2026 Tesla Model Y Electrical Problems

On October 4, 2026, while driving my 2026 Tesla Model Y Performance downhill toward my home, the vehicle experienced a low-voltage electrical system malfunction, displaying multiple electrical and propulsion errors, including “Low voltage battery disconnected,” “Connector on low voltage battery is not secured,” and “Unable to drive.” Similar warnings had first appeared the previous day, prompting me to schedule a service appointment. I was able to reach my home and park safely, but the vehicle then became inoperable and could not be driven. Tesla Roadside Assistance towed it to a Tesla service center. The odometer was approximately 3,111 miles. On October 5, Tesla inspected the vehicle under warranty. According to its repair invoice, technicians inspected the low-voltage battery connections and found no physical issues. Tesla determined the battery required a configuration update, performed an “LV Battery - Recover” procedure, and reported that the warnings disappeared and the vehicle operated normally. Tesla returned the vehicle as repaired. Approximately one month later, in November 2026, the same electrical and propulsion failure symptoms returned while the vehicle was parked, again rendering it unable to drive. Tesla Roadside Assistance towed the vehicle a second time. It is currently at Tesla’s service center awaiting diagnosis and is available for inspection upon request. These recurring failures create a serious safety concern because the original malfunction occurred while the vehicle was moving. An unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speeds could result in a collision, endangering occupants and surrounding motorists. Tesla has inspected and attempted to repair the malfunction once, but the problem has recurred. No police or insurance inspection has occurred. I am requesting NHTSA investigate this recurring electrical and propulsion system safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11776478

Incident

Oct 4, 2026

Component/system involved: Rear light bar (continuous taillight assembly) on both sides. Stress cracks have formed along the bottom edge of the light bar. The left side has cracked completely through. The cracked housing is allowing rainwater to enter the light assembly, which is shorting the brake lights and turn signals and causing them to malfunction. The light bar is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: When the brake lights and/or turn signals fail due to water intrusion, other drivers cannot properly see when the vehicle is braking or turning. This creates a risk of rear-end collision or other accidents, especially in wet conditions or at night. Reproduction / confirmation: Service has been scheduled for replacement of the rear light bar. The issue has not yet been inspected or confirmed in person by a dealer or independent service center. Inspection by others: None. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. Prior symptoms / warning lights: Stress cracks first noticed on the bottom of the rear light bar on both sides. The left-side crack progressed until it went fully through, after which rainwater began entering and the brake lights/turn signals started malfunctioning. No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the electrical shorting.

NHTSA ID

11775895

Incident

Oct 26, 2026

FORMAL SAFETY COMPLAINT – Multiple FSD Supervised Malfunctions – 2026 Tesla Model Y VEHICLE: 2026 Tesla Model Y VIN: 7SAYGDEDOTA664631 Current Software: 2026.38.5.11 FSD: v14.3.13 INCIDENT DATE: October 31, 2026 APPROXIMATE TIME: 9:00 PM PURPOSE OF COMPLAINT I am submitting this formal complaint requesting an engineering-level investigation into four recurring and unusual behaviors involving the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system in my 2026 Tesla Model Y. These problems involve unexpected vehicle movement, apparent changes in steering and acceleration behavior, incorrect navigation instructions, inaccurate destination positioning, and repeated failures to identify my actual home driveway. Most concerning is an incident on October 31, 2026, when the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated in a straight line while exiting my garage, failed to make its previously established steering corrections, and nearly struck a fixed garage-door structure. These behaviors represent a significant departure from the vehicle’s previous operating characteristics. 1. UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN GARAGE-EXITING BEHAVIOR – NEAR COLLISION During the first six months of ownership, my Tesla consistently demonstrated cautious and controlled behavior when using FSD to exit my garage. The established behavior was as follows: I would program my destination while the vehicle was parked inside my garage. Upon activating FSD, the vehicle would slowly begin backing out. The steering wheel would make small, incremental corrections. Acceleration was gradual, with occasional near-stops followed by continued movement. The vehicle appeared to be carefully adjusting its position while exiting the garage However, on Saturday evening, October 31, 2026, at approximately 9:00 PM, its behavior changed dramatically. Immediately after activating FSD: The vehicle moved quickly in a straight line It did not exhibit the previously observed gradual steering corrections It did not appear to slow down as usual, hitting the wall

NHTSA ID

11775641

Incident

Oct 31, 2026

Severe vehicle electrical network short circuit and central computing safety failure. Following a factory warranty replacement of the front windshield bi-cam assembly, the vehicle's internal diagnostics flagged continuous Redundant Control Unit (RCU) data link communication errors and an active network voltage mismatch (VCFRONT_a265_ESPVoltageMismatch). While actively operating the vehicle at speed on a live roadway, the main infotainment screen and safety computer completely locked up, went black, and froze on the Tesla logo. I suffered a total in-motion loss of my speedometer, primary safety displays, and driver operational interface while moving on a live street. Video proof captured on the road confirms that the vehicle's high-speed Camera Serial Interface (APP_w352_csiDevice1Down) is actively shorting out mid-drive, overloading the primary CAN bus communication network and crashing the safety computer while the vehicle is in motion. This vehicle represents an immediate driving hazard.

NHTSA ID

11774782

Incident

Oct 29, 2026

Subject: Suspected Sudden Unintended Acceleration While Reversing — Tesla Collision on October 25, 2026 On October 25, 2026, at approximately 11:00 AM Pacific Time, I experienced an unexpected acceleration incident while reversing my Tesla on my property. I was reversing slowly when the vehicle lightly contacted another car that I own. Immediately afterward, the Tesla unexpectedly accelerated backward at a much higher speed and struck my garage with considerable force. The garage impact brought the Tesla to a complete stop. The vehicle subsequently moved forward and stopped. Fortunately, nobody was in the vehicle's path. However, the incident created a serious risk of injury, particularly if children or pedestrians had been nearby. I visited a Tesla Service Center after the incident. I was instructed to obtain a Tesla privacy data report, but I have not yet received a technical explanation. My preliminary review of Tesla's vehicle data indicates that the recorded accelerator signal increased from approximately 4.4% to 100%, reverse speed reached approximately 12.4 mph, and a crash-related event and braking activity were registered. I do not remember my exact foot position during the incident. I cannot determine whether the acceleration was caused by physical pedal input, an electronic or mechanical fault, or another factor. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident as a potential vehicle safety concern. My primary objective is to understand what happened and help prevent similar incidents from causing serious injury or death. I can provide the original Tesla privacy report, photographs, and additional details upon request.

NHTSA ID

11774085

Incident

Oct 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving with the FSD engaged at approximately 2 MPH, while approaching a stop sign, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. In addition, the nearby board patrol witnessed the event and was able to advise the contact to stop the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle came to a stop. The failure mileage was approximately 96,038.

NHTSA ID

11774042

Incident

Oct 27, 2026

Mileage

96,038 mi

In regards to degradiation of driveway battery in my Tesla model Y I have lost 7.3 % of range vehicle now has 21,601 miles. The battery is at 90% health that the on board diagnosis has computed I’ve owned this Teslafor 18 months normal driving 17 times at the supercharger hall charging at level two at home. I feel that this battery pack made by Panasonic is degrading faster than expected, even though I have no faults or alerts. I believe this is unacceptable. I am hearing the same across the country. I have reported it to the Tesla service team and they say this is normal. I wish for a recall and or replacement.

NHTSA ID

11773960

Incident

Oct 27, 2026

The tesla while on FSD navigated me to Truck Ramp. I didn't have time to react. It didn't even warn. The car bounced 3 times and I had to tow it out. I didn't find the way to contact the service/customer care as it was Sunday. None of the other dealers wanted to touch tesla. The service availability is 24 days out, so for something this critical, there should be better customer service, accountability. I still need to pay for self-driving. I can't trust self driving at highway or night due to this. The tow operator said that he towed 7 tesla in last 3 months at exact same location.

NHTSA ID

11773817

Incident

Oct 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH with full self-driving mode activated, an 18-wheeler with flashing headlights was travelling behind the contact's vehicle, which then unexpectedly veered to the shoulder of the road. The contact believed that the vehicle mistook the 18-wheeler for an emergency vehicle. The manufacturer was notified directly through the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 42,550.

NHTSA ID

11771052

Incident

Oct 14, 2026

Mileage

42,550 mi

My 2026 Tesla Model Y has repeatedly developed contamination/haze inside the enclosed forward-facing windshield camera area, resulting in camera visibility/cleaning warnings and potentially reduced availability or performance of driver-assistance features. Tesla has already cleaned the internal forward-camera/windshield area twice, but the condition continues to return. The contamination is located inside the camera enclosure/inboard windshield area and cannot be corrected through normal exterior vehicle cleaning. Tesla is now requesting approximately $60 to clean the area again rather than addressing why the contamination repeatedly develops. I am concerned that this is a recurring defect affecting forward-camera visibility rather than ordinary owner maintenance. The forward cameras are used by the vehicle’s driver-assistance systems. I am also aware of reports from other owners of newer Model Y vehicles experiencing recurring haze/contamination in this same enclosed camera area. I am requesting that NHTSA document and evaluate this issue for a possible defect trend in 2025+ Tesla Model Y vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11768898

Incident

Aug 24, 2026

The contact leased a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH in the far-left lane with Full Self-Driving (FSD) Mode engaged, the vehicle attempted to steer into a concrete barrier on several occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle was being driven on a newly reconstructed roadway with a linear layout, and the contact believed that the vehicle was following former turning lane markings that were visible on the roadway. The contact forcefully and manually overrode the steering, which required significant effort at highway speeds. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred on several occasions. The contact deactivated Full Self-Driving Mode feature.

NHTSA ID

11766903

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

While I was driving on the highway in rainy weather, my electric vehicle suddenly made a very loud blast or popping sound and immediately stopped working. The vehicle lost power, and all electrical functions became inoperative while I was in the middle of the highway. This created a serious safety hazard because I was unable to continue driving or operate the vehicle normally. There was no visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle. The tires were intact and appeared to be in normal condition, with no tire damage or other external damage that could explain the sudden loss of power. The vehicle stopped unexpectedly while driving in wet conditions, without any apparent external impact or physical damage.

NHTSA ID

11765714

Incident

Sep 20, 2026

Every time the driver takes over from Full Self-Driving (Supervised), a mandatory "Why did you intervene?" feedback dialog appears on the center touchscreen. The dialog cannot be dismissed: it does not time out, and the driver must either tap one of the on-screen options (Preference / Discomfort / Navigation / Critical) or record a voice note using the steering-wheel microphone button before it goes away. This forces the driver to look at and interact with the touchscreen immediately after a takeover, exactly when full attention should be on the road. Earlier software versions dismissed this prompt automatically after a few seconds; recent updates made it mandatory and it even blocked other screen controls. It is a driver-distraction safety hazard caused by the UI design. The prompt appears on every single FSD disengagement, i.e. daily. Software version 2026.26.6.5.

NHTSA ID

11765419

Incident

Sep 18, 2026

Water entusion in the tail light bar. After time causes corrosion of the circuit board on the turn rear turn signal making it inoperable. tesla doesn't have an open document nor a recall. Was quoted over $1300 to replace the assembly. I did a teardown of the root cause. Glue sealing the through hole for the clip that holds the badge of the car on the rear didn't adhere. Water entered the assembly and dripped onto the circuit board, over time corrosion occurred. My rear left turn signal went out on a car that just turned a year. I have documented the location of the fault with pictures

NHTSA ID

11764041

Incident

Sep 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in Full Self-Driving (FSD) Mode, while reversing into a parking space, the vehicle initially stopped while approaching a pillar on the driver's side; however, the vehicle then proceeded to park and scraped the driver’s side of the vehicle against the pillar. The contact was concerned about the vehicle failing to stop while approaching an object. The contact stated that the failure might have been reported to the manufacturer through the steering wheel voice recorder. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11761722

Incident

Aug 17, 2026

Mileage

10,000 mi

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling into the driveway at an undisclosed speed while using Full Self-Driving mode, the vehicle came to a complete stop and unexpectedly crashed into the garage. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer, but was unable to make contact. The failure mileage was approximately 30.

NHTSA ID

11760028

Incident

Aug 21, 2026

Mileage

30 mi

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. While the vehicle was parked and attempting to shift into drive(D), the brake pedal was depressed, and the driver attempted to select the gear, but the gear display icon appeared semi-transparent. The driver was able to select the intended gear after several attempts; however, upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated at a higher speed and struck a tree. The air bags did not deploy. No injuries were reported, and a Police report was not filed. No warning light was illuminated before or after the crash. Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode was not activated during the failure. The vehicle was driven to a collision repair center to repair the damage. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and requested assistance retrieving data from the Event Data Recorder (EDR); however, no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the unintended acceleration. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11757772

Incident

Aug 16, 2026

Mileage

2,000 mi

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Full Self Driving Mode activated, the vehicle struck the garage wall, damaging the rear passenger’s side door. No injuries were sustained. The contact stated that the dealer had previously provided mobile service to replace the camera and that a second dealer, Tesla White Plains (250 Tarrytown Rd, White Plains, NY 10607), had performed a hard reset on the vehicle due to phantom braking; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was made aware of the failure but canceled an upcoming appointment and informed the contact that there was no failure found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,001.

NHTSA ID

11757495

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

Mileage

13,001 mi

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

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

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

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11752088

Incident

Nov 30, 2025

The vehicle's Indirect TPMS showed a "Pressure Sensor Fault (may clear next drive)" without issuing any "Low Tire Pressure" alert. On July 20, 2026, while driving, the rear right tire lost pressure and disintegrated over a 10-minute drive. Despite severe tire failure that triggered multiple safety system alerts (Traction Control, Stability Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Avoidance disabled), the vehicle software FAILED to issue a critical "Do Not Drive" command or explicit "Flat Tire" warning. Furthermore, the official Tesla App automated response advised that "Most alerts may resolve automatically on your next drive," encouraging continued driving. This total absence of critical emergency alerts and misleading system guidance created an extreme, life-threatening road hazard and resulted in severe tire and wheel destruction.

NHTSA ID

11751866

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed without the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature engaged, the steering wheel suddenly jerked to the right. While the FSD was engaged, the vehicle made erroneous turns at 51 MPH, forcing the driver to take control of the vehicle. The contact received several warnings about the brakes and other safety features. The steering wheel jerked to the right while driving with the FSD engaged. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center on July 9th. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 303.

NHTSA ID

11750033

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

Mileage

303 mi

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH with the Full Self-Driving mode engaged, the vehicle suddenly swerved into the left lane, and the rear passenger’s side door struck the right side of another vehicle. The vehicle stopped after the impact. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle did not need to be towed. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the Forward Collision Avoidance feature was not activated during the failure. A Police report was filed. There was no injury reported. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,609.

NHTSA ID

11748001

Incident

Jul 2, 2026

Mileage

3,609 mi