2026 Tesla Model Y problems & reliability
302 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y, alongside 6 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 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 vehicles.
15 complaints report injuries (21 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown OR Other | 92 | 30% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 89 | 29% |
| Electrical System | 47 | 16% |
| Steering | 38 | 13% |
| Lane Departure | 31 | 10% |
| Suspension | 28 | 9% |
| Structure | 25 | 8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 | 8% |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
What owners report
“I was operating my Tesla using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) from my home to a coffee shop. The vehicle completed the entire drive under FSD without any manual intervention. After arriving at the destination, FSD automatically entered the parking lot, selected an available parking space, and initiated the parking…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Aug 5, 2026
“While driving a 2026 Tesla Model Y Premium on I-95 South in Maryland at approximately 10:30 PM on 7-31-2026 using Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised mode, the vehicle was traveling in the center lane (lane 2 of 3) when it ran over a large whole tire (commercial truck-sized) that was positioned in the center of the…”
Forward Collision Avoidance · filed Aug 5, 2026
“The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 16 MPH with the self-driving feature activated the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. Seconds later the contact's daughter attempted to disengage the self-driving feature and then depressed the brake pedal to stop from…”
Electrical System · filed Aug 4, 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
8 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2026 Tesla Model Y.
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 6 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.