2026 Tesla Model Y problems & reliability
360 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y, alongside 8 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
21 complaints report injuries (28 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown / Other | 112 | 31% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance → | 106 | 29% |
| Electrical System → | 52 | 14% |
| Steering → | 43 | 12% |
| Lane Departure → | 41 | 11% |
| Suspension → | 29 | 8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control → | 29 | 8% |
| Structure → | 28 | 8% |
| Service Brakes → | 24 | 7% |
| Back Over Prevention → | 21 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 24 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Among the 20 complaints that included a usable odometer reading, the median reported incident mileage was 6,000 miles (middle 50% between 4,502 and 13,000 miles).
What owners report
“When using FSD in a tesla, they are forcing you to take your eyes off the road to engage with their quationaire on WHY I disengaged with FSD. Its always because I WANT TO. I am being forced to look at the screen which also it is blocking important information. I am not a slave and won't be forced to answer a…”
Unknown / Other · filed Sep 17, 2026
“Inner barrel of factory OEM rear passenger wheel developed circumferential crack with no known impact. On 09/17/2026 I discovered a crack running along the inner lip/barrel of the factory rear passenger wheel on my 2026 Tesla Model Y with approximately 21,000 miles. The vehicle is 5 months old from new. There was no…”
Wheels · filed Sep 17, 2026
“Safety Complaint and Incident Report: Severe Injury Caused by Unprotected Sharp Metal Edge. I am writing to formally lodge a safety complaint regarding a serious design/manufacturing hazard on my Tesla vehicle. While washing the vehicle and wiping down the area near the liftgate/trunk strut, my finger was severely cut…”
Structure · filed Sep 16, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
Engineering Analysis EA26002 · opened Mar 18, 2026 · open
- Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged
Preliminary Evaluation PE25012 · opened Oct 7, 2025 · open
- Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements
Audit Query AQ25002 · opened Aug 20, 2025 · open
- Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
Preliminary Evaluation PE24033 · opened Jan 6, 2025 · closed Apr 3, 2026
Technical service bulletins
9 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y.
On some Model Y vehicles built before February 28, 2026, the design of the HVAC inlet duct may lead to water ingress into the air filter and/or vehicle interior. If the vehicle is brought into Service for cabin air…
SB-26-18-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 15, 2026
On some vehicles, degraded or excessive glue under the front seat cushion(s) may cause creaking noises during cornering or when pressing on the seat cushion(s). Upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle for symptoms…
SB-26-13-005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 4, 2026
On some vehicles, insufficient lubricant at the front seat recliner tube ends may cause creaking noises during weight shifting when the seat is occupied. Upon customer complaint, inspect the vehicle for symptoms related…
SB-26-13-006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 29, 2026
Certain Model Y vehicles may emit rattling or knocking noises when driving over bumps or rough road. The condition can be improved by replacing the front upper control arm mounts, replacing the front damper assemblies…
SB-26-31-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 8, 2026
Some Model Y vehicles may emit rattling or knocking noises when driving over bumps or rough road. The condition can be improved by replacing the front upper control arm mounts, replacing the front damper assemblies…
SB-25-31-005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 8, 2026
On some vehicles, the LH and/or RH front seat backrest blower(s) may emit a loud grinding noise in the shoulder area of the backrest when front seat cooling is enabled. Inspect the vehicle for symptoms related to the…
SB-26-13-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 31, 2026
On some Model Y vehicles, water may ingress into the front fascia camera via the channels on the front fascia harness. This may corrode the camera connector or submerge the camera lens, which results in camera alerts…
SB-25-17-012 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 18, 2026
On some Model Y Standard vehicles, the gap between the front door glass run seals and the moving glass might not meet Tesla specifications, resulting in high-pitched wind noise from the A-pillar areas when the vehicle…
SB-26-11-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 12, 2026
On certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensor battery may drain at an accelerated rate. Identify and replace the affected TPMS sensor.
SB-25-34-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 12, 2025
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2026 Tesla Model Y has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2026 Tesla Model Y?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Among complaints with usable mileage, the median reported incident mileage was 6,000 miles. This does not predict when a particular vehicle will develop a problem.