2026 Tesla Model Y Owner Complaints

Car is less than a year old and forward camera is reporting visibility problem. Safety features, forward collision and autonomous driving is severely degraded. Tesla will not repair under warranty which requires disassembly of the camera housing. Front camera housing has been redesigned by Tesla but they are not retrofitting this fix for existing Model Y and have not issues a safety recall. This camera housing defect presents a risk to my safely and the safety of others.

NHTSA ID

11756419

Incident

Aug 9, 2026

I am submitting this complaint to report what I believe is a potential safety defect involving the Tesla Autopark feature on my 2026 Tesla Model Y Premium All-Wheel Drive. On 7/21/26 at approximately 7:40 a.m., I activated Autopark to park my vehicle in my driveway. A transit van was already parked nearby and remained stationary throughout the parking maneuver. While Autopark was controlling the vehicle, my Tesla continued reversing and failed to stop before striking the parked transit van. The collision caused damage to the right rear passenger side of my vehicle. Based on what I observed, the vehicle did not recognize or respond appropriately to the presence of the stationary van. This raises serious concerns regarding the ability of the Autopark system to detect nearby stationary vehicles and avoid collisions during low-speed automated parking. Although I understand that Tesla states the driver must supervise Autopark, I am concerned that the system continued reversing into an obvious stationary obstacle rather than warning the driver or stopping before impact. I respectfully request that Tesla: Preserve all vehicle diagnostic logs, camera data, and sensor data from approximately 7:40 a.m. on the date of the incident. Conduct a full engineering review of the Autopark event. Determine why the vehicle failed to detect or avoid the parked transit van. Advise whether this incident resulted from a software issue, hardware issue, sensor limitation, or another system malfunction. Provide me with a written response and a case number confirming that this has been recorded as a formal vehicle safety complaint. I am prepared to provide photographs, dashcam footage (if available), the exact incident location, repair estimates, and any additional information required to assist with your investigation. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11756048

Incident

Jul 21, 2026

While returning the Tesla during a demo drive, the car suddenly braked extremely hard in the middle of the road for no reason. It was bright and sunny, and we were coming up to a green light. It caused me to slam my head back into the seat. There was seemingly no reason for the emergency braking, and if someone were behind me, it would have caused a collision.

NHTSA ID

11755731

Incident

Aug 9, 2026

Tesla was in FSD and had the latest software update installed on 8/6/28 which included the new FSD version released. On 8/7/28 on the way to work that my wife takes every time she goes to work the FSD ran over a large pot hole which it had never done before on the previous FSD version. The car started having rattling of the steering wheel and a rattling noise from over the rear driver wheel area. The next available Tesla service appointment was on 8/27 but we walked in and Tesla offered to do an alignment and found that the driver front and rear rims were bent from the pothole and we had to be pay close to 1800$. Thereafter, the rattling over the rear wheel well is louder but Tesla has not accommodated us with an earlier service appointment and refused to make any accommodations for the FSD update resulting in this damage.

NHTSA ID

11755680

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

I was driving the car inside the parking garage of the UCLA Medical Plaza in Westwood at around 3:10pm on XXX, looking for an appropriate parking spot. When entering the second basement floor and turning the steering wheel right, to follow the road, the steering wheel was unresponsive and the car felt as if in neutral gear. As the car was on a downward slope, it went straight into the car parked in front. It happened so fast, but it seemed as if the brakes were ineffective. The air bags on the sides were deployed. On the front, the airbag in the steering wheel came out but did not inflate. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755387

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

My car locked itself with the phone key and the key card sitting in the car. My baby was trapped in the back seat. Eventually, I was able to get a hold of my husband and he was able to unlock the car from the app. I was talking to 911 when he saw my messages and unlocked the car. I think poor cell reception may have been the cause.

NHTSA ID

11755383

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

While using FSD feature continuously for more than 45 minutes without stopping the system locks on to the previous road speed limit and freezes and the car ignores any new different speed limits and runs into FULLY ROUGE MODE...and almost ran into a pedestrian without slowing down. Example - if road speed limit is 45 mph and car driving between 45-50 mph and when the road speed limit drops to 35 or 25 mph car continues to run at 45-50 mph. ex2: if car running at 35 mph and later enters highway the car continues at 35 mph on highway where speed is 65 mph and likely to cause accident. The tesla does not have any forum or email support or phone support to address this issue and says it will reset if i stop on highway and wait for 15 mins to reset and then start again. This occurs every time if you drive continuously without stopping ( turning off car) for 45 min or more

NHTSA ID

11755367

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

On the highway, a vehicle in the lane next to me on the right moved towards the white dividing line, but never actually crossed into my lane. My Tesla was operating on Full Self-Driving (Supervised). The system miscalculated the front vehicle's trajectory and severely overreacted to it approaching the line. Without driver input, the FSD system initiated sudden, heavy braking and violently swerved to the left, crossing the lane line. Because the Tesla swerved suddenly into the left lane, the driver already occupying that lane was unable to avoid a collision, striking the left rear corner of my vehicle. I have video recordings from my Tesla that provides objective proof that the vehicle in front did not sideswipe or cut off my car, but rather that an abrupt vehicle automation failure forced my car out of its lane, I had no chance to react quick enough to avoid the accident. It also provides context as to why the driver behind me could not avoid the impact. I have preserved the video files and am ready to submit them to you immediately. Best regards [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755281

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

While driving a 2026 Tesla Model Y Premium on I-95 South in Maryland at approximately 10:30 PM on 7-31-2026 using Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised mode, the vehicle was traveling in the center lane (lane 2 of 3) when it ran over a large whole tire (commercial truck-sized) that was positioned in the center of the lane. The FSD system failed to detect or avoid the tire prior to impact. This incident demonstrates a critical safety limitation: Tesla FSD cannot detect large road obstacles such as a whole commercial truck tire positioned in the center of a highway lane at night. The FSD system showed no warning, took no evasive action, and did not alert the driver prior to the impact. Prior to the incident, there were no warning lamps, error messages, or any abnormal symptoms. All systems were functioning normally. Following the collision, a "Coolant Low - Schedule Service / Climate and driving performance may be limited" warning appeared immediately on the display screen. Upon inspection, all coolant had leaked out completely. Damaged components include: underbody, front bumper lower section, and cooling pump. The cooling pump damage is particularly concerning as it prevents proper battery temperature regulation, creating a significant risk of battery overheating and potential fire. The vehicle is currently at a Tesla-approved collision center. Inspection is still in progress. The vehicle has been reviewed by Tesla Service Center technicians and insurance representatives. Safety concern: Tesla FSD failed to detect and avoid a large, visible whole truck tire in the center of the highway lane at night, resulting in significant underbody damage, complete coolant loss, and cooling pump failure — posing serious battery fire risk.

NHTSA ID

11755078

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

I was operating my Tesla using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from my home to a coffee shop. The vehicle completed the entire drive under FSD without any manual intervention. After arriving at the destination, FSD automatically entered the parking lot, selected an available parking space, and initiated the parking maneuver on its own. I did not manually select the parking space or start the parking maneuver. During the automatic parking maneuver, the vehicle failed to detect a fixed square concrete bollard located within the parking space and continued moving until the front bumper made contact with the bollard, causing damage to the vehicle. No collision warning, parking collision warning, or automatic emergency braking occurred before impact. The vehicle remained under FSD control until the collision. The incident occurred in daylight with good visibility. The obstacle was a permanent concrete bollard, not a temporary object or a low parking curb. Dashcam footage of the incident has been preserved and has been provided to Tesla Insurance. I believe Tesla should review the vehicle telemetry and FSD logs to determine why the system failed to recognize the fixed obstacle during the automated parking maneuver.

NHTSA ID

11754995

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], my 2026 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX], delivered [XXX]) was involved in a rear-end collision while the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system was actively engaged. The dashcam footage clearly shows "Self Driving" displayed in blue on the instrument panel at the time of the incident, with the vehicle traveling at 3 KM/H in Drive (D) mode. What failed: The FSD/ADAS system failed to detect the stopped vehicle ahead and did not apply braking or issue any collision warning prior to impact. Safety risk: The system had full control of the vehicle at the time of the collision. I was not manually operating the vehicle. The failure of the FSD system to respond appropriately caused a rear-end collision. Dealer/service confirmation: Not yet confirmed by dealer. Incident occurred 2 days after vehicle delivery. Inspections: Under review by insurance. Police report pending. Dashcam video evidence preserved. Prior warnings: No warning lamps or alerts were displayed prior to the collision. The FSD system gave no indication of the impending failure. Dashcam footage showing active "Self Driving" status at time of crash is available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11754864

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 16 MPH with the self-driving feature activated the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. Seconds later the contact's daughter attempted to disengage the self-driving feature and then depressed the brake pedal to stop from entering a right-turn-only minor road stop-controlled intersection. However, the front passenger’s side of the vehicle was struck by another vehicle, before striking another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags on the passenger’s side of the vehicle deployed. The contact's daughter sustained minor leg injuries. Medical attention was not needed, and the contact was not sure whether occupants of the other vehicle required medical attention. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle had not detected the oncoming traffic and that the crash could have been prevented. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it was deemed a total loss. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,986.

NHTSA ID

11754808

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

Mileage

13,986 mi

Tesla Full Self Driving, installed version 14.3.6 is still unable to reliably obey speed limits. The driver of the car has no method of controlling Full Self Driving to slow down the car to meeting the new speed limit. The Full Self Driving (FSD) safety system must be disabled to regain speed control. Tesla claim in multiple social media posts that FSD is "significantly" safer than humans, but it will not reliably maintain accurate speed and instead will often attempt to significantly exceed the posted speed limits. XXX driving through [XXX] on Highway XXX heading west, with FSD controlling the car. The posted speed limit is 45, suddenly the car changed speed to 55, then faster. The only recourse is to disengage the FSD safety system to regain sensible speed. I have included one location, but this is a very widespread issue that covers much of [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] and [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11754625

Incident

Aug 2, 2026

When using Tesla FSD, the car insists on following the car in front at an unsafe following distance….frequently less than 1 second behind it.

NHTSA ID

11754359

Incident

Aug 2, 2026

On July 31, 2026, at approximately 12:55 PM, my 2026 Tesla Model Y experienced a severe safety defect while operating in Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode. The vehicle completely failed to detect, slow down for, or stop at a clearly visible and unobstructed stop sign at an intersection. The vehicle attempted to proceed through the intersection without yielding. I was fully attentive with my hands on the wheel and had to instantly apply heavy manual braking and steering intervention to prevent a collision with an oncoming vehicle that had the right of way. This failure of the automated driving system to recognize fundamental traffic control devices constitutes an immediate and severe collision hazard.

NHTSA ID

11754203

Incident

Jul 31, 2026

The Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software on my 2026 Tesla Model Y repeatedly performs unsafe driving maneuvers requiring manual takeover to avoid collisions. Documented incidents with timestamps since June 3, 2026 include: selecting the incorrect lane and then attempting a route correction against a red light; activating the left turn signal while executing a right turn; attempting to enter a freeway from an incorrect lane; repeatedly missing exits, on-ramps, and turns; and making unnecessary lane changes. In one drive on June 9, the system missed two exits, a freeway on-ramp, a left turn, a right turn, and a U-turn twice within 18 minutes. On July 8, 2026, hours after the vehicle was returned from service with the manufacturer's advised mitigation active, the system repeated the same errors and drove the wheel into a curb, causing wheel damage. My safety and that of other road users was put at risk by incorrect lane positioning, incorrect signaling, and a red light conflict. The manufacturer's service center has inspected the vehicle twice (completed July 8 and July 21, 2026). Both visits were closed with no repair performed. The only action was advising me to disable the Online Routing setting as a temporary workaround, which did not prevent recurrence. The manufacturer stated in writing on July 8 that this is a known software-related matter its engineering teams are actively working to resolve, and a service advisor described it verbally as a firmware issue. However, the manufacturer's written response on July 31 states diagnostics identified no faults. A service center supervisor verbally acknowledged experiencing similar behavior on his own vehicle, indicating the defect is not unique to my vehicle. Service records, complete timestamped incident logs, and dashcam footage of the incidents are preserved and available for inspection upon request. No warning lamps or fault messages appeared before or during any incident.

NHTSA ID

11754061

Incident

Jun 3, 2026

My tesla model Y was driving on FSD (full self driving) and just did hard full stop brake at a traffic light and brought the car to a complete stop even when the light was green. Both of toddler kids in the back got pulled jolted forward where the seat belt hurt them. This stopping was random was unnecessary as no threat of other cars or the light was present. Luckily no one was behind us or they would have rear ended our car causing a serious accident. This really left my children in shock.

NHTSA ID

11753870

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

My car was parked in a residential neighborhood and when I was driving home on the evening of July 4th I noticed the windshield had a small line in it. The next day during daylight hours I went to inspect it further and concluded that the hood made contact with the windshield on both sides and there were two distinct impact areas that matched perfectly with small paint damage on the hood. I made an appointment with Tesla and waited about two weeks to get in, and they summized that this is not a defective part issue and that a wind so powerful came along, lifted the hood up, overpowered the gas struts, broke the windshield and closed itself perfectly. They denied any responsibility and refused to cover it under their manufacturers warranty. This is Tesla of Wilmington, DE

NHTSA ID

11753846

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

Center brake light fails intermittently when outside temperature is hot (115). Tesla is aware of the issue and has no fix. Side brake lights still seem to work when center fails.

NHTSA ID

11753834

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

On the day after taking delivery of my 2026 Tesla Model Y, FSD reversed into a visible stationary garage pillar while backing into my garage. The vehicle did not stop before impact and stopped only after contacting the pillar, resulting in more than $6,000 in vehicle damage. The following day, while FSD was attempting a left turn at an intersection, the vehicle nearly entered the opposing-traffic lane before making several hesitant steering corrections. I disengaged FSD and completed the turn manually to avoid a potential collision. Both incidents occurred within two days of delivery. Tesla has opened a service case, escalated the matter to its engineering team for review, and I have requested preservation of all available vehicle data. I am submitting this complaint because these incidents raise concerns about the safety of FSD behavior.

NHTSA ID

11753833

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

Vehicle: 2024 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX]) Incident Date: [Insert Date] Current Mileage: 4,094 Description: "While operating the vehicle at low speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden, uncommanded acceleration event. Despite immediate and sustained application of the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to decelerate as intended, indicating a critical failure of the braking-override system and/or the drive-by-wire acceleration logic. This represents a catastrophic safety defect that resulted in an uncontrolled trajectory. Furthermore, Tesla Inc. has formally refused to release the Event Data Recorder (EDR) data associated with this VIN and timestamp (Ref: DOT Request #xxx). This refusal obstructs a transparent safety analysis of a known 'Sudden Unintended Acceleration' (SUA) event. I am requesting a formal Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) into this specific hardware/software failure and Tesla’s data-withholding practices regarding safety-critical events." I am a XXX and the threat is to take the loaner car away my only transportation from [XXX] to [XXX] for my XXX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753764

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

2026 Tesla Model Y (VIN [XXX]) running FSD Supervised v14.2.2.5 / software 2026.14.200 experienced two unintended phantom braking events while FSD was active. Incident 1: XXX, approximately 9:16 AM, XXX southbound off-ramp at [XXX] exit heading [XXX]. Vehicle braked abruptly and without warning at highway approach speed with no obstacle present. Incident 2: XXX, approximately 2:08 PM, [XXX] westbound atXXX northbound on-ramp [XXX]. Same abrupt, unwarned braking with no obstacle present. Tesla service performed diagnostics XXX, at the Delray Beach service center. No hardware fault was found. Vehicle has been unable to receive OTA software updates. A nearly identical vehicle, a 2026 Tesla Model Y in the same household (VIN [XXX]), is currently running software 2026.20.6.11 and FSD v14.3.6, several versions ahead of the affected vehicle. Tesla confirmed the software disparity is due to VIN batch rollout scheduling and cannot be manually accelerated. Tesla regional management and engineering review team have been notified. While children were not in the vehicle at the time of these specific incidents, they are frequent passengers in this vehicle and this braking behavior represents a serious safety concern for our family. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753635

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH with the cruise control engaged the vehicle lost automotive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and had received similar complaints; however, there was no fix available for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100.

NHTSA ID

11753246

Incident

Jun 28, 2026

Mileage

100 mi

Tesla took off from a parking lot and was uncontrollable, went through the grass, crossed the street and construction before hitting the barricades and fell into a sewer as the road ended there. There were 2 passengers in the car and luckily both passengers came unharmed. But FSD needs to be investigated on why this happened.

NHTSA ID

11752327

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11752088

Incident

Nov 30, 2025