2024 Tesla Model Y Visibility Problems

I am reporting a safety‑critical issue with the automatic windshield wiper system on my 2024 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle uses a camera‑based “Auto Wiper” system, and it consistently fails to activate fast enough during heavy rain, spray from passing trucks, or sudden visibility loss. During moderate to heavy rain, the Auto wipers often stay on a slow or intermittent setting even when the windshield becomes fully covered with water. The system does not increase wiping speed quickly enough to maintain visibility. This results in several seconds where I cannot clearly see the road ahead. This problem is made worse because the Model Y makes it difficult to quickly switch to manual wiper control while driving on the freeway. The driver must look down at the touchscreen and navigate menus to adjust wiper speed, which is unsafe at highway speeds. The delay between losing visibility and being able to manually increase the wiper speed creates a dangerous situation. This behavior has occurred multiple times at highway speeds. When passing large trucks or encountering sudden water spray, the wipers do not react, and the windshield becomes momentarily opaque. This creates a serious risk of losing lane position or failing to see vehicles in front of me. This is a safety hazard because: 1.The Auto wipers do not clear the windshield when visibility is urgently needed. 2.Manual override requires taking eyes off the road to use the touchscreen. 3.The delay in response can lead to loss of visibility for several seconds. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue, as it affects visibility and could lead to collisions, especially at highway speeds or during sudden heavy rain.

NHTSA ID

11739805

Incident

May 19, 2026

The automatic rain-sensing wipers on my 2024 Tesla Model Y fail to activate during rain from delivery date, leaving the windshield uncleared and forcing manual activation. To be clear, this feature does not work at. This happens consistently and creates a significant safety hazard due to impaired visibility while driving. Tesla uses a camera-based system rather than a dedicated rain sensor, and despite service visits and software updates, the issue persists. I believe this presents an undue safety risk that should be investigated.

NHTSA ID

11659346

Incident

May 6, 2025

Software update applied OTA. Complete failure of ECU on reboot, including cameras, rear backup camera, all proximity warnings, cruise control, FSD, GPS, navigation, battery preheating, etc. Car is unsafe to drive in this state.

NHTSA ID

11632094

Incident

Dec 22, 2024

Electrical short in AP4.1 computer. Renders the camera system inoperable. Unable to backup without cameras.

NHTSA ID

11631501

Incident

Dec 5, 2024

Tesla has told me the AP4 computer has failed in my car which has resulted in them having to replace it. I had this issue start right around Thanksgiving. I scheduled the soonest appointment available for 01/03. Not offering me a rental or anything on my brand new '24 Tesla. It has just over 1,000 miles on it and is ~1 months old now. This issue impacts: emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane keep/centering, assisting with parking, automatic high beams and wipers, cruise control/ adaptive cruise control, back camera, Vehicles built in GPS to be stuck at one location every time, has made my touchscreen not automatically brighten or dim, my auto dimming mirrors be too dim in most driving conditions, constantly fail to install system improvements and safety updates, and because my vehicle keeps trying to do this, it has caused increased battery drain as well. This has increased the safety risk of my vehicle tremendously... Tesla has not seemed to publicly acknowledge the issue yet either.

NHTSA ID

11631121

Incident

Nov 29, 2024

Widespread issues acknowledged privately by Tesla service managers, advisors, and engineers. Affects all models built from July 2024 to present with most recent “AP4” computer and hardware, primarily out of Fremont factory. Suddenly, computer is short circuiting. This results in MULTIPLE systems failing given effectively ALL systems are dependent upon this “AP4” computer and hardware, and initially causes GPS and Camera sensors to fail also. This system failure includes: -federally required rear view vision system -adaptive cruise control -automatic emergency braking -blind spot warning -forward collision warning -lane departure warning -lane keeping assistance -parking collision warning -rear cross traffic warning -visibility and wiper systems -all external lighting systems -speed control Internally, Tesla service advisors and managers are being told to advise customers that vehicles can be safely driven until fixed - which is currently diagnosed to be a removal and replacement of this “AP4”, which is heavily supply chain restricted. Customers are being told to wait “weeks” - with estimations in January and February - for this to be fixed. Service Advisors and managers are being told to not acknowledge clear safety concerns given vehicles are no longer compliant with all applicable federal laws and regulations, such as those requiring rear view vision field of view expansion, etc. Further, internally Sales advisors and Managers are being told to continue heavily pushing sales to meet record sales targets to impact stock price. Several private conversations regarding ethical concerns of pushing noncompliant and known defective vehicles for stock value and potential criminality. Service advisors and managers also privately concerned regarding legal liability of impacted and defective vehicles in accident, given Tesla is communicating to continue driving. My own personal vehicle has been impacted, and information above has been gathered privately.

NHTSA ID

11631107

Incident

Dec 14, 2024

All the cameras for the Tesla Model Y has stopped working, without this lots of features stopped working including rear camera which is needed to reverse to charge the vehicle and anyware to park. All the collision warning systems including front and side stopped working. Wipers don't activate and figured to change to manual. Headlights always stay in highbeam. Looks like there are known issues and Tesla claims they don't have hardware to replace making us to not use the car for almost 30 days.

NHTSA ID

11630771

Incident

Nov 27, 2024

The auto wipers come on multiple times a drive without water being on the windshield. This has been dangerous because the wipers will smear material across the windshield at the wrong times creating a visibility hazard. It almost caused a wreck where it activated smearing the windshield while the sun was directly ahead. Tesla’s response was the auto wipers are in Beta mode and I should turn them off to keep them from randomly coming on. This is a challenge since you have to use the center screen to find the wipers and activate them causing one to look away from the roadway.

NHTSA ID

11619010

Incident

Oct 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in the rain, the auto windshield wipers failed to function as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30.

NHTSA ID

11582453

Incident

Apr 11, 2024

Mileage

30 mi

Automatic Wipers are unreliable, they turn on when no rain is present and they fail to come on when rain is present. Additionally the manual wiper controls are unsafe to use while driving and are not easy to adjust, resulting in a significant distraction while operating a vehicle in the rain. The vehicle also lacks manual Intermittent wipers, unless left in auto which barely works.

NHTSA ID

11571127

Incident

Feb 5, 2024