Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.
Recalls
Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.
Safety recall
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-001.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
The seat back frame may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Tesla service will replace the seat assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-13-004.
- Status
- Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Tires recall
Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
- Status
- Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Safety recall
An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
- Status
- Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Electrical system recall
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.
- Remedy
- Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
- Status
- Corrected automatically through an over-the-air software update.
- What to do
- Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.
Owner complaints by system
Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.
Engine & powertrain
64
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 29 mention a crash, 18 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
During a software update, the vehicle was parked and no key was present inside the car. The car went into neutral and forward through my gate onto oncoming traffic. The car hit a parked car and then came to a stop. The software update proceeded and I was unable to move the car until it finished.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757481 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Electrical & infotainment
123
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 4 mention a crash, 6 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 MPH, the brake lights failed to illuminate during regenerative braking. The contact stated that the vehicle display screen failed to show the brake lights illuminating while stopping, which nearly caused other vehicles to crash into the rear of the vehicle. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer by phone, but could not get through the automated answering system. The failure mileage was unknown.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11764361 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Brakes
38
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 15 mention a crash, 18 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
While exiting a drive-thru, I pressed the accelerator and the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated at a high rate of speed on its own. I attempted to brake, but the brakes did not respond. The vehicle struck a concrete median. Police report on file: East Hanover Township PD, Case #2026-12503.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11758962 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Steering, suspension & tires
49
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 19 mention a crash, 11 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
SEVERE DEFECT: Unprompted autonomous steering overrides manual driving. When Autopilot is OFF, Emergency Lane Departure Avoidance (ELDA) violently yanks the steering wheel, steering TOWARD hazards like oncoming traffic on the left or a mountain/rock wall past the curb on the right. This creates a severe collision risk, overriding safe manual input.DOCUMENTED PROOF: Provided Tesla Service (Palo Alto) over 12 timestamps and several dashcam footage. Technicians physically verified NO internal/external camera obstructions across TWO separate visits. Moving a transponder failed to resolve it.TESLA REFUSAL: Service Center has canceled TWO other service requests without fixing the defect, claiming it the 'system is working as intended.' Crucially, the Manager Jay explicitly admitted this dangerous steering override is a 'known issue for vehicles without FSD' operating on an older, separate software stack prone to these errors. To resolve this critical safety hazard, he explicitly suggested I purchase Tesla's premium Full Self-Driving (FSD) upgrade, claiming the FSD stack fixes it. Tesla is fully aware their base active safety software stack is defective and steers into hazards, yet demands a paid consumer upgrade to resolve it rather than issuing a safety patch or recall.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11759885 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Airbags & seat belts
6
Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
At I-66 East and 495 Exit in Fairfax/Vienna, another car hit my Tesla car from the side at around 40-50 MPH. My car driver side had a heavy impact - Door scratched badly, rear window broke, rear tail lamp broke, rear tire got damaged, components on top of the front tire came off. Even the car was hit with this heavy force and had heavy damage, Airbags never deployed. Luckily THe driver didn't have any injuries as she was wearing a seat belt. How come the airbags never popped with this heavy impact accident? THe car that hit our car, didn't have as much damage as ours but their airbags deployed. Is this a defect with Tesla airbags?
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11752860 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Structure & body
22
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 4 mention an injury.
Read full complaint
Component that failed & available for inspection? The power window on the passenger-side rear door failed to auto-reverse when it hit an obstruction while closing. It closed with enough force to pinch and injure my child's finger and did not reverse. The 2024 Tesla Model Y is available for inspection on request. How was safety put at risk? The window was closing automatically (auto-lock), with no one touching the switch, when it pinched and injured my child's finger. FMVSS 118 requires power windows to detect an obstruction and reverse during hands-free closing. It did not reverse at all. This puts children and passengers at continued risk of finger and hand injury. Reproduced/confirmed by a dealer or service center? Yes I reproduced it myself. With a child-sized finger-width carrot placed in the window path during an automatic close, the window failed to reverse and crushed the carrot instead of retracting. I have video of this. Not yet confirmed by a service center; I am scheduling a Tesla Service inspection. Video can be viewed in the attachments that's in GIF format. Inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance or others? Not yet. I am reporting this to Tesla Service and filing this complaint at the same time. Warning lamps/messages/symptoms before failure, and when? None. No warning lamps, alerts, or messages appeared before or during the incident, and there were no prior symptoms that the automatic window reversal system was malfunctioning. Our best guess is that its always been malfunctional.
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763849 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
Other systems
16
Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 3 mention a crash.
Read full complaint
Full self driving did not detect pole. I press the fsd of tesla going out of the parking lot and the car turned to the side where the pole is located hitting the side where the camera part right next to driver side. The sensor of the car did not detect completely that there is a pole on side
Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11734184 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov
How does it compare with other years? The 2024 has 318 complaints on file, fewer than the 2023 (1,154) and more than the 2025 (98). Of the 6 model years of the Tesla Model Y we cover, the 2023 has the most (1,154). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.