on the opposite side of a driveway; therefore, the driver attempted to disengage the autopilot and depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle failed to stop and instead increased in speed, causing the driver to crash into a curb, a Dodge Ram truck, a light pole, and an occupied Nissan Maxima vehicle, where the vehicle came to a stop. Both vehicles that were crashed into were occupied by 1 occupant each. The contact stated the owner's air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the owner did not sustain any injuries. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an auto collision center; however, the vehicle looked drivable. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.
On several occasions, my Tesla Model Y has braked for no reason while using Traffic Aware Cruise Control as well as when using Autopilot. I can re-create this situation on the same parts of the highway. The sudden, uncommanded stopping creates a hazardous situation with the cars being me as I may get rear ended. At this point, I do not feel safe using Autopilot or TACC. I submitted a ticket to Tesla but they declined to work on it.
Per Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 401 an emergency release in any enclosed trunk compartment large enough to hold a person (generally defined as having a volume of at least 1.2 cubic meters or similar dimensions that could pose an entrapment risk). My 2026 Tesla Model Y DOES NOT have an emergency release in the front trunk (frunk) area and it appears Tesla Model Y’s manufactured after on and or after September 2025 no longer have this included. I assume this is because Tesla came out with the Standard Model Y which has a smaller frunk and are using that labeling to get away without putting the button in the Premium Model Y’s which have a larger frunk and are required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 401 to have an emergency release button.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026