general problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y - part 2

While making a normal right turn at low speed in a residential neighborhood, I heard knocking sounds from inside the vehicle and immediately lost steering control. I had to physically force the wheel back into position to regain control of the car. After the initial incident, every right turn and brake application produced a loud rubber grinding sound accompanied by significant loss of steering control. The vehicle was completely unsafe to drive. Tesla previously issued recall sb-22-31-002 for 2023 Model Y vehicles for improperly torqued front lower lateral link fasteners at the factory which are the exact same components that failed on my vehicle. Tesla confirmed my VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle has been driven normally with no accidents or abuse. Mileage at time of failure was approximately 58,000 miles.

Bolt fell out of the lateral control arm on the front left wheel. Car was inoperable.

Clicking/thumping on sharper turns a day before the issue. Then today, there was a loud clunk while driving. When I was reversing into my driveway, there was scraping noises and resistance. Upon exiting the vehicle, I saw the passenger side front control arm loose. It is now inoperable.

On may 4, 2026, at approximately 9:10 am, the 2023 Tesla Model Y was being operated at low speed in a parking lot while backing into a parking space. As the driver turned the steering wheel to maneuver into the space, there was a clunk and the front driver-side wheel jerked. The driver stopped immediately, before fully entering the space. The front driver-side suspension had separated: the lower control arm/lateral link became detached at its attachment point, the wheel and rim tilted outward and folded under the wheel arch, and the front halfshaft (axle) pulled out of the front drive unit. The vehicle was immediately immobilized and could not be driven. No collision, curb strike, or impact occurred. The failure happened during a low-speed parking maneuver. Photographs taken at the scene before any recovery, on may 4, show the detached control arm intact and undamaged and the wheel folded under the arch, with the rim, tire, and adjacent bodywork undamaged. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla service location on may 6, 2026, and inspected. Tesla's repair estimate identified damage to both front suspension assemblies, including control arms, lateral links, suspension fasteners, the front crossmember/subframe, steering rack, halfshaft, and front drive unit. This failure mode — a front suspension lateral link/control arm separating from its attachment due to a fastener concern — is the same failure mode addressed by Tesla recall sb-22-31-002 (NHTSA campaign 22v895000) on certain 2023 Model Y vehicles, in which a loose fastener can allow the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame, causing loss of vehicle control. This VIN was not included in that recall campaign. Had this separation occurred at highway speed rather than during a low-speed parking maneuver, it could have caused a loss of control and a crash. No injuries occurred. No crash or fire occurred. The vehicle has approximately 56,480 miles. Photographs and the repair estimate are ava.

Vehicle brought to Tesla service plano TX for front-end rattle on bumpy roads at 49,951 miles. Technician found right front compliance arm split, left front compliance arm tearing, right front aft link starting to wear, left front aft link split at bushing, rear bolt for link loose, and opposite side nut separated from the subframe causing bolt to have zero tension. Tesla replaced entire front subframe assembly, both front lower lateral links, and both front lower compliance links under basic vehicle limited warranty. During the same visit, the technician performed a vehicle health check (form SC-25-00-016 r2) and documented additional rear suspension defects: rear lower fore links have play and rear upper fore link bushings have excessive travel. Technician marked the suspension section as repair/replace. Service center declined warranty coverage on the rear, calling it normal wear despite the technician's findings. This is the second major warranty visit. At 14,928 miles in September 2024, Tesla austin replaced the power conversion system, 16v li-ion battery, and pyrotechnic battery disconnect due to a loose harness connector causing vehicle shutdown warnings. Vehicle was manufactured at Tesla gigafactory austin TX. A separated subframe nut is a structural safety defect that could result in wheel alignment shift and loss of vehicle control. I drove this vehicle with my family including two children before the defect was discovered. Tesla service plano, service number xxx, service advisor owen v [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On the evening of April 8th 2026, my wife was driving our 2023 Tesla Model Y home in san francisco, CA when she noticed unusual noise coming from the front left wheel area. The vehicle was otherwise functioning normally aside from the noise. The following morning, I inspected the vehicle and found a large hex bolt (class 10. 9 grade) on the ground directly beneath the car. The front left wheel was binding and the vehicle was completely undrivable — the wheel felt stuck and made grinding/scraping noises when attempting to move. Based on the bolt size, grade, and location, this appears to be a front suspension lateral link fastener that detached from the subframe. This is the same defect described in NHTSA recalls 21v-835, 22v-895, and 23v-235, involving under-torqued or improperly secured front suspension fasteners on Tesla Model Y vehicles. The vehicle had 28,482 miles at the time of the incident. There was no prior collision, impact, or road hazard event. No warning or alert appeared on the Tesla touchscreen at any point. The vehicle displayed no diagnostic message despite having a compromised suspension component.

While performing a low-speed reverse turn into a driveway, a loud clunk was heard and the driver side front wheel completely separated from alignment. The vehicle became immediately undrivable. Upon inspection, the ball joint retaining nut was found to be absent from the front driver side suspension assembly. No torque verification mark was present on the fastener. The vehicle is currently at an authorized Tesla service center for repair and is available for inspection. Safety risk: complete loss of wheel alignment and directional control. Failure occurred at low speed in a private driveway. Had this occurred at highway speed the consequences could have been catastrophic. Confirmed by dealer: an authorized Tesla service advisor confirmed that a technical service bulletin exists in Tesla’s system for this exact condition. No owner notification was issued prior to failure. The advisor confirmed the retaining nut is installed by an automated robot assembly process with no human torque verification step and no verification mark applied. Prior warning symptoms: none. No warning lamps, no messages, no audible symptoms prior to catastrophic failure. The absence of a retaining nut on a safety-critical suspension fastener with no quality verification process represents a systemic assembly defect potentially affecting all vehicles produced under the same assembly process.

The bolts attaching the front passenger wheel's lower lateral link to the body fell out. Luckily this occurred while pulling into a parking lot. Once both bolts had fallen out the vehicle was not steerable. There have been many instances of this reported online, but usually they occur with far fewer miles and I was not experiencing the symptoms. The day prior there was an alert stating that an alignment was needed but it was still okay to drive. I could tell there was a slight alignment issue while driving. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla service center and is currently being repaired.

I was driving on the freeway and suddenly my care start moving to the right and screen shows me the message steering alignment service recommended ok to drive. When I stopped the vehicle one of the bolts fell off from underneath of the car and I was no longer able to turn the wheels. I towed the car to Tesla burlingame dealership, and they told me that I have to replace front lateral link assembly, nut and washer, half shaft assembly front. Even though Tesla stuff confirmed my issue I the same as previous recall but because my VIN number not in the list and this is wearable parts I have to pay 2000. 00.

Left lower control arm link failure. No collisions had occurred in the history of the vehicle, and small sounds were heard prior to failure, with the total failure sound being obvious. No system malfunction warnings were displayed.

While driving under normal conditions, without any prior impact, collision, or road hazard, the control arm on my vehicle suddenly detached. This occurred during active driving and caused an immediate loss of vehicle stability and control. The failure happened without warning and posed a serious safety risk. At the time of the incident, my children were in the vehicle, which significantly increased the danger. The vehicle had not been involved in any accident or misuse. This appears to be a potential manufacturing or assembly defect involving a critical suspension component. Tesla towed the vehicle and repaired it at no cost. However, a suspension/control arm failure during normal driving is a serious safety concern that could lead to loss of steering control and possible crash. I am reporting this incident for safety investigation purposes, as this type of failure may pose a broader risk to other drivers.

While driving, the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, making a loud screeching sound. The sound persisted when the vehicle was made to drive. Checking underneath, I noticed a large bolt fell off. Along with the noise, the suspension also felt very stiff while driving forward. In any case, the car coming to a halt all of a sudden in the middle of the road is a life threatening experience and needs to be looked at.

On February 23, 2026, I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model Y under normal city conditions. While parallel parking at very low speed, I suddenly heard a loud metallic bang from the driver’s side of the vehicle. Immediately afterward, the vehicle lost mobility and the steering wheel became unresponsive and would not turn. I exited the vehicle and observed a detached metal suspension component and a bolt on the ground underneath the driver’s side. The vehicle was not drivable and required towing. I contacted Tesla roadside assistance through the Tesla app, and the vehicle was towed to Tesla service center in coral gables, florida. At the time of the incident, there had been no collision, no impact with a pothole, curb, or road debris, and no prior warning signs or noises indicating a developing issue. The failure occurred suddenly during a low-speed maneuver. Tesla service initially indicated that the vehicle was under warranty and that repairs would be covered if no external impact was found. However, after inspection, Tesla attributed the failure to an alleged “external impact” and declined warranty coverage, providing an estimate of approximately $4,000. After involving my insurance company, the vehicle was inspected by a Tesla-certified repair facility, which found significantly more extensive damage to the suspension system, estimating repairs at approximately $11,000. This incident represents a sudden and complete failure of suspension components resulting in immediate loss of steering control. Such a failure poses a serious safety risk, particularly if it were to occur at higher speeds, as it could lead to loss of vehicle control and a crash. I am reporting this issue as a potential safety defect involving suspension component separation and steering loss in a 2023 Tesla Model Y.

Front control arms were replaced in January of 2025. I replaced all 4 tires and during the alignment on February 18, 2026 the technician reported to me that the front control arms were beginning to crack. He told me it is a known issue on Tesla model 3 and Model Y. I have set up a service appt to address the issue again. Of note, Tesla service centers refer to control arms as "links" which is very deceptive on the service receipt.

Like many have mentioned, the control arm bolt came off or broke. [xxx] / [xxx] / [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On January 29, 2026 my 2023 Tesla Model Y was serviced by Tesla for windshield repair and routine maintenance. Within a week after the service visit, the vehicle began displaying a service warning message on the dashboard. I contacted Tesla and was advised to bring the vehicle back for inspection. Before I could return to the service center, while slowly reversing out of my garage, a large bolt fell from the vehicle and the front left wheel assembly dropped, causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. Tesla service later confirmed that a bolt from the front suspension link assembly had detached, resulting in damage to the front halfshaft, steering gear, wheel speed sensor, and other related components. The vehicle had approximately 38,000 miles at the time of failure. This appears to be a critical suspension hardware failure. If this failure had occurred at highway speed it could have resulted in loss of vehicle control and a serious accident. The vehicle had been serviced by Tesla shortly before the incident and had displayed a warning message prior to the failure.

When I backed the car out of our driveway and turned the steering wheel to go on the street in front of our house, there was a loud scraping sound and the car was stuck. Thinking that it could be ice or something, I tried to drive it forward but the same thing happened. Straightening the steering wheel helped but I stopped and checked. The control arm of the suspension had dropped and was scraping on the ground. I called Tesla who asked me to stop driving and had it towed to their repair facility in sterling va. Without even putting it on a lift, they told me there was too much damage and they would not fix it under warranty - despite me saying multiple times that the control arm of a car's suspension should never drop and it is a manufacturing defect/issue. Finally, I filed a claim with my insurance company and had the car towed to a Tesla authorized repair shop. They did an assessment and estimated over $24k for repairs. At this point the insurance company deemed it to be a total loss and asked me to take my personal belongings from the car so they could have it towed to their shop/location.

While dropping to school in my Tesla Model Y on [xxx] , I experienced a severe safety incident. A lower control arm bolt on the driver's side came off, causing the suspension to collapse. Before this, I noticed symptoms consistent with reported Model Y issues: rattling, clunking/popping noises, particularly when driving over bumps or turning, and unstable steering. This appears to be a manufacturing defect, similar to previous recalls for under-torqued bolts. I am reporting this for investigation to ensure Tesla takes prompt action to prevent future, potentially dangerous incidents. Currently it is towed to telsa service center to resolve the issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Worn or broken bushings control arm is under warranty but Tesla service declined to cover it under warranty I have checked all reviews and feedback this issue is under warranty and free of charge by Tesla service.

While driving my 2023 Model Y long range I heard a loud grinding noise. I was able to get home and park. When I further inspected the vehicle, I jacked up the car, removed the front driver side wheel, and immediately what I saw horrified me. The "front lower lateral link assembly" was completely disconnected from the vehicle, just hanging with a bolt missing, and another bolt barely hanging on. Upon searching the internet for issues I found several other people who had the same exact issue as me. As of now I have no vehicle to drive due to this mishap, but the bigger issue at hand is how many others are affected by this lack of workmanship, and how many accidents could be caused by the entire wheel disconnecting from the vehicle at high speed. In other vehicles I am used to seeing a crown nut, which has slots that allow a pin to cross and lock in place to prevent this from happening, yet here we are.

While driving my Tesla, the front suspension abruptly failed. Two bolts from a critical suspension/control arm component fell out while the car was in normal motion. There was no impact, no debris, no road hazard, and no prior service that would explain missing bolts. The vehicle suddenly dropped, and the chassis collapsed onto the wheel, causing grinding and severe loss of drivability. This failure occurred without warning. Tesla service inspected the vehicle and confirmed the bolts were missing but could not explain how they came loose or fell out. The bolts showed no damage, and there was no undercarriage damage, indicating a structural or manufacturing defect. This was a life-threatening incident. This type of suspension/separation issue appears to be a known problem with Tesla vehicles. I request that NHTSA review this failure as it poses a significant risk to vehicle occupants and the public.

Mechanics found that the front passenger side control arm is missing and completely disconnected. Video evidence from inspection is available. How was this found and safety risk- car lost steering control the component was inspected by my mechanic. No vehicle indicator / warnings.

1. Front left suspension system — specifically the suspension control arm bolt — failed and detached while reverse parking. The failure caused the suspension arm to drop and resulted in secondary damage to the fender, wheel?well liner, and door alignment. The vehicle has been repaired, but all service records, photos, and documentation are available for inspection upon request. 2. The suspension bolt failure caused the front left suspension to collapse suddenly while I was reverse parking. If this had happened at normal driving speeds, it could have caused loss of control and a crash. I regularly transport a newborn and a 4?year?old, and this unpredictable suspension collapse created a serious risk to my family and others on the road. 3. Yes. The failure was inspected and confirmed by Tesla’s alpharetta service center and the Tesla marietta collision center. The marietta team documented that the front left suspension control arm bolt had detached and that the resulting damage was not caused by any external impact. Tesla ultimately approved the repair under warranty, confirming that the failure was due to a component issue rather than misuse. 4. Yes. The vehicle was inspected by Tesla’s alpharetta service center immediately after the incident, and then by the Tesla marietta collision center. Both locations confirmed that the front left suspension control arm bolt had detached and caused the suspension collapse. The marietta team documented that the failure was not caused by any external impact and Tesla approved the repair under warranty. No police or insurance inspection was performed because the failure occurred at low speed on private property. 5. No warning lamps or messages appeared. I did hear suspension clunking/creaking before the failure and had a Tesla service appointment scheduled, but Tesla postponed it. The bolt failure happened suddenly with no electronic warnings.

The front suspension lower 'lateral link' bolts that go into the subframe side of the lateral link fell out. One completely fell out of and was only held loosely in place by the undercarriage plastic. The other bolt (there are two holding the lateral link into the subframe) had backed out about two revolutions. This resulted in a very loud banging noise and the us having to stop the vehicle to inspect. We had to slowly drive the car back to a safe area to diagnose and temporarily rebolt this prior to getting Tesla to inspect. I have photo and video documentation that I can provide showing the incident and how I had to repair this to make the car safe to drive again. There were no warning lamps or messages on the vehicle, just a very loud banding we heard when starting from a stop and or turning the vehicle. Prior to this we heard a faint thump that we could not diagnose. Fortunately the second bolt did not come out and we did not have a catastrophic failure while driving the vehicle. Bolts were not properly torqued and do not appear to have any sort of paint pen marking to document the torqued location.

While driving in light city traffic at low speed the right front wheel developed a terrible grinding noise and would not steer properly, pulled off of the road and called a tow truck car is now at a Tesla service center waiting on repair service.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side upper control arm had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

I am reporting a catastrophic suspension failure on my 2023 Tesla Model Y that matches the description of recall 22v-895 (manufacturer no. Sb-22-31-002), despite my vehicle being excluded from the official recall population. On [xxx], the front driver-side lateral link separated from the subframe while driving. Tesla service /confirmed the separation in their repair notes, stating the cause was a "separation in the lateral link and subframe" which resulted in damage to the wheel and halfshaft. Recall 22v-895 was limited to only 26 vehicles due to a "manual torque validation" error on November 2, 2022. My vehicle's failure suggests that this manufacturing defect is not limited to the identified 26 units. I am urging the NHTSA to investigate whether the scope of recall 22v-895 was insufficient and if a larger population of 2023 Model Y vehicles is at risk of sudden suspension collapse. This is a major safety concern. Luckily I was not on a highway and was driving around 35mph when the bolt fell off. Tesla is not responding to me with the details. They just fixed the issue under warranty and are saying, we do not know what caused the issue. Please investigate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

All in the same day: 1) odd sound from behind the pedal area of driver side front quarter (sounded like a styrofoam cooler top rubbing against the cooler is the best way to describe - faint though). 2)bang when in a parking garage turning full right but still able to control without difficulty. Made it home without incident. 3)later that day, just after getting off of i4 in orlando I pulled into grocery parking lot and parked. When I returned to my car I again turned right and a loud bang and the car jerked to a sudden halt. I was able to back into a parking spot but there were 2 large screws in the driving land and the left wheel was toed slightly to the left. Ultimately it was detached when we tried to tow it we had to remove tire and put on a device to allow us to move it. Per Tesla “I have updated that estimate! the vehicle has very heavy damage, and this is the start. Once we replace these components their (sic) could be more damage, and it also could potentially need to go to a body shop!” thankfully this didn’t happen at speed with my daughter in the car on i4! this is unsafe and a simple internet search revealed it is not an uncommon parts failure at this mileage! this is dangerous. All of this at just 54,000 miles. (4k out of warranty).

A critical front suspension component failed on my 2023 Tesla Model Y without any accident, misuse, or external damage. While backing out of my garage at low speed, a loud “bam” occurred — the front lateral link bolt fell off, detaching the lateral link and causing the front body to drop onto the tire. My child was inside the vehicle. Tesla-certified technicians inspected the vehicle and service records confirm the lateral link bolt was loose and missing, directly causing the failure. Multiple suspension components were replaced under warranty, confirming a manufacturing defect, not customer-caused damage. This is a serious safety-critical failure. At driving or highway speed, it could have caused loss of steering, severe injury, or death. The day before, my spouse drove the vehicle on the highway with our younger child — by luck, a catastrophic event did not occur. Before and after the wheel detached, the Tesla monitor did not display any warnings. Even after the lateral link and wheel partially detached, the vehicle remained in driving mode and ready to operate, despite a wheel being unsecured — a basic condition that should trigger an immediate alert. This demonstrates a critical failure in Tesla’s safety systems. There were no recalls listed under my VIN. However, NHTSA records show similar failures, with recall notifications issued under NHTSA recall 21v-835 in 2021 for 2021 and earlier Tesla Model Y and model 3 vehicles. The same failure in my 2023 Model Y at 23,641 miles shows the defect was not fully corrected and continues to pose a public safety risk. I am reporting this to NHTSA due to the extreme safety risk and request a full investigation.

Two of the bolts fastening the front left control arm has fallen off an my car was not moveable. The front left wheel was static and not moving. This happened during while I was driving in active traffic. Had to get the car towed to Tesla for servicing.

While backing out of a parking stall, the bolts securing the front right lower control arm fell off. One of the bolts rolled under the car and the other bolt was still in the control arm. This vehicle has never been off road, or in an accident. It was towed to the dealership for repairs. It terrifies me to consider what would have happened to me or my family had the bolts fallen off driving at freeway speeds. "Tesla technician notes: the customer reported that the lower front control arm fell off, which was verified by inspection showing extensive damage to the suspension, subframe, and front drive unit. The issue was caused by both bolts falling out of the right front lower lateral link. To address this, technicians replaced the front lower lateral and compliance links, steering rack, rf spring and damper assembly, subframe, drive unit, rf halfshaft, rf wheel arch liner, stabilizer bar links, and aero shield, and performed a four-wheel alignment check and adjust. The repair was validated by ensuring all components were securely reattached and functioning properly. ".

Concern: passenger side front wheel trim - fitment issue upon making right turns somewhere from passenger side front suspension area making loud noise started today around 5:30 to 6pm and wheel alignment is error started is showing on screen. Repair notes: technician inspected and road tested the vehicle, verifying a loud noise from the passenger side front suspension area during right turns, as reported by the customer. The issue was caused by loose bolts on the lower lateral link on the left side. The technician replaced the front lower lateral link assembly, along with the necessary bolts and nuts, and performed a four-wheel alignment check and adjustment. After the repair, the technician confirmed the noise was resolved and the vehicle's alignment error was no longer displayed.

On my way home about 2 mi from my house. I heard a little clunk noise coming from the front of my car and I keep driving and I hit a bump. It sounded really loud so I really drove slow. I got home back into my garage. I can hear it really loud sound from the front. The next morning I jacked my car up pull the wheels out. Was checking to see where the noise coming from. What I notice on one side the bolts on my lower positioning arm both were halfway out. Check on you other side of it. The bolt were totally out and resting on the bottom plate of the car. So I went ahead and tried to put it back in. I was able to screw it back in. The bolts were okay. I removed the bolts and looked at it and was still in good shape so able to rethread it back in and tighten it up. This looks like a situation where these bolts will never screw them properly, so that's the reason why I want to report it. I was reading online lot of people having the same problem with this 2023 Tesla y models. The other thing is this could have been very dangerous. It could just broke off and fell. I could have crashed. Maybe kill someone or myself.

While parking the car, the bolts on the front lower control arm/tension link—part of the front suspension assembly—came off entirely. Our family, including our two children, were in the car, and the situation was terrifying. If this failure had occurred while we were driving, it could have resulted in a major, life-threatening accident.

I am reporting a safety defect involving loose lower control arm bolts on my 2023 Tesla Model Y long range (VIN: [xxx] ), discovered at 33,008 miles. We purchased the vehicle brand new, and it has no modifications or repairs to the suspension. On 09/02/2024, a warning light appeared. At the time, I did not know if it was related to the suspension. In the weeks after, I began noticing popping/clunking noises when turning or going over bumps, and the steering felt noticeably looser and less stable. On 11/08/2024, the issue was identified: bolts on the lower control arm were backing out and were extremely loose. On 11/11/2024, during a scheduled Tesla service visit, I drove the vehicle to the service center and demonstrated the noises and steering issues. Tesla technicians inspected the vehicle and confirmed it was unsafe to drive due to the loose control arm bolts. This is a serious safety concern. Loose or backing-out lower control arm bolts can lead to loss of steering control or suspension separation, creating a high risk of a crash. The vehicle did not provide a clear suspension-related warning prior to this issue, and the problem would not have been noticeable to an average driver until it became severe. Because this occurred on a well-maintained, unmodified vehicle with just over 33,000 miles, I am concerned this may indicate a broader manufacturing or quality-control issue affecting other Tesla Model Y vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this defect for potential patterns and determine whether a recall or corrective action is warranted. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).