Tesla Model Y years to avoid (and the best years)
3,779 NHTSA owner complaints and 36 recalls across 6 model years, 2020 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 3,779complaints
- 36recalls
- 474reported crashes
- 24reported fires
- 359reported injuries
- 109reported deaths
Which Tesla Model Y years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Tesla Model Y year to avoid is 2022. The typical Tesla Model Y year has 588 complaints on file.
- 2022: 859 complaints, including 103 reports of a death. Most complaints name the forward collision avoidance system (57% of complaints) and the speed control (16% of complaints).
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 98 | 0.2× | 3 | 30 | 13 | Some concerns to check | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2024 | 318 | 0.5× | 5 | 72 | 58 | Some concerns to check | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2023 | 1,154 | 2.0× | 17 | 151 | 86 | Some concerns to check | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2022 | 859 | 1.5× | 20 | 88 | 152 | Approach with caution | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2021 | 1,074 | 1.8× | 23 | 86 | 25 | Some concerns to check | Forward collision avoidance system |
| 2020 | 276 | 0.5× | 24 | 47 | 25 | Some concerns to check | Forward collision avoidance system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 3,779 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Brakes1,256 (33%)
- Steering, suspension & tires712 (19%)
- Engine & powertrain588 (16%)
- Electrical & infotainment547 (14%)
- Other systems267 (7%)
Recalls (36)
Exterior lighting · 26V507000 · Aug 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 26V315000 · May 2026 · model year 2025
Missing weight information provided by the label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 26V283000 · May 2026 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 25V092000 · Feb 2025 · model year 2023
A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V002000 · Jan 2025 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tires · 24V935000 · Dec 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V886000 · Nov 2024 · model year 2024
The seat back frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 24V554000 · Jul 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 24V376000 · May 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 24V153000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 24V051000 · Jan 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V035000 · Jan 2024 · model year 2023
A rearview image that does not display while in reverse decreases the driver's visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 23V838000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V489000 · Jul 2023 · model year 2023
Safety features that are unavailable without any warning to the driver may increase the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 23V434000 · Jun 2023 · model year 2023
A defective battery disconnect may not isolate the vehicle's high voltage battery after a crash or fault detection, increasing the risk of electrical shock and injury.
Steering · 23V385000 · May 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
A loose fastener may allow the steering wheel to disconnect from the steering column, which can cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V130000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
A loose seat frame bolt may reduce the seat belt system's performance, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Steering · 23V085000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 22V895000 · Dec 2022 · model year 2023
A loose fastener can allow the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 22V844000 · Nov 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 22V702000 · Sep 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 22V317000 · May 2022 · model year 2021
Swapped camera views can prevent the vehicle's cameras from detecting crossing objects and high-curvature lane lines, impairing the Autosteer and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) performance, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 22V296000 · May 2022 · model year 2022
A lagging or restarting CPU may prevent the center screen from displaying the rearview camera image, gear selection, windshield visibility control settings, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V235000 · Apr 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V063000 · Feb 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V050000 · Feb 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V045000 · Feb 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Electrical system · 22V037000 · Jan 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 21V912000 · Nov 2021 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 21V846000 · Oct 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 21V835000 · Oct 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 21V389000 · May 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Seat belts · 21V388000 · May 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
Improperly attached fasteners may prevent the seat belt retention system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
Brakes · 21V387000 · May 2021 · model years 2020, 2021
Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 20V709000 · Nov 2020 · model year 2020
A detached upper control arm can cause the wheels to lean in or out, decreasing the driver's ability to steer and increasing the risk of a crash.
Exterior lighting · 20V609000 · Sep 2020 · model year 2020
Trailer brake lights that fail to illuminate during braking increase the risk of a crash.