Complaint volume
249 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2026 Tesla Model Y Complaints
249 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2026 Tesla Model Y, grouped by component category.
249 Total complaints
45 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
12 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are unknown or other, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 45 crash reports, 1 fire report, 12 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 14 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 6,895 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to unknown or other, forward collision avoidance, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2026 Tesla Model Y?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2026 Tesla Model Y
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2026 Tesla Model Y complaints?
45 Crash
1 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
18 Towed
9 Medical attention
What are the most common 2026 Tesla Model Y complaint categories?
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 53
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13
STRUCTURE 11
SUSPENSION 7
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,LANE DEPARTURE 6
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 6
STEERING,SUSPENSION 6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5
249 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | SEAT BELTS | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,803 |
| Jan 2026 | LANE DEPARTURE | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The interior of the front trunk (Frunk) does not have an emergency release button or the hardware to support it. In the event that a child or person is inside the front trunk with the hood closed, that person cannot escape the enclosed area without having an outside person finding a key or tool to open the front trunk. Also, there is no light in the front trunk so it is completely dark when closed. This feature (emergency release button) previously came standard in this make and model prior to October 2025. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | SEATS | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE | Tesla removed the lighted emergency frunk (front trunk) release button and its wiring from this vehicle and other similar newer builds. The elimination of this key safety feature is a clear violation of the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 401 for Interior Trunk Release; requiring all new passenger cars with trunk compartments (rear and front) to have a way for someone trapped inside to escape. There is currently no method to open a latched front trunk cover from inside this new vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No emergency release inside frunk | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,900 |
| Jan 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I took delivery of this vehicle on [XXX]. Unknown to me Tesla changed the frunk design of my model y premium juniper. It has no light or emergency open button as seen on all juniper models made up until the one I received. My understanding is if a three year old can fit in the trunk/frunk space it must have a light and a way to open it from the inside in an emergency situation. Please recall for a fix. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I have no front hood (Frunk) emergency release button. Seems like it should have one. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | STRUCTURE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The frunk emergency release switch/button is not present on brand new purchase. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2025 | WHEELS | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |