2021 TESLA MODEL Y Complaints

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system has repeatedly demonstrated unsafe behavior in my 2021 Model Y (VIN [XXX] , ~60,184 miles). The issues involve Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assistance, and Forward Collision Warning. FSD frequently follows vehicles too closely, leaving insufficient distance. When I disengage, I am left with no safe option: braking hard risks being rear-ended and triggers a hard-braking event, while lifting off the accelerator leaves me dangerously close, still flagged as unsafe following. FSD often waits until less than a mile before highway exits to attempt lane changes, causing last-second darting, missed exits, or unsafe maneuvers. It also performs excessive and unnecessary lane changes that add risk without improving efficiency. Merges are frequently unsafe, forcing me to brake hard to let others pass or accelerate aggressively to avoid being cut off. On several occasions, FSD has jerked or swerved into adjacent lanes without signaling, seemingly triggered by shadows or changes in the road surface. These phantom maneuvers are unpredictable and hazardous. On [XXX] at about [XXX], at a T-shaped intersection, FSD failed to yield to a vehicle traveling straight with the right of way while I was making a left turn. I had to slam on the brakes to disengage, narrowly avoiding a collision. This was the second such incident in the same intersection in one week. These repeated failures—unsafe following, late exit attempts, failed merges, phantom swerves, and failure to yield—create significant risks for me, my passengers, and surrounding drivers. The problem has been reported to Tesla multiple times via in-car voice reports and a written service request, and logs from my vehicle should confirm these events. No warning lamps or system alerts appeared before or during the failures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

In December 2023 I strapped my [XXX] son into his carseat in our Model Y and walked around to the front to get into the car as well. In those few seconds the 12v car battery died (I did not get any notification in my app) and I was unable to open any doors, so my infant son was trapped. We live in Florida and this was an 80 degree day. With no other recourse I was forced to call 911 to have my son removed from the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

[XXX] , my [XXX] son, was strapped in his car seat, wide-eyed and confused, as we sat trapped in our Tesla for thirty agonizing minutes. The battery had died without warning, leaving us locked inside our own garage. No power, no way to open the doors. I tried to keep [XXX] calm, singing his favorite songs, but my heart raced as I called for help. A tow truck finally arrived and jumped the car—not enough juice to start the engine, but just enough to unlock the doors. Freedom at last. Tesla’s response? No roadside service; they insisted the car be towed to their service center. Easier said than done—the tow truck couldn’t maneuver it out of the garage. Frustration mounted as I realized I’d have to miss work. Days later, I drove to the service center, where they replaced the battery. But the ordeal wasn’t over. The trim was damaged during the chaos, and now every drive is accompanied by relentless wind noise, a constant reminder of that day. [XXX] still talks about being “stuck in the car,” and I can’t help but feel let down by a system that left us stranded. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

After 4 years of ownership, the HV battery has failed. This has put the car at risk it stopped charging and without charging the car was no longer drivable. The battery was overheating the car was very hot the AC stopped working. This put the car at risk when drive the battery dropped significantly while driving. Yes we got it inspected they said that the battery is failing and needs to be replaced. I have a quote about the replacment parts. There was a message at the end that the battery was unable to charge.

I was driving on the highway with my 2021 Model Y Tesla when control arm detached from the frame. Tesla said they could not confirm if it was covered on the warranty over the phone.

The main vehicle computer (MCU) failed. The problem first appeared in May 2024 with intermittent rear camera malfunctions. It has since worsened. Most recently (08/28/25), the center display went completely black and the vehicle became inoperable — I could not start or move it. This left me stranded in a dangerous neighborhood late at night and required the car to be towed. When the display fails, I lose access to the rear camera, climate controls (including defrost), and turn signal indicators. These are safety-critical systems, and in this case the failure also disabled the ability to drive the vehicle entirely. The problem has been reported to Tesla. They inspected the vehicle but claimed the earlier camera malfunction was unrelated to the current computer failure. No independent mechanic has inspected it. The failures are ongoing and reproducible. No warning lights or alerts appeared before the system shut down. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Being that this issue originally arose back in May, 2024- it should fall under Tesla’s warranty which expired in December 2024.

Immediately after an over-the-air (OTA) update on Aug 8, 2025, my vehicle began showing camera connection errors and disabled multiple safety/ADAS features. Over the following days, I repeatedly received alerts that AEB was unavailable. The vehicle remained drivable, but AEB and related safety functions were inactive. Chronology: Aug 8, 2025: OTA software update to 2025.26.6 completed. Right after completion, the touchscreen displayed camera connection errors and disabled AEB / Autopilot / cruise control. Aug 11, 2025: While driving, I again received an “AEB unavailable” alert. Similar alerts appeared intermittently throughout the week. There was no water intrusion, impact, or external damage. Cameras were clean and unobstructed. I scheduled the earliest available Tesla Service appointment and reported the AEB failure as a safety issue. Service diagnosis: Tesla diagnosed a failure of the Autopilot computer (HW3) and ordered a replacement. Cost/coverage: I requested that the repair be covered by Tesla because the failure started immediately after the OTA update and I am a paid Full Self-Driving (FSD) purchaser. My request was denied; I was charged ~$1,600 (slightly discounted) for the computer replacement. Safety risk description: The failure disabled AEB and other forward-collision mitigation features without an external cause, beginning minutes after the OTA update. I consider this a safety defect because an advertised crash-mitigation system became unavailable during normal use, increasing crash risk. The timing suggests a possible software–hardware interaction (software change triggering or revealing a hardware fault) that could affect other vehicles.

Summary of Issue: The vehicle has experienced intermittent drive disconnections without warning. This occurred multiple times on August 9–10, 2025, during trips between Palo Alto and Monterey. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection? The suspected component is the drive unit (covered under Tesla’s 8-year Drive Unit & Battery warranty). The vehicle and its systems remain available for inspection by NHTSA or Tesla. How was safety put at risk? The intermittent drive disconnections can result in sudden loss of propulsion without warning while the car is in motion. If this occurs at highway speeds, it creates a serious safety risk of collision or loss of vehicle control. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? Tesla Service has attempted to inspect the vehicle but reported “no fault found.” Because the issue is intermittent, Tesla did not reproduce it during their inspection, though I documented it on August 9–10, 2025. Has the vehicle/component been inspected by the manufacturer or others? Yes, the Tesla Service Center inspected the vehicle 25 August 2025. However, Tesla has refused to provide a detailed record of what diagnostic steps were actually performed (log review, physical inspection, or drive unit stress testing). Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms? No warning lamps or messages appeared at the time of the failures. The vehicle resumed propulsion after several seconds, clearing the condition without leaving an active customer-facing alert. Concern: Because the failure is intermittent and leaves no persistent alerts, Tesla has returned the vehicle without resolving the problem or providing adequate documentation. This leaves a potential safety-critical drivetrain failure unaddressed. Requested Action: I request that NHTSA investigate potential drive unit intermittent disconnection failures in Tesla Model Y

I have an alert that says Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Issue and Service is required. This is a major safety issue and the Tesla Service Center says I need to pay $800 to fix it. This is a manufacturer issue and the cost should not be incurred by the vehicle owner. This issue puts my family safety at risk and the light is coming up everytime I drive. I need TESLA to review it and fix this at no cost.

Brake line failed at the left rear tire. Corroded line. The line is corroded on the right rear also. These are my observations. The brakes failed when driving locally at lower speeds so the car was able to eventually stop due to the regenerative braking. Will be towed to the dealer for inspection/repair. Inspection/repair will occur on Sept.15, 2025. No warning until after the failure.