general problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y - part 1

2021 Tesla Model Y suffered a complete failure of the front lower lateral links, compliance links, and upper control arms at only 29,103 miles. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer. It is currently being repaired at my cost. There was no warning lights or messages. I had noticed a creaking sound upon turning, especially while in reverse. I believe this mirrors the exact mechanical failures seen in NHTSA campaign 21v835000. However, my VIN number was not listed in this recall.

I purchased a 2021 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [xxx] ) used directly from Tesla. I am the first retail owner outside of Tesla. I am currently experiencing a knocking noise from the driver side suspension. I have requested that Tesla inspect and complete the following federally mandated safety recalls and service bulletins, none of which appear in my vehicle’s service history: • NHTSA recall 21v-835 / sb-21-31-003 — front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen and separate from the sub-frame, causing instability and crash risk • NHTSA recall 21v-912 — suspension knuckles may fracture • sb-20-31-006 — front upper control arm ball joint reseal Tesla service has refused to perform these repairs free of charge, citing expired warranty (warranty expired April 5, 2025). Tesla’s response does not address that these are federal safety recalls, not warranty repairs. Federal law requires recall repairs to be performed free of charge regardless of warranty status, age, or mileage. Tesla has also failed to provide written documentation confirming whether these recalls were completed prior to selling me the vehicle. Instead, I have been redirected to a self-service VIN lookup tool and a general data privacy request form — neither of which confirms when, where, or whether the recall work was actually performed. I am requesting NHTSA investigate Tesla’s failure to complete these safety recalls prior to selling this vehicle to a retail customer, and their refusal to honor federal recall obligations. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Component that failed: front lower lateral link and compliance link suspension bushings. Failed components were removed by Tesla service and are no longer available for inspection. Safety risk: failed suspension bushings directly compromise steering precision, vehicle stability, and handling — particularly at highway speeds. A driver unaware of this failure could experience loss of steering control or unpredictable handling without warning. Confirmed by dealer: yes. Tesla florida (tampa, 11945 north florida avenue) confirmed the failure in writing on may 22, 2026. Technician repair notes state: “inspection failed due to worn suspension bushings in the front. ” Tesla confirmed this was the first time these original components had ever been serviced. Invoice #[xxx]. Manufacturer inspection: yes, repaired by Tesla service center. Cost: $1,669. 58. Warning lamps or prior symptoms: none. No warning lights, no alerts through the Tesla app, and no prior symptoms communicated to the owner. Failure was discovered only because vehicle was brought in for an extended service agreement inspection. Assessment: original factory suspension bushings completely disintegrated at 56,258 miles on a 2021 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [xxx] ). This is not normal wear — photographic evidence shows full structural disintegration of rubber bushing material. Other Model Y owners may be driving with identical failures without knowledge. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

A 2021 Tesla Model Y experienced steering/suspension warnings followed shortly by a steering-assist reduction event. On or around may 21, 2026, the vehicle displayed: “steering alignment service recommended — ok to drive, schedule service soon. ” the vehicle was brought to Tesla because the owner was concerned the car had detected a steering, alignment, suspension, or safety-related condition. The Tesla invoice from that visit appears inconsistent. It states that “a wheel alignment check was completed,” but also states “no labor performed — customer did not authorize repairs or inspection,” with 0. 00 labor hours and no charge. A documented steering/suspension diagnostic inspection, alignment report, alert-log review, or safety assessment was not performed by Tesla or inspected. The owner was advised to replace tires and return later. Approximately 90 miles later, during a low-speed three-point turn, the vehicle made a loud pop/clunk from the front area and displayed: “steering assist reduced — steering may require increased effort. ” a related alert also stated lane departure avoidance features were unavailable. This created a safety concern because steering effort may unexpectedly increase during low-speed turns or parking maneuvers. Tesla later inspected the vehicle and documented torn front lower lateral/compliance link bushings and vehicle log data showing steering gear alerts. Tesla replaced the front lower lateral links and front lower compliance links and performed alignment work. After those repairs, Tesla stated a steering gear alert was still present and recommended steering gear/steering rack replacement with additional alignment work. The concern is that a steering/alignment warning occurred shortly before the physical front-end failure and reduced steering-assist event, but the earlier Tesla visit does not clearly document that the warning was meaningfully inspected or safety-assessed. Vehicle is currently unsafe to drive and is in Teslas possession.

Backed-out lh rear lower fore link bolt causing structural elongation damage to the rear subframe mounting hole, requiring full subframe replacement. Vehicle had been serviced exclusively by Tesla. Tesla issued service bulletin sb-25-31-004 on April 17, 2026 covering this exact condition. Tesla declined to perform the repair under the bulletin citing out-of-warranty status. A touchscreen alert directing me to service was active at the time of denial.

My 2021 Model Y has about 24,500 miles began squeaking when turning the steering wheel or hitting bumps. I read online that many Tesla owners had the same issue. The design on these weren't great allowing water to penetrate these parts and cause them to ware down faster. I already paid for the replacement of the upper and lower control arms.

Squeaking (lubrication failure) of the front suspension components, prematurely, are a common and widespread issue with Tesla vehicles. I have approximately 60k miles on my Model Y and the front control arms are making noises. Tesla wants to replace a significant amount of suspension components at a high cost, instead of a recall (or creating serviceable lubrication points on these components). The NHTSA needs to hold Tesla accountable for faulty suspension design and lack of maintainability leading to premature failure.

Both torn bushing and broken links at 29k miles.

The upper control arm bolt came loose on its own.

Vehicle experienced front suspension lateral link failure. The links separated from the sub-frame due to improperly secured fasteners. This is the exact defect described in existing recall sb-21-31-003 / NHTSA campaign 21v835000. The existing recall states 'front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame. ' this vehicle has this identical manufacturing defect but was not included in the recall database. Tesla service confirmed the links 'fell out' and separated from the sub-frame at approximately 65,000 miles. Technician notes indicate a 'speed mismatch between wheel and motor' caused by the link separation - this is the symptom of the underlying fastener defect. The failure resulted in loss of steering control and made the vehicle undriveable (vor - vehicle off road). This is a safety-critical manufacturing defect affecting front suspension, creating crash risk due to sudden loss of vehicle stability and control. Owner is being charged for repair of a known manufacturing defect that should have been covered under the existing recall. This suggests the recall scope was too narrow and did not capture all affected vehicles with this defect. Request investigation into whether recall should be expanded to include additional affected vehicles.

There is a rip in the lower control bushing making steering difficult to control. I see that this is a common issue but no recall yet. My car has only 28k miles.

The front suspension on my 2021 Tesla Model Y developed progressive creaking and groaning noises during low-speed turning, especially in parking lots or when maneuvering. The noise began intermittently around 45,000 miles and became much louder by around 86,000 miles, which made me concerned about a potential safety issue before a long family trip. The sound comes from the front lower suspension area and indicates that something may be loose or failing. I am worried about the possibility of losing steering control if the suspension components separate or shift while driving, especially with my children in the car. The Tesla service center in lisle, illinois inspected the vehicle and informed me that both front lower lateral links and both front lower compliance links must be replaced (all four front suspension links). The repair estimate is about $1,600. This problem appears identical to the condition described in Tesla’s campaign/recall sb-21-31-003 / NHTSA 21v835, which involves improperly torqued front lower lateral link fasteners on 2020–2021 Model Y vehicles. My vehicle shows identical symptoms and identical components, but my VIN does not appear in the recall. I contacted Tesla corporate support by email requesting a safety/goodwill review, but I have not received any response. I believe this issue is safety-related and may indicate that more vehicles should be included in the existing recall. I am attaching the Tesla service diagnosis confirming the required replacement of all four front suspension links.

My 2021 Model Y at 49,865 miles had a safety-critical failure of the "front lower compliance and lateral links. " the Tesla technician confirmed it was a "safety issue. ".

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the rear driver’s side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. After the failure had occurred, the mechanic who towed the vehicle informed the contact that the failure could be related to a detached axle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front suspension lateral link had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. After researching, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 21v835000 (suspension). The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle should be included in the recall due to the similarities between the reported failure and the recall summary. The approximate failure mileage was 45,483.

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the front suspension lateral link fasteners were loosened. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v835000 (suspension), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 22,000.

Front suspension upper control arm makes loud creaking/squeaking noises when turning at low speeds. This is a known and widespread issue affecting Tesla Model Y and model 3 vehicles, caused by premature ball joint wear. This poses a safety risk, as the upper control arm is a critical suspension component and could fail while driving, potentially leading to loss of steering control. Tesla has acknowledged the issue through service bulletins, but they do not cover the repair outside the 4yr/50k mile warranty, leaving many owners with the same premature failure. Some repairs may be offered under goodwill, but this is inconsistent and not guaranteed.

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 vehicle lost steering at 10 mph as a bolt from the front suspension's upper control arm and lateral link fasteners became loose and detached rom the vehicle. The wheel was completely misaligned, and the vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle could not be moved to the side of the road, putting my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. I fear that this could have been a fatal accident had I been on the highway. This issue has been confirmed by Tesla service center, and they acknowledged that this is a known issue. There were no warning indicators or recall notices sent to warn of this known issue. My vehicle should have been recalled. Tesla is making me pay $3,000 for repairs despite knowing this is a manufacturer defect, and they are continuing to put lives at risk by not issuing a wider recall.

The bolts connecting the front upper control arm and steering knuckle may not have been tightened properly, potentially leading to detachment.   this causes the car to have squeaky, leaking noises when going over bumps and making turns.

Upper and lower control arms failed, and front suspensions bushings became torn. The car did not present any warning lamps or warning messages. The issue became apparent when a loud creaking/squeaking sound started coming from the front of the vehicle, and could be reproduced by turning the steering wheel, or by accelerating or braking. Control arm and suspension failures have been a frequent issue amongst Tesla owners, and the NHTSA should consider a recall for the design flaw.

Alerts regarding vehicle steering, stability, emergency braking, lane control traction, received all at once and the Tesla ai advisor indicated others were reporting the same. No other vehicles in lanes around us showed up on the vehicle lcd screen as normally they do too. Car did not brake normally (foot off accelerator and no braking) and handling seemed different although we were very cautious. Tried to resolve with screen reboot and multiple drives as ai advisor suggested and it did not self resolve. Contacted Tesla service and they suggested hcu was faulty (hydronic control unit) and abs modulator. Also wanted to look at vehicle low voltage circuit. They scheduled me for a first available $1600 service on Feb 26th (in 9 days). See attached. Seems like a significant safety issue and defect and should be recalled before some gets hurt, especially if others are seeing this too.

My steering is making loud noises and so is the suspension. It’s so loud it’s embarrassing to drive. The steering wheel also came apart because it wasn’t glued down properly and had air bubbles. I see recalls for cars but not my specific VIN. Tesla says no wheel replacement for me and cost of replacing link assembly parts and bolts would cost me 2000$.

Upper control arms wear out and start making sounds.

On [xxx], our 2021 Tesla Model Y had a catastrophic suspension failure while driving in live traffic. The car came to a sudden stop, the front suspension was loose and the vehicle was not drivable. We had the vehicle towed to the nearest testa service center in burlingame, CA. Tesla service center inspected the car and found that the lower lateral links in the front suspension had failed due to two critical suspension bolts falling out. One bolt had completely fallen out and the other had became dangerously loose and was about to fall out. The bolt failures led to a catastrophic failure of the front suspension and the vehicle became undrivable in live traffic. This is a low mileage vehicle with ~29,500 miles and there was no operator error or use that would cause a catastrophic bolt failure in the lower lateral links. Images of the issue from Tesla service center show that the bolts simply fell out after not being sufficiently fastened from the manufacturer. After Tesla service center identified the problem, we researched this issue and found an extremely relevant NHTSA recall for 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles that matches the exact suspension issue that occurred to us (21v-835 / sb-21-31-003 recall). Our Model Y was built in November 2020, which is within the affected date range of this recall, and our issue exactly matches this recall. Tesla service center employees agreed this recall seemed relevant and investigated. After a couple of days, Tesla service center contacted us and claimed that while the our catastrophic suspension issue looked very similar to the recall issue mentioned above, our specific VIN was not listed in the recall. Therefore, Tesla service center refused to repair the failure under warranty or recall and we were stuck with massive repair bill to fix a clear manufacturer defect that is already known and has been recalled. We are not sure why our VIN was not captured in recall, but have been affected by the same dangerous issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (.

Yesterday on [xxx], my husband was driving our 2021 Tesla y on a residential road (my son was on board at the time. ) suddenly they heard a loud noise, and the car rattled and went a loud noise. The next thing the driver felt like the car wasn't able to move and he stopped. One side of the car was dropped to the ground. When he got out, he saw the front of the car's bottom was scrapping on the ground. He realized it was a critical error. The suspension on the right side fell to the ground, and two brand new bolts fell on the ground a little behind the car. Right front tire was twisted and pointed to the opposite direction of the other wheel. Neither of the wheels were parallel. The front tire was scratched with some deep marks because it's been scrapping and dragging on the ground. The twisted tire damaged the side of the front right fender because it was out of place. The scariest thing was that the accident happened out of nowhere and it fell apart while the vehicle is moving. Very dangerous. Our Tesla has 53,000 miles on it. And got new tires and rotations about 2 years ago. It was done by Tesla service. We never had anyone else touch the car but the dealership. We never had any collision. We had the car towed to the service center yesterday (Sunday and they were closed. ) I contacted service center this morning and asked whether this error is related to the similar recall on Tesla model 3. Suspension fell apart. The staff membered claimed that it had nothing to do with it. He also claimed that he's very knowledgeable about recalls, "if there is a specific recall relating this problem, I'll be the first one to know. " I guess he might be right, but what if our car is the first one which experienced this deadliest problem. Here is the evidence of the current recalls relating [xxx] I'm very shocked to find out that this had happened, and there was no previous safety recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Suspension noise, front suspension or steering squeak or groaning while turning. Tesla service identified lh half shaft was damaged and blaming it's due to outside influence because impact to the undershiled. This car should be still under 4 years and 50k warranty but Tesla service refused warranty on the parts.

I was driving into a parking lot and heard a loud bang. I get out of my car and see that the metal that connects the tire to the car came down and screws came out. It is not drivable. I know this is not something normal and shouldn't happen. This is very dangerous and I am grateful I wasn't on the freeway when it happened. I was not involved in any collision and I did not hit anything. This simply happened on its own.

I noticed some alignment issues becoming progressively worse with my car. Suddenly in a parking garage my front right tire over rotated and became stuck in the wheel well. I was able to free the wheel and the car said "alighnment issues but car is safe to drive. " I drove home with my sister and her baby on the highway. Then I got off the highway and the car did the same thing becoming stuck in the middle of an intersection. I was able to free the car and proceed carefully home. The next morning my front control arm completely broke free and was dragging on the ground leaving the car completely inoperable. I never had any accident or hit any curb with the car. In fact we brought it in 1 year ago to check alignment issues on the same front right suspension. In the shop now the service technician is saying this is a known issue on the my resulting from not torqueing the bolts enough. I am shocked that the car has not been recalled for this known issues that is a major safety impact. I don't trust this car at all and frankly makes me question the oversight of NHTSA. When I look online apparently many people have been talking about this issue for over a year.

The car started clicking while turning sharply recently. Tesla service advised it was safe to drive and scheduled me for routine inspection in 2 weeks. A few days later the control arm completely detached while driving through an intersection. There was no incident that could have damaged the suspension and I almost got in a severe accident.

Vehicle began making loud creaking noise audible at all speeds, loudest at low speeds. Car was maintained by Tesla dealership. Failure occurred at approximately 52,000 miles, just after 50,000 warranty expired. Diagnosed as failure of both control arms which need to be replaced at significant expense. Failure should not happen on such a low mileage and newer vehicle.

Lower control arm bolt has backed out on the passenger side. Have found several similar issues on the same model vehicle the past few weeks.

Today the “control arm” and “axel” suddenly broke and stopped my car.

Squeaking sound at low speeds, and turning. Tesla advised the problem is the suspension and control arms. Stated it is a safety issue. Repair cost about $1900.

Loud clicking noise hurt for several days, then when reversing and turning the steering wheel, the front right of the car collapsed; the suspension broke because a bolt came loose which was found in the driveway. Front right wheel area collapse and is touching the top of the wheel liner. There was no prior accident or damage causing the issue. Car had to be towed and repaired.

Cracked suspension way as described by Tesla service: verified customers concern right away without driving vehicle. Inspected suspension and found that the ball joints on the upper control arm are making the noise. Inspected entire front end and found the the compliance and lateral links have cracked bushings. Replaced upper control arms, both lateral links and both compliance links. Test drove vehicle and verified that the noise is now gone. Performed four wheel alignment after repairs. Cost $2000 to repair. Ridiculous that these are failing so early in the life of the car.