Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 115 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2025 Tesla Model Y. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 115 · page 1 of 5
Traveling 35mph on local highway. Hard braking to full stop to avoid frontal collision. Upon stopping, vehicle appears to shift into reverse as I attempted to resume travel and I backed into the vehicle that had stopped short behind me. I have saved multiple video clips of the event.
I am submitting this complaint regarding a recurring Rear Drive Unit (RDU) failure affecting my Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX]). Since purchasing the vehicle in March 2025, I have experienced three separate incidents involving the same component, resulting in vehicle jerking, loss of propulsion, and unsafe driving conditions. The first failure occurred in May 2025 when the vehicle began jerking, slowing down unexpectedly, and ultimately displayed a critical warning instructing me to pull over. Tesla diagnosed the issue as a defective Rear Drive Unit and replaced it under warranty. In January 2026, the same symptoms returned. Although no alerts were initially found, a Tesla technician experienced the issue firsthand during a test drive. Tesla again determined that the Rear Drive Unit had failed and replaced it for a second time. At that point, I expressed concerns about the reliability of the vehicle and the possibility of the defect recurring. On November 7, 2026, the same issue occurred for a third time while I was driving on [XXX]. The vehicle jerked repeatedly and lost propulsion, leaving me stopped in the roadway. Fortunately, no accident occurred; however, this situation could have had serious consequences if it had happened on a busy highway or in heavy traffic. Given that the same critical drivetrain component has failed three times despite multiple repair attempts, I believe this represents a significant safety concern and an unresolved manufacturing defect. I am requesting a thorough review of the vehicle's repair history, an investigation into the root cause of these repeated failures, and consideration of an appropriate warranty remedy, including vehicle replacement. My primary concern is the safety, reliability, and long-term dependability of the vehicle, as prior repairs have not resolved the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The windshield glass on my 2025 Tesla Model Y cracked twice. The first windshield was replaced by Tesla in March 2026 after the issue was attributed to stress. The replacement windshield cracked again in September 2026, approximately within six months. The vehicle and windshield are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? A cracked windshield can obstruct the driver's visibility and potentially compromise the structural integrity of the vehicle, creating a safety risk for the driver and passengers. I am concerned about the repeated windshield failures, especially because the second crack occurred shortly after Tesla replaced the original windshield. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Tesla Service inspected the original windshield in March 2026 and replaced it at no cost, identifying the initial crack as stress-related. The second crack occurred in September 2026. Tesla provided an estimate of approximately $1,400 for another replacement. I have not received a definitive technical explanation for the second crack. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. Tesla Service inspected the vehicle when the first windshield cracked in March 2026 and replaced it due to stress. Tesla Service has also evaluated the second windshield damage and provided a replacement estimate of approximately $1,400. No police inspection has been conducted. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights, dashboard messages, or other vehicle warnings appeared before either windshield cracked. Both incidents involved visible cracks in the windshield without prior warning from the vehicle.
I own a 2025 Tesla Model Y, currently running software version 2026.38.5.12 with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.3.13. On multiple occasions while using FSD (Supervised), the vehicle has made sudden, abrupt lane changes out of the carpool (HOV) lane with little warning. This has happened repeatedly on [XXX] and [XXX] in the [XXX] area, most recently on XXX. The system initiates these exits late and aggressively, steering toward the double yellow lines that separate the HOV lane from regular traffic, and I have had to grab the wheel and take control to avoid an unsafe and illegal maneuver. I am concerned the vehicle could cross the double yellow lines into fast-moving traffic, or exit the HOV lane at a non-designated opening, creating a serious risk of collision. A driver should not have to fight the car to keep it from breaking traffic law. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On the evening of XXX, at my home in [XXX], my 2025 Tesla Model Y suffered a complete electrical failure that locked the vehicle with my infant son inside. When my wife went to take him out, the car would not unlock by any method. The Tesla app failed on two separate phones, the key card failed, and plugging in the vehicle did nothing. I called Tesla support and, after a long hold, reached a representative who was unable to unlock the car remotely. Tesla told us to call [XXX]. First responders arrived and could not open the doors with their techniques, so they had to break a window to get my son out. He was not injured. The vehicle is now at a Tesla service location. A vehicle that deadlocks itself while every override fails, including the manufacturer's own remote unlock, is a serious safety defect. In summer heat or a medical emergency this could have been fatal. I am asking NHTSA to investigate this failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My 2025 Tesla Model Y was driving on Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and I was supervising. The car was going about 60 to 65 MPH southbound on I-15 near Riverdale, Utah. Traffic ahead of the car in front of me had stopped, and that car, a Chevrolet Equinox, stopped for it. My car matched the speed of the car in front of it but did not slow down for the stopped traffic in time. From my dashcam video, the car eased from about 60 MPH down to 50 MPH, then braked hard and went from 50 MPH to zero in about 3 seconds, but it was not enough and it hit the rear of the Equinox at about 15 MPH. No one was hurt and no airbags went off. I was cited for following too closely, my insurance paid for the repairs, and I paid a $500 deductible. I am reporting this because the car was in control of the speed and the following distance when the crash happened. I have the dashcam video if you need it.
Subject: Multiple Recurring Issues — 2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD I am submitting this complaint regarding multiple quality and potential safety-related issues with my 2025 Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor AWD, purchased new in January 2025. 1. Persistent HVAC moldy/musty odor The vehicle develops a pronounced moldy or musty odor from the HVAC system, particularly in hot, humid, or rainy conditions. This raises concerns about possible moisture accumulation, microbial growth, or an underlying HVAC system defect. I have attempted to resolve this issue through Tesla service, including communications with the Randolph and Princeton service centers. I have experienced repeated scheduling difficulties and have not received a clear diagnosis or satisfactory resolution. I also investigated Tesla technical service information concerning HVAC inlet ductwork, including bulletin SB-26-18-002, but have not obtained a satisfactory determination regarding the applicable components on my vehicle. 2. Windshield residue affecting the front camera area I have also experienced an issue involving residue or plastic off-gassing contamination on the windshield in the area of the forward-facing camera system. This raises concerns about visibility through the camera's viewing area and the potential impact on camera-based driver-assistance functions. I have sought clarification regarding cleaning and inspection of this area. I would like this issue evaluated to determine whether the contamination is associated with an underlying vehicle material or manufacturing problem and whether it could interfere with the proper operation of safety-related camera systems. 3. Rear hatch seal and wind noise The vehicle also has a rear hatch area wind-noise issue that may be related to the hatch seal or its fitment. I am concerned about whether the seal is properly installed and functioning as intended. I would like the issue evaluated to determine whether it reflects a component, alignment
The contact stated that while seated in a 2025 Tesla Model Y taxi cab driving 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to yield or stop while pedestrians were nearby the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred near a school zone. The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle posed a safety risk while driving in school zones or other areas with pedestrian traffic due to the failure to yield or stop for pedestrians. The contact stated that the manufacturer should account for high-traffic areas when manufacturing self-driving vehicles.
While operating my vehicle with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged on Friday, October 16 at 5:12 pm, the vehicle suffered an sudden loss of vehicle control, resulting in a full spinout. Road & Environmental Conditions: Wet roads Approximate Speed: 76 mph Incident Details: Without warning or driver steering/accelerator input, the vehicle's automated driving system lost traction, causing the vehicle to spin out of the lane. I was forced to intervene to bring the car to a complete stop and prevent a collision.
Since a 2026 over-the-air software update, every time I disengage Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) while driving, on any road and at any speed, the center touchscreen shows a large pop-up titled "Why did you intervene?" with four buttons (Navigation, Parking, Critical, Other) and a voice-message option. It covers about a third of the display, including navigation, media controls and, during parking, the camera view. It does not clear on its own while driving; it stays until the driver taps an option or shifts into Park. Photos attached. Disengagements happen at the most demanding moments: correcting the system, avoiding a hazard, merging or parking. This prompt draws the driver's eyes and hand to the touchscreen at exactly those moments, on every disengagement and several times per drive. I believe this creates a foreseeable visual-manual distraction risk and conflicts with NHTSA's Visual-Manual Driver Distraction Guidelines. This is a particular safety concern because I regularly drive this vehicle with young children on board. Any distraction at the moment I take over from FSD puts them at risk. There is no setting to disable this prompt; the only way to avoid it is to stop using FSD, which we paid for. The car is collecting training feedback from drivers in real time at the expense of attention to the road. I request that NHTSA review this and that Tesla make the prompt dismissible, defer it until the vehicle is parked, or make it optional. Reproducible on every FSD disengagement; not inspected by a dealer. Vehicle software 2026.27.11, FSD (Supervised) v14.3.10.
On XXX, I was driving my 2025 Tesla Model Y with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. While merging onto [XXX] in [XXX], the vehicle veered and crashed into the guardrail. I was not controlling the vehicle at the time — FSD (Supervised) was in control. Both of my child passengers were injured; one suffered a wrist fracture. A police report was filed at the scene. The vehicle was totaled in the crash and has not been driven since. Vehicle software at the time of the crash: 2025.45.9.1; Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14.2.2.4. After the crash, I asked Tesla for the vehicle's driving data/logs to confirm that FSD was engaged at the time of the crash. Tesla did not provide the data. I am concerned that Full Self-Driving (Supervised) failed to safely execute a highway merge maneuver and drove the vehicle into the guardrail, resulting in injuries to my children. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On 10/08/2026, while Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software v14.3.10 was engaged in an underground parking garage, the vehicle failed to stop when it should have, causing the left-front bumper to scrape against a concrete pillar. The driver was supervising at the time. No injuries; cosmetic damage to the left-front bumper only.
On October 1, 2026, at approximately 5:40 p.m. in the Marina Square Center parking lot in San Leandro, California, the powered rear trunk of my 2025 Tesla Model Y popped up slightly but failed to fully open. I repeatedly attempted to open it using both the touchscreen and the physical trunk button without success. When I reached underneath to manually lift it, the trunk unexpectedly began closing under power and trapped both of my hands, injuring six fingers. I remained trapped for several minutes and had to call for help; two bystanders assisted, and repeated electronic and manual attempts were required to free me. Nearly one week later, visible wounds and soft-tissue injuries remain, and I experience intermittent numbness in my fingertips. I have not yet received a medical evaluation. The trunk still does not open reliably and sometimes requires a second activation. I reported the incident and submitted injury photos to Tesla Service, but Tesla declined to proceed with an in-person inspection, said I did not need to attend my scheduled appointment, and has not confirmed whether the vehicle logs were reviewed. I am reporting an unexpected powered-closure action on a trunk that failed to open, which trapped both of the operator's hands and required rescue by bystanders.
On [XXX], at about [XXX], I was driving my 2025 Tesla Model Y with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. I was on [XXX] in Matthews, NC, heading toward Mint Hill, at about [XXX]. There were no vehicles, pedestrians or obstacles ahead of me. With no apparent reason and no warning or alert, the vehicle suddenly braked as hard as possible. It slowed from about 49 mph to 32 mph within roughly one second, which averages about 0.8 g. I took over from FSD and submitted feedback to Tesla marking the event as critical. It was nighttime and the weather was clear. Fortunately no vehicle was behind me, but if one had been, a rear-end collision would have been likely. The car was running software 2026.27.11 with FSD (Supervised) v14.3.10. I have dashcam footage of the event. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When in Full Self Drive (FSD), the car turns (every time) west on [XXX] in [XXX] when existing the XXX High School front driveway ([XXX]). This is a one way street where all traffic is directed east, so having it drive west means it's driving the wrong way on a one way road. Additionally, when then traversing the perimeter of the school and then traveling east of the [XXX]/[XXX] intersection on [XXX], the car will drive through the parallel parking spaces instead of the main lane. Both of these are critical safety issues and if the car were fully automated or perhaps a CyberCab, this could be extremely dangerous. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When self parking in a drive way, Tesla Y hit another car. There was more than enough space on the driveway for 2+ cars. We did the same self-parking tens times before. Tesla generated no alarms after collision. It didn’t stop after colliding with another car. I brought the Tesla to Irvine Tesla dealer and requested that the dealer checke cameras and software. The agents refused. They only checked if the car still self parks. The claimed as no alarms were generated during collision, they are not going to check cameras or anything else. The gave me no paperwork at all. I believe it’s a serious precedent that may affect thousands of Tesla owners and compromises their safety.
The vehicle has suffered recurring, critical electronic and low-voltage safety system failures that first began under the original factory warranty and have now resulted in a complete central computer (HW4) failure. History of Defect: 1. Feb 2025 (~7,170 miles): Initial failure of the 16V low-voltage network and safety systems. Tesla replaced the VCFRONT body controller and low-voltage battery under warranty. 2. May 2025 (~14,543 miles): Safety equipment failures required replacement of the cabin radar and seat belt buckles under warranty. 3. Sept 2026 (~80,000 miles): Total Hardware 4 (HW4) central computer failure. This resulted in the complete loss of all Active Safety Systems, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Autopilot, backup cameras, and power management features. Safety Risk: The complete failure of the HW4 computer completely disables essential safety functions required for safe vehicle operation on public highways. Tesla has denied warranty coverage for the HW4 replacement despite the issue originating from early low-voltage controller failures during the bumper-to-bumper warranty period. ADDITIONAL CRITICAL SAFETY INCIDENT: During the computer/system failure, I experienced a power steering malfunction accompanied by an on-screen warning. The steering wheel became extremely hard to turn/stiff, making it nearly impossible to steer the vehicle safely.
I am reporting a driver-distraction safety concern involving Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD). When I disengage FSD and take manual control, Tesla immediately displays a persistent prompt requiring me to select why I intervened or provide voice feedback. The prompt does not automatically disappear and remains on the center display until I respond. I believe this creates a real safety risk. An FSD intervention can occur because the vehicle is not handling a traffic or road situation appropriately. This is exactly when the driver’s full attention should be on taking control, assessing the situation, and safely operating the vehicle. Instead, Tesla immediately presents a persistent interface requesting additional driver interaction. The prompt also blocks access to other functionality, including Grok in my experience, creating additional incentive to interact with the screen while driving. Tesla could eliminate this unnecessary distraction by allowing the prompt to time out, adding a “Dismiss” or “Not Now” option, or delaying the feedback request until the vehicle is stopped. I support collecting FSD intervention feedback, but requiring interaction immediately after the driver takes manual control creates an avoidable distraction during a potentially safety-critical transition.
The seatbelt broke spontaneously, and Tesla will not cover it under warranty.
Full auto pilot I pay $99 every month and it was on the car decided to take a turn to go over the middle island and hit the tree. The road has yellow line straight but then the yellow line start to be... I think the car decided oh my God it’s not the correct way and decided to take off and run over the middle island and hit the tree. Totaled the whole car and then the fire or the smokes are to go inside car what I was stuck inside I tried to open the door, but then five minutes later I got out almost died.
On I95 by the Secaucus Train station there is something sending a signal to my Tesla and other Teslas to disable all of its ADAS systems. All of the functionality related to ADAS gets disabled thus making the car very unsafe to drive. Due to this disability it also disables the camera systems in the car. So if an accident were to occur there would be no way to record.
On XXX at approximately 8:10 PM CDT, my 2025 Tesla Model Y was operating with Full Self-Driving engaged when the vehicle descended a private boat launch at a marina in [XXX], and entered the river channel connecting Channel Lake and Lake Marie. Two occupants escaped through the windows. The vehicle was submerged and is a total loss. Lake County Sheriff report #XXX. The vehicle's incident data export confirms FSD was in an active state during the approach. The vehicle is preserved in storage pending inspection. An incident report has been filed with Tesla. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The exterior rear door handle on the driver’s side rear passenger door caught the occupant’s finger during normal use, tearing the fingernail partially out of the nail bed and causing bleeding and an exposed nail bed injury requiring medical treatment. The flush-mounted door handle pinched and trapped the finger while the door was being operated. The component is available for inspection upon request. No warning of any kind preceded the injury — the handle functioned as designed, which is the concern. The injury was treated at an urgent care facility. The problem has not been inspected by the manufacturer, dealer, police, or insurance to date. No warning lamps or messages are applicable. Cause: the flush-mounted rear door handle design creates a pinch point that can trap a finger during ordinary entry
While driving straight ahead in my lane on a wet freeway in an active construction zone, the vehicle abruptly and without warning lost traction and spun out of control. I was traveling in a normal, controlled manner with the flow of traffic and was not turning, braking hard, or making any abrupt maneuver when the loss of control occurred. It was so sudden that I initially believed another vehicle had struck me. I was unable to recover control, and the vehicle left its lane and was involved in a collision that resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss. This is a nearly new all-wheel-drive vehicle, approximately 17 months old, equipped with electronic stability and traction control. I am an experienced driver with a clean record and had driven this same vehicle through mountain roads the week prior without any issue. A vehicle of this type is not expected to suddenly lose control while traveling straight. The specific component or system that failed is UNKNOWN. No warning lamps or messages appeared before the loss of control. The vehicle data available to me as an owner is limited and does not reflect the full diagnostic logs the manufacturer retains. The vehicle is a total loss but is preserved and available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer has not inspected or responded. A police report was filed.
Vehicle has complete Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capabilities. Vehicle was reverse parking on its own but the right side crashed into a wall. Vehicle did not stop reverse upon collision. Driver took over immediately to avoid further crash fatality.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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