2021 TESLA MODEL Y Complaints

My heat pump and ac unit went out and Tesla wants me to pay $4000 for a faulty part that broke in less then 3 years

After charging the vehicle threw error code “BMS_a079 Unable to charge - Maximum charge level reached Reduced maximum charge level - Schedule service”. The car would no longer charge and had to be taken in for service. Tesla advised the High Voltage battery needed to be replaced. Replacing the High Voltage battery resolved the issue.

I parked my Tesla vehicle in a friend’s driveway. When I returned and opened the driver’s door, I entered the vehicle and attempted to put it into Drive. At that point, the vehicle display went completely blank and the vehicle became inoperable. I then attempted to open the door from inside the vehicle, but the door would not open and I was unable to exit the car. I was effectively locked inside the vehicle. I contacted Tesla customer support and remained on the call for approximately 1.5 hours before receiving assistance. Tesla customer support confirmed that the issue was caused by failure of the 12-volt battery. At the time of the incident, the outside temperature was below 0 degrees centigrade. The incident occurred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There was no prior warning or notification from the vehicle or the Tesla mobile app indicating that the 12-volt battery was at risk of failure. The failure resulted in loss of vehicle function and inability to exit the vehicle, creating a serious safety concern.

I noticed the windshield washer nozzle on the passenger side isn't either working or not there. I reached out to Tesla, and also stopped by a Local Dealership and they told me that it would cost me out of pocket, since it's out of warranty. Secondly, the left side driver repeater camera has a Glare when turned at night time only. which is quite dangerous due to very less visibility due to the Glare of the Turn signal light that causes the repeater camera to function properly. this is a on going known problem. I have reached out to Tesla for this matter. and I was advised that it would not be covered since it's not under warranty. This issue should be a recall that Tesla should fix. this isn't an issue caused by normal wear and tear it's a manufacturer defect.

On Monday 12/29/2025, while driving my 2021 Tesla Model Y on the highway at approximately 70 mph returning from DTW Airport to my home with my children in the vehicle, the steering suddenly locked / the steering wheel would not turn. I was able to pull over to the shoulder. There were no warning lamps or warning messages displayed before or during the failure. After pulling over, I powered the vehicle off and back on. The steering partially worked again, and I was able to drive home. Later the same day at my friend’s house/driveway, the steering locked out again and this time it was completely locked, making the vehicle not safely drivable. Again, there were no warning messages or symptoms prior to the lockout. Tesla Service provided a written estimate documenting the complaint “steering locked out / cannot drive” and proposed replacing the steering gear/steering rack (“Steering Gear LHD,” part number 1188832-00-B) plus alignment, total about $3,127.70, at 96,042 miles. The vehicle and component are available for inspection upon request (Tesla can retain the replaced part). This is a safety defect concern because sudden loss of steering control on a highway without warning could lead to a crash, especially with passengers/children in the vehicle.

Both front half shafts failed and had to be replaced by Tesla. I did research and this part is known to be substandard, was recalled in China, and remains a problem in the US.

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact observed the code BMSA079 on the computer, and messages "Vehicle Unable to Charge to Maximum Charge Level" and “Maximum Charge Level Reached - Reduced Maximum Charge Levels" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was determined that one coil in the battery was inoperative, and the dealer reduced the charge and refused to increase the battery charging level. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 155,000.

Picked up car from tesla service on 12/30/2025. On [XXX] at around [XXX] I had pressed the car break and suddenly accelerated and lead to crashing into the pole. I am concerned about the safety and if it is drivable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle’s high-voltage battery and charging system experienced repeated failures, preventing charging while the vehicle was parked. This issue occurred three times: January 2024: Charging error “BMS_a079. Unable to charge” appeared. Vehicle was stranded and required service intervention. Mileage ~28,125. November 2024: Same charging error during winter travel, vehicle stranded mid-trip, creating safety risk for passengers. Mileage ~38,744. September 2025: Charging error recurred mid-trip, vehicle had to be left at a service location. Mileage ~48,918. All incidents were reported to Tesla under battery warranty. Repairs were attempted each time, but the problem recurred. A repurchase request was submitted after the third incident and was denied, with only a goodwill service credit offered. Safety concerns include the risk of being stranded, particularly during long trips or in winter conditions, which could affect passengers and other road users. The battery and charging system were inspected by Tesla service personnel after each incident, and the failure was confirmed each time.

In May 2025, Tesla pushed an over-the-air (OTA) software update overnight while the vehicle was parked. When the vehicle was started the following morning, the update had failed mid-process and stalled at approximately 50%. Immediately upon startup, the backup camera and navigation/maps stopped functioning. The vehicle has been unable to complete subsequent software updates since. Tesla service later inspected the vehicle and indicated that the main computer/ECU was stuck in a loop and required replacement. The backup camera and navigation loss occurred immediately following the OTA update and persisted for several months despite multiple service attempts. Due to the vehicle’s rear design and limited rear window visibility, operating the vehicle in reverse without a functioning backup camera significantly impairs visibility. Even when using mirrors or physically turning to look backward, rearward visibility is restricted. As a result, the loss of backup camera functionality presents an ongoing, daily safety hazard during normal vehicle operation.