general problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y - part 1

Two days ago a warning popped up on the Tesla screen saying to schedule service for something the car had detected. It said the car could still be driven. I submitted a service request in the app, and in the meantime researched the error. Per google, it said this was a potential issue with suspension / steering components that needed to be looked at. The next day, a Tesla technician called and asked what my appointment was for. I told him about the error and that I had found it said it was for a suspension or steering issue. He told me I was wrong, and that it was only for low tire pressure. The car did not have low tire pressure. He said the appointment wasn't needed, cancelled the appointment, and told me to drive 30-40 miles to clear the error. Literally 5 hours later, after my wife driving my kids down the freeway, when parking on the street in front go my house the car made a giant pop and the front left sank. We looked under the car and the front drivers side control arm had completely disconnected, popping straight down towards the road. More concerning, two bolts popped out, not broken, but just clearly loose and had finally unscrewed. You will see them on the ground in the pictures. If this had happened 5 minutes earlier while on the freeway I don't want to even think about what might have happened. These cars should be recalled, this is super dangerous. Not to mention the fact that Tesla explicitly canceled my appointment for this and told me not to bring the car in.

Incident details: • date/time: [xxx]. • location: [xxx] • event: while driving, the front left wheel partially detached without warning, causing an immediate loss of steering control. Findings (third-party technician at the scene): • the wheel/control arm/linkage had come loose/detached. • two major suspension bolts were extremely loose or had detached. • a rotor screw detached easily during inspection. • photos, videos, and witness statements are available upon request. Current status: Tesla has not provided a failure analysis or demonstrated that the issue is resolved. Similar failures have been reported on social media, and recalls between 2021–2023 addressed front suspension lateral link fasteners that could loosen or detach. “a 2021 recall (NHTSA recall #21v835) affected model 3s from January 2019-April 2021 and Model Ys from March 2020-June 2021. A 2022 recall (NHTSA #22v895) was for certain 2023 Model Ys with issues on the left-hand lateral link. “ my vehicle has not been included in any such recall, and I received no prior notification. Supporting documentation (emails, service records, publications) is available upon request. Risk level: extremely high. This defect creates a severe danger to drivers, passengers, and the public. Tesla’s lack of corrective action leaves many customers at risk. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard and abnormal sound emanating from the steering wheel, after which the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 20,000.

While driving on the freeway, I heard an unusual noise coming from beneath the battery of my car. Concerned, I drove to a nearby friend's house and parked there, carefully checking my dashboard for any warning signals but finding none. I decided to resume my journey, but as I backed out of the driveway, I heard a sudden noise indicating something had come loose, followed by a crackling sound. Upon inspecting the car, I discovered that the control arm had become detached, the axle had popped out, and two bolts had come off. During the towing process, I noticed that the steering had become extremely tight. To my surprise, I had never received any recall notice from Tesla addressing this issue. Considering that my car is less than two years old, I was deeply disturbed by the situation. This incident has significantly undermined my confidence in the safety of the vehicle, as it highlights a potential manufacturing defect involving defective parts. I regularly use this car to drive my children to their activities, and knowing that this could have led to a catastrophic failure such as tire separation, loss of steering control, or compromised braking capabilities especially on the freeway, is worrying. The car was towed to a dealer and currently in the queue for evaluation by Tesla technicians. I requested detailed service report from irvine service center. There were no warning indicators in the dashboard while I was driving or after the bolts came loose.

According to Tesla service, my two "lateral links" for the front wheels need to be replaced. They sent us photos of the issue and it looks like one of the fasteners for one of the lateral links was missing (1 of two fasteners) if the other fastener failed/fell out the car could easily steer out of control. The problem of the lateral links was confirmed by Tesla servicing. They are repairing it under warranty. It was only been inspected by the manufacturer, Tesla. There were no warning lamps. The only indication was the thumping sound during turns.

Making a right turn and heard a pop sound. Pulled into a parking lot immediately found the steering arm dropped and shortly after a large bolt fell out. There is supposed to be 2 bolts holding up each side, one bolt was already missing. Event occurred without incident. Normal street driving at a low speed turn.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to complete a left turn, the contact briefly heard an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle, after which the steering wheel jerked abnormally. The vehicle quickly returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the front-end suspension bushings. The contact was also informed that a bolt on the driver’s side control arm had loosened. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

I am writing to report severe safety concerns involving my Tesla Model Y. Without any accident or impact, my vehicle experienced a mechanical failure on [xxx}, when the front left tire detached, making the car immobile. The vehicle had approximately 31,500 miles and no prior damage or accident history. Tesla towed the car for repairs. However, during the repair process, I discovered that the vehicle was transferred to a body shop in chantilly, va, without my prior knowledge or consent. When I visited the shop to retrieve personal belongings, I was shocked to see that the condition of my vehicle had significantly worsened. The technician informed me that the car now had serious structural damage, including a twisted frame and extensive paint damage. This damage did not exist before and was not caused by an impact. The technician indicated that repairs would take at least a week if only bodywork was addressed. Most concerning, the vehicle was transferred with no visible damage, yet now has severe structural issues. Tesla has suggested replacing the damaged body parts later, which makes no sense given that the car was in a safe condition prior to the transfer. Additionally, the front wheel, which detached earlier, was reassembled without impact, but the vehicle remains unsafe. It has taken over 30 days to attempt repairs, and the vehicle still is not fully fixed. I do not feel safe driving it under these conditions. Furthermore, communication regarding the damage has been poor. I was not informed of any body or structural damage before the transfer. Tesla’s recent message asked me to pick up the vehicle, stating they will order parts later, which is confusing and concerning. Given the extensive damage, delays, and safety risks, I request the NHTSA investigate these issues. I also urge Tesla to buy back my vehicle so I can use the credit toward purchasing a new Tesla, ensuring my safety and confidence. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information.

The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 - 50 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to regain control of the vehicle and attempting to correct the steering wheel, the vehicle kept going to the right and to the left independently. The contact was unable to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle struck a railing and a concrete divider with the passenger’s side front bumper and then the rear passenger’s side quarter panel, and the vehicle spun around on the highway and came to a stop. The contact pressed the emergency latch to exit the vehicle out of fear that the vehicle might catch on fire. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side tire was pushed back due to the impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that all the air bags deployed as designed. The vehicle was towed to a local collision center. A police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed destroyed by the insurance provider. The contact sustained injuries to the upper back, left shoulder, right elbow, and neck; however, there were no broken bones reported. The contact received medical attention for the injuries sustained. The local dealer was not contacted, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

A suspension rod/bolt fell off my car. When I was making a right hand turn my car began screeching and shaking, I lost control for a second and almost hit another vehicle, luckily I was able to stop my car. I had my car towed to a Tesla service station for repair.

We experienced an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation with Tesla y model on Saturday, may 31st around 3:48pm and would like to report to NHTSA. We were driving on rt 3 going towards nashua and my Tesla-y car when the steering wheel froze and I got message that front camera was not working. When I tried to steer the car in the lane, the car suddenly braked and took two 360 degree spins (turns) on the highway with cars streaming at high speed around us. We went from the left lane to the right most lane after two 360 degree spins and ended in the right lane. Luckily, no other autos hit us and I was able to take control of the car and pull over in the right lane. The incident is recorded int the Tesla's harddrive which we can make this available to you. The car started working normally so we drove back home. We have had minor control incidents with the lane assit and auto pilot systems of this car in 2023 and 2024. We have complained and showed the problem to Tesla dealer in watertown, MA. However they said there is nothing wrong with the car. We request you to investigate this incident with Tesla and find out the cause for the car to take this dangerous breaking and spinning incident on a highway. Thanks, rashida and luvai motiwalla (978)996-9535.

Unknown I was driving with no advanced driver assistance systems (adas). My vehicle took control of the steering wheel, swerving uncontrollably, almost hitting approaching cars, and a wooden electricity post. It was diffucult to keep the steering wheel steady. I struggled to pull the vehicle to the side of the road until I made a complete stop. A witness checked on me and was concerned that I had almost crashed.

I have had supervised full self driving in the vehicle for well over a year. I have used the Smart parking feature Monday-Thursday to park the vehicle at work and it has worked flawlessly. On [xxx] around [xxx], I went to [xxx] . After entering the gate to parking on [xxx], I drove slowly. I was able to select a parking spot and tapped on it on the screen for the selection and then started the automatic parking. There were no other cars around as we were all just starting to enter the gate and park. The car began to move in reverse. It then paused turned the wheel a bit, turned it back, tried to decide what it was going to do and started to move forward. The car then drove up the curb on to the walkway and almost drove into the building. I was able to hit the brake quickly to stop the process. There was no damage to the building or the car. I had never had an issue with the Smart parking until this time. I then backed the car off the sidewalk and parked it myself. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle was performing normally until I stopped and put vehicle into reverse to back into a supercharger stall. Heard a clunk when starting to back up. Car started to resist moving and front started to lift in the air a few inches. Stopped and went forward to go around and try again. Vehicle would not turn to left when going forward. Got out and noticed front passenger wheel was not aligned with other front wheel. Then noticed tie rod was ripped out of socket.

Knocking noise coming from front left tire when turning, accelerating, and reversing. Investigated noise and found a bolt hanging (unscrewed) from control arm/tie rod and another bolt loose and working it's way loose. If this bolt unscrew, I'm positive steering would be lost. See pictures.

1. Front passenger side wheel and auto steering system malfunctioned. Yes it is available for inspection. 2. My car was not drivable and I was stuck on the leftmost lane of highway with fast traffic passing by. Had to call 911 to move myself to safety. 3. Not yet 4. Vehicle has been inspected by the police 5. No warning lamps or message prior to failure.

The driving wheel locked during a turn on back road and ran right into a electricity pole. All air bags deployed and the electricity pole broke. The driver was slightly injured on her forearm.

Two weeks I had my Model Y serviced for shaking of the car and steering wheel. They deemed the cause of the shaking due to unalignment of the wheels and they claimed to have fixed the issue. After receiving the car for the week after it began to make a sound of something hitting every time I made a u turn or any time I turned the wheel. While driving 3/8 with my family in the car I made a u turn in a parking lot and heard the same loud sound of hitting. When I went to check two large approximately 3 inch bolts were on the ground but no nuts in sight and my control arm broke the bottom plate and was completely unattached from the car. Thankfully the bolts came off while in a parking lot and not 20 minutes prior when I was driving on a windy road. Within 24hours Tesla contacted me saying my car was ready for pickup without any explanation of why the bolts came off, no full inspection completed for other issues and no alignment of the tires. Under the Tesla mechanic notes they only reinstalled the bolts and tightened the front wheels and not the back. Upon further research online I have found numerous other people complaining of the same issue of the bolts for the control arm falling off on Model Y and 3 Teslas due to forgetting to weld the bolt nuts to the sub frame.

3/5/2024. Upon startup, car does not have power steering. Error code ui_a020 on screen and steering wheel very difficult to move as car reverses. Put car back into park and arranged for alternate transportation. Manufacturer advises "monitoring and reporting back when/if alert re-occurs".

While driving heard a noise from front end. As I turned right the steering wheel turned left in opposite direction. I heard something fall and found a bolt that fell off the car control arm. I managed to get the car back to my garage and called Tesla service. They say it needs an alignment and are going to charge me for this repair. A bolt should not be falling off the vehicle.

Power steering occasionally cuts out during low speed manoeuvres, such as parallel parking, parking, and turning while stopped. When trying to forcibly replicate the issue (by moving steering wheel lock to lock while doing parking manoeuvres) computer showed codes epas3p_a122_olpactive and epas3p_a074_overheatprotect. Tesla says this is "working as designed" and will not fix. I have asked the car to be serviced for this issue twice now. Safety is a concern as the issue is unpredictable and I believe the steering could become difficult suddenly in a situation where it is necessary to move out of the way quickly. (ie. Stopped in traffic with emergency vehicles incoming).

There is a steering malfunction, with my Tesla Model Y it completely locks up and the steering is disabled. The steering doesn’t move at all the following warning and codes appeared on the dashboard. Di a223 traction control disabled drive with caution dl a222 stability control disabled drive with caution gtw_w074 steering assist reduced steering may require increased effort ul_a020 steering assist reduced steering may require increased effort. Now this is the second time it has happened within few months. It was taken to the dealership with the same complaint this was their diagnoses concern: customer states: feature availability & settings - steering is disabled, park assist disabled , stability control disabled, traction control disabled, vehicle hold disabled repair notes: confirmed customer concern. Removed and replaced steering rack, after replacement all systems operating as designed correction: general diagnosis correction: steering rack (dual motor) (remove & replace) - remove and replace parts replaced or added part quantity steering gear - left 1. 00 hand drive(1188832-00- a) nut&wshr[sw],m14x1. 5, 2. 00 [10],znfl,ptp(1109263- 00-b). There is a serious and unsafe issue with this car. A potential disaster waiting to happen.

While driving, I experienced abnormal steering control. I am not sure if it’s a mechanical or electronic issue. The vehicle was towed to a local towing facility. I have reported the issue to Tesla but have not received a response regarding an inspection or next steps. This could be a potential safety issue.

Vehicle control arms need to be replaced as suggested by the service department. They are currently clicking because they are not secure. I truly believe this is a safety hazard. Arms cannot be replaced for another month. Seems to be a widespread issue from my research. If arm fails, driver would lose control of the vehicle.

The tire losing with steering shaft . The bolt come off , my vehicle can’t make hard turn make it unsafe to able to drive.

Model y s/w version 12. 5. 4. 1 the Model Y can be made to oscillate in the travel lane at highway speeds I think I experienced this at 70-75, it would seem to apply at any capable speed. Proper behavior: 1) driving on the highway in fsd 2) trigger the left or right turn signal to initiate a lane change by automation. What actually occurs: 1) driving on the highway in fsd 2) hold the turn signal in the desired up or down position to initiate a lane change. 3) the Tesla begins to switch lanes, and will continue to further its lane change provided you continue to hold the turn signal (up/down). 4) if you release the turn signal input "early", that is prior to the Tesla determining that the new lane is the current lane, it will immediately begin reverting to the original lane that you attempted to leave. 5) it begins to over correct, requiring maybe 5 damped oscillations. Its very uncomfortable, and exposes a vehicle on the edge of control - the vehicle is not traveling neutrally on its suspension. To be clear, it is damped, but I don't see how it could be described as stable at highway speeds.

My front right suspension linkage under the vehicle has come loose and drags on the tarmac. The problem is the suspension linkage is held on by what appears to be two bolts. The two bolts have backed out, causing this linkage to fail.

I noticed a clicking sound when turning my steering wheel at low speeds such as when parking around September 2024. The sound got louder with time. A few months later after getting new tires installed (October 22, 2024)I had very bad vibration at high speeds that was not resolved with multiple tire balances at different tire shops. Requested service with the dealer. My initial first available service appointment was December 20th 2024. I messaged the service center expressing concern that my car was unsafe to drive. They allowed me to bring my car in to drive with a technician and they ended up replacing the front lateral links on November 7, 2024. My car was purchased new in June 2024 and is at 22,000 miles. The parts were replaced under warranty. There were no warning lamps or other symptoms.

Two days ago, as I was turning left into my neighborhood, I suddenly lost control of my car's steering. Just as I started the turn, the steering wheel unexpectedly pulled to the right, causing my car to veer off course and head straight toward the curb. Despite trying to correct it, the steering wouldn't respond, and the car collided with the curb. The impact was substantial, and the vehicle continued dragging along the curb until I was able to bring it to a complete stop. Upon inspection, I found that the passenger-side front wheel had been severely damaged, appearing crushed and warped from the impact. When I looked under the car, I noticed that the control arm was visibly damaged. It seemed bent or possibly broken, which I suspect contributed to my sudden loss of control over the steering. This experience has been unsettling, especially since the control arm is a critical part of the steering and suspension system. Afterward, I started researching similar incidents and found many posts and articles discussing similar cases. It seems that control arm damage or failure is not uncommon, particularly in situations involving rough terrain, curbs, or sudden impacts. Some articles also discuss the importance of regular inspections and the potential risks of worn-out control arms. I came across one particular article that sheds more light on these types of steering and suspension failures. [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I found that two bolts that connect the front right suspension assembly to the body of the car were loose (actually one had completely come off). On 9/12 I heard a rather loud clanging sound when I accelerated. When I arrived home I looked under the car, saw those loose bolts, and took the two pictures that I attached, which were taken from in front of the behind the front right wheel. We bought this car new from Tesla, and received it in late August 2023. We would expect that those bolts were not properly tightened when the car was assembled at the factory, since servicing done afterwards should not have affected them. This is the list of servicing that was done after we received the car, and before 9/- Tesla service fixed some rattling sounds that we heard inside the car by adjusting the interior trim, and by fixing something in the brake pedal that was making some rattling sound sometime (replaced the brake pin, insulate the braked pedal and lubricated the brake pin) - a body shop replaced the side mirror on the left side (I. E. Opposite side of the bolts that had come off), which had been hit by another car - a tire shop fixed a hole in a tire and rotated the tires.

Date of incident 9/9/24 11:15 am 2023 Tesla Model Y traveling north bound I-15 using Tesla autopilot intending soon to exit pioneer crossing / american fork ut in the far right lane — vehicle made sudden move to right glancing off wall causing scraping damage to right front quarter panel, and hub cap. Although I stepped on the brake in attempt to take control of the vehicle I immediately experienced uncontrolled acceleration and difficulting in steering. I chose not to exit and fought to keep the vehicle in varying freeway lanes attempting to brake to which the vehicle continued to attempt to accelerate against the braking, I also simultaneously and frantically continued to push the right stalk upwards in attempt to disengage autopilot assuming that was causing the unintended acceleration. I was fighting to keep the car in a lane with faulty steering at time awakwardly steering to avoid slower moving vehicles. I eventually ended up coming to a complete stop in the middle lane of I-15 north bound 9/10ths (nine tenths) of mile north of my intended exit (mile post #278 pioneer crossing). Because of faulty controls I was afraid to try to move the vehicle to the side — I immediately put on emergency flashing lights and called 911 on my cell phone. While nervously waiting for emergency services approaching vehicles slowed and made their way around me — per instruction I stayed in my vehicle with seatbelt on. One large pickup truck struck my vehicle driverside rear as he passed by and failed to stop. Utah highway patrol and fire department ambulance arrived within approximatley ten minutes. Two highway patrol officers stopped traffic and assisted in me slowing driving my vehicle to the center emergency lane. One office stayed with me until tow. He commented the right rear wheel appeared not aligned correctly suggested the rear axle was possibly broken. I was not injured beyond being extremely frightened. No passengers.

The control arm of my 2023 Model Y front wheel just came completely off without any incident. On August 31st at 9 pm, I was driving home from a park when I just pulled the car into my driveway, I heard a strange squeaky noise from the front wheel area, followed by a huge "bam ''. I started to turn my steering wheel, and by then, the vehicle felt "stuck'' as if something was preventing the car from moving. I came out of the vehicle and noticed the control arm had just fallen off and was dragging on the ground, I also saw two bolts on the ground so I scheduled a Tesla roadside assistance. The Tesla service told me to call a lift-wheel tow truck to tow my vehicle to a collision for repairs. The control arm defect is a known issue for Tesla.

On [xxx] at [xxx] on [xxx] I experienced a sudden malfunction of steering control of my Tesla Model Y, followed by a rightward movement initiated by vehicle automation and potentially amplified due to the steering malfunction. The vehicle then collided with an 18-wheeler truck on the right lane and came to a stop on the middle lane. I was driving past tracy CA on [xxx] towards modesto on a personal trip to merced with my daughter, [xxx] , in the front passenger seat to drop her off. Fortunately, there was no casualty or injury from this incident. We are fortunate enough to have survived physically unscathed. A difference of few seconds could have led to significant injuries or impairment. Pictures attached show the steering wheel position turned to the left at about 160 degrees, while the front wheels turned to the right at about 20-30 degrees. For a right turn it’s about a 220-degree position, which is not possible by a single swipe of the steering wheel. Please note, the front wheel position in below picture cannot be justified either way. The steering wheel and front wheel remained frozen in this position when high voltage battery supply got disconnected at crash. This proves the turn of the wheel, thereby the movement of my vehicle to the right was not caused by my steering wheel control. Vehicle automation engaged related to this safety incident- advanced driver assistance systems such as autopilot, lane assist, collision avoidance assist and other safety features were active during this incident. There were no audio or visual warnings related to lane departure, forward collision or blind spot on the vehicle dashboard. The vehicle was declared a total loss by the insurance carrier, Tesla insurance and currently in possession of their salvage vendor copart, title express. Tesla service refused to do any inspection of the components involved in this failure while the vehicle was at the body shop, carstar chilton autobody, san carlos, CA. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act.

First time when it happened, I was able to control and it went to back to normal. I did not pay attention after. Second time I took right turn and the car drove in left lane but this time I felt steering was rigid and was unable to control the steering and hit a tree. Driver seat air bag was deployed and all doors were locked. Gel from air bag burned my right hand wrist.

Front right side wheel disengaged from the steering wheel. It was very scary situation to deal with and luckily it happened while I was on alley. I was not sure what was going as suddenly car was not under my control and acting weirdly. I hit a parked car and came out of the car safely. When parked the car then realized right wheel was disengaged. Called the Tesla insurance and they are not responding for over a month now since the incident happened. Tesla is saying I need to facilitate all this with the Tesla authorized facility. Bottom-line, car is with Tesla insurance and nothing is happened for over a month.