2021 TESLA MODEL Y Complaints

View complaints related to 2021 TESLA MODEL Y. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 1,040 complaints submitted for the 2021 TESLA MODEL Y. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - San Jose, CA

    While driving at speed (75-80 mph) on Interstate 90 and 80 (different days) auto aggressively applied brakes. No other autos, trucks or obstructions were anywhere close to the car. There was no forewarning the problem was going occur. All occurred in daylight from morning until mid afternoon. I recognize this as phantom braking. Tesla refuses to look at the car because I did not have the exact time the problems occurred, messages from 6/2/23. I am of the opinion if this was Elon's car they would look at it.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Cumming, GA

    Tesla full self driving drove off highway curb and dropped 10 feet down, vehicle was total loss, airbags popped. There was a car trying to change to Tesla lane, Tesla overacted and took over control, and driver was unable to take back the control while in full self driving mode, no warning sign whatsoever during the accident, Tesla just drove off high way curb by itself. No collision between Tesla and other car. As experienced driver for over 30 years, I have never had accidents at fault, never made such silly mistake to drive off high way.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - BRENTWOOD, CA

    rear seat belts do not latch. the male portion of the seatbelt will be able to go in fully, but there's no click or latch to prevent it from coming back out. this is a huge safety issue, but Tesla has refused to service it. there are no warning lamps or messages.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Los Ranchos, NM

    For last several months my 2021 Tesla Y is experiencing phantom braking while using cruise control. Happens about once every 50 miles on the highway and occurs on straight roads with no traffic in front or behind and no road hazards. Braking is sudden and hard and represents a significant hazard . Thanks

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Spokane, WA

    On a trip from Spokane to Seattle on 5/27/2023, while traveling at 72mph on I-90, we experienced “phantom braking”. This resulted in the vehicle rapidly decelerating based on its detection of something in front of the car to avoid a collision. This occurred 3 times on the trip, and in no case was there anything for the vehicle to avoid. Weather was clear and road conditions were dry. Our biggest concern is that there could have been someone following directly behind, and would have certainly caused an accident if this were the case. The Tesla was in “autopilot”, which is the only mode we have experienced this. We experienced this last year on the same stretch of I-90, just east of Moses Lake to just west of George Washington.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Oxford, MI

    The drivers seat is not bolted down properly, it moves while driving. It makes it so that I don't feel in control of the vehicle and I may accelerate unintentionally as my foot is moved by the seat moving. I also fail to break as I need to as the seat moves back and my foot fails to engage on the brake. There are no warnings, and Tesla service is aware and maintains it is "under spec" I have attached a copy of their work order information

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Riverton, UT

    My wife was driving in moderate rain on the freeway. We were going about 70mph which was the same speed as the rest of the cars. We were going around a gentle turn in the road. Then without warning, our car started to slowly spin around. My wife instantly and completely lost control. We spun almost 180 degrees, crashed into two other vehicles, and came to rest against the cement barrier. Luckily nobody was seriously hurt, but we totaled two vehicles and damaged another. If the spin had happened along a different section of road we frequently drive on, we would have slid into oncoming traffic and people could have been killed. I requested that Tesla send the full data logs of the accident. It shows that my wife released the accelerator pedal right when the spin started. In most cars, releasing the accelerator causes the car to gently slow down. But Teslas, on the other hand, do aggressive regenerative braking when the accelerator is released. So it was as if my wife had pressed the break. HERE IS THE PROBLEM: THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM APPLIES THE BREAKS TO THE REAR WHEELS ONLY. On dry pavement this is fine, but on a wet road, going around a turn, hitting only the rear breaks was enough to cause the back of our car to slide out from behind us. Here is more detail: 1. Our car was All Wheel Drive. But the Tesla has published that for increased efficiency, they don't actually use the front motor except during high acceleration. This means that most of the time the car is only rear wheel drive. 2. Our car had under 25,000 miles on it, and the factory tires. The rear tires were worn more than the front tires, likely due to the car's acceleration being mostly applied to the rear tires. I believe that Tesla could fix this issue with an over-the-air recall. The recall would need to either reduce regenerative braking when wet roads are detected, or apply braking across both the front and rear wheels while on wet roads. Thank you!

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Fort Collins, CO

    The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 55-65 MPH, the vehicle experienced "Phantom Braking". The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Moorpark, CA

    Driving I-80 on May 9 between 2 - 4 pm going approx 70mph using autopilot. Sudden, unexpected, rapid deceleration causing back seat contents (suitcases & my dog) to fly forward. Nothing in front of me, no visual obstruction, weather clear and sunny. Luckily no one behind me. It felt like I had slammed on the brakes. I did get off highway shortly after to get dog out of where he lodged in back seat.Tesla rep via text messaging said I caused this by tapping accelerator & no need for inspection, but I do not recall doing that. I did receive a message/warning around the approx time I think this occurred stating “Driving visualization temporarily degraded” (I have screenshot.) They did send me the spreadsheet data of that day but I can’t decipher it.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2021 TESLA MODEL Y
    - Las Vegas, NV

    The problem I am writing about is not specific to my Tesla vehicle, but inherent to all Tesla's. I have read in the news about the issue concerning the full AutoPilot with drivers not paying attention figuring the vehicle will drive itself. Although, there is another inherent issue with vehicles without subscribing to AutoPilot while using the cruise control feature resulting in a problem referred to within the Tesla community as "phantom braking." While the cruise control is active and the driver is attentive with hands on the steering wheel, the vehicle intermittently jams on the brakes even though there are no obstacles in the road ahead. The driver and passengers are panicked requiring the driver to immediately respond by pressing the accelerator to avoid being rear-ended. My wife and I have experienced the issue on multiple occasions since owning our Tesla Y since September 2021. We have experienced the issue on clear days with perfect weather and a clean windshield. The road is clear with no vehicles in front of us on a divided highway traveling at highway speeds. We've also experienced the issue on a two-lane non-divided road with oncoming traffic in the other lane. Eventually, the problem becomes such an issue that we have to turn-off the cruise control to drive normally which defeats the reason why cruise control is desired. I had presented the issue with Tesla support, but I was basically blown off. Although, this issue is frequently commented by other Tesla owners on social media. Basically, the Tesla cruise control does not function like any of my other car's cruise control. The problem is thus software related to how the images from the camera are interpreted. I'm worried about my safety with the possibility of being rear-ended.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE