general problems of the 2026 Tesla Model Y - part 1

Missing front trunk light/emergency release in violation of fmvss 401.

I bought this car new and it does not have a frunk emergency release or a frunk light.

Safety defect: uncommanded trunk actuation while the user was asleep inside the vehicle. The vehicle’s proximity-sensing system (bluetooth phone key) triggered a full power-open cycle without any active user input. The system failed to recognize that the vehicle was occupied and failed to detect an external obstruction, resulting in a collision. This poses a severe risk of unauthorized vehicle access or personal injury while a user is sleeping or camping in the vehicle.

In under a year I have had to replace my windshield three times due to cracks from debris. The total cost would be greater than $4,000. I, nor my wife and family have ever had to replace a windshield on any previous car we had owned this many times in under one year or even at all. I suspect there is a defect in the build of the windshield or the design of the car that may be causing this.

The emergency door release handle is cracked and has the potential to fail during an emergency. Tesla refuses to replace or repair under warranty.

The 2026 Tesla Model Y was driving in fsd (supervised) mode in the home depot colma, California parking lot, located at [xxx] on [xxx] at [xxx]. It stopped to let a black pickup truck in front of it pull about 3/4 of the way into a parking place on the right side. After waiting several seconds, it turned the wheels slightly to the left and slowly crept around the pickup truck, when the truck reversed and hit the passenger side of the vehicle at low speed just ahead of the rear wheel well. I believe a human driver would have waited until the pickup truck was fully parked before proceeding, thus preventing this accident, thus highlighting a failure of the fsd (supervised) system. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, the accident was reported to my insurance company and the vehicle was inspected by a collision repair shop. The manufacturer has not been informed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Windshield developed a long crack overnight while parked in an enclosed garage with stable temperatures. No rock impact was observed or heard during driving prior to parking. Upon inspection, a small mark resembling an impact point was found, but it is unclear whether this is an external impact or a stress fracture originating from within the glass. No unusual temperature changes occurred overnight. The crack appeared spontaneously and is disproportionately large. In 15+ years of driving other vehicles, I have never experienced a windshield crack under similar circumstances. This is a widely reported issue among Tesla Model Y owners, with numerous reports of spontaneous windshield cracking with no identifiable external cause. The windshield is a structural safety component critical for passenger airbag deployment and roof crush resistance in rollover accidents. Fragile or defect-prone windshield glass poses an unreasonable safety risk.

With full self-driving activated, while the vehicle was performing a maneuver to exit a parking space, it reversed directly into a stationary concrete pillar. The impact occurred on the rear driver’s side. There was no driver steering or pedal input during the reversal. The pillar was a large, high-contrast concrete structure, and there was insufficient time to intervene once the vehicle began reversing toward the pillar. Such defect in the full self-driving system is dangerous for drivers and pedestrians alike.

The 2026 telsa Model Y juniper I took delivery of on 2/19/2026 has no emergency release in the front trunk (the frunk). This should be standard but for some reason after oct 2025, Tesla decided not to include this in the new models. This is a safety hazard as if someone were to get locked in the frunk (front trunk) they would have no way of being able to get out.

The frunk is missing, an emergency release button or latch, so a small child could be trapped inside with no way out.

There was no incident, it is a safety feature that has been removed from Tesla Model Y's since October 2025 and the service center declined to add it in during a service request even at the expense of the owner. This feature being removed poses a safety concern for children or smaller people being trapped in the frunk (front trunk) compartment with no way of being able to get out of the compartment. It was removed for cost savings on the vehicle. I currently own a Tesla Model Y built February 2026 at the austin gigafactory.

There is no frunk emergency release button in this version of juniper Model Y.

Any time you drive my vehicle there’s either violent shaking in the brake pedal, steering wheel, tires. When you try to brake it stutters. Using fsd it failed to stop instead almost hit a pedestrian on scooter and reported the time and date to Tesla. It stuttered and thank god I was able to jam in brakes. After 9 service visit the admitted they missed something and wheel alignment was off and tires were cupped. Along with a bracket for suspension. Which has not solved issues. It scary driving this vehicle especially as a single father who has to make long trips in the weekend for hockey.

One only needs to google or ask an ai about "Tesla Model Y juniper" front end suspension noises and you will find links to hundreds of complaints and at least two youtube videos now. Based on reports from recent 2026 Tesla Model Y owners, particularly those with the juniper refresh, the front-end noises over rough or bumpy roads at very slow speeds sound like a widespread suspension-related issue. It's often characterized as a clunk, rattle, or knocking from the front suspension, especially when the suspension compresses and unloads over uneven surfaces like driveways, speed bumps, or minor road imperfections. . Read more...

Dear transportation safety board: on January 12, 2026, at noon, I was involved in a traffic accident while using Tesla's full self-driving (fsd) function on the [xxx] between [xxx] and [xxx] . I am the complainant's wife. The accident was caused by a malfunction of fsd, which has had a tremendous impact on my family and my husband. He suffered a head injury, followed by intracranial hemorrhage and hematoma, rendering him unable to work. The accident has resulted in frequent cramps in his hands and feet, dizziness, headaches, and drug allergies due to the need for long-term medication. I need your help. Tesla does not state in its app that the product cannot fully drive itself; instead, it advertises that its fsd can drive independently in various road conditions without human intervention. This has misled the driving habits of many Tesla owners and caused immense harm to me and my family. I earnestly request your assistance in helping this helpless woman resolve my husband's problem. Thank you very much. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Dear sir or madam, I am writing to report a serious safety incident involving my Tesla Model Y (2026) licence plate : 9vah976 that occurred on January 8, 2026, at approximately 6:30 pm. While attempting to slowly park in a parking lot located at 1771 e. Bayshore rd, east palo alto, CA 94303, the vehicle unexpectedly and forcefully accelerated forward. I was performing a low-speed parking maneuver and did not intentionally press the accelerator. The vehicle suddenly moved forward with very strong power and high speed, making it extremely difficult to control the steering wheel. If there had not been bushes directly in front of the vehicle, the car would have continued accelerating forward and could have caused a serious accident involving property damage or personal injury. This was a very dangerous and alarming situation. Despite my attempts to stop and control the vehicle, it continued to move forward rapidly. As a result of this unexpected behavior, the vehicle struck bushes within the parking lot. The vehicle’s response was sudden, abnormal, and completely inconsistent with a normal parking situation. This incident raises serious safety concerns regarding the vehicle’s behavior during low-speed parking and a possible malfunction of the automatic or driver-assistance systems. I am submitting this report for official documentation, investigation, and appropriate follow-up. Please let me know if additional information, vehicle data, or a formal inspection is required. Sincerely, trang dinh 5108576020 34496 salinas pl fremont, CA 94555.

Tesla Model Ys built after September 2025 are no longer equipped with an interior emergency frunk release. Federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 401 mandates that all new passenger cars with trunks must have an interior trunk release (49 cfr § 571. 401) to allow people trapped inside to escape, a rule established after children died by getting trapped in trunks. And for the handle's identification to be illuminated (visible) under both day and night conditions, often achieved with lighting or glow-in-the-dark features, to prevent entrapment fatalities, ensuring the release mechanism is always findable by a trapped person.

January 4 in evening my Tesla run red light. Weather is clear. It’s happened in evening at lee hwy and vance rd crossing in chattanooga. We are coming from sam’s club we take back road and we take vance rd we have fsd on and our car is stop at red light to turn left on lee hwy. When lee hwy light turn yellow and my car suddenly take left turn on lee hwy. I believe that light is cross so fsd is confused and take left turn. My location is below [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y lacks internal lighting and an internal emergency release mechanism. This creates a foreseeable entrapment hazard, particularly for children or small adults. Unlike rear trunks regulated under fmvss no. 401 (internal trunk release), the frunk provides no illuminated internal release, no glow-in-the-dark handle, and no means of escape or signaling if the hood is closed. In low-light conditions (nighttime or enclosed garages), the absence of lighting would immediately impair orientation and increase panic, raising the risk of injury or suffocation. I identified this hazard during routine cleaning when my [xxx] child was able to sit comfortably inside the frunk while it was open. Although no incident occurred, this demonstrates that a child can easily enter the frunk and could become trapped if it were accidentally closed during loading or unloading. Once closed, there is no internal method of release. While fmvss 401 currently applies to rear trunks, it establishes a federal safety precedent that enclosed compartments capable of child entry must include internal, operable, and visible escape mechanisms to prevent entrapment deaths. The frunk presents an analogous hazard and fails to meet these basic entrapment-prevention principles. This is a design defect, not misuse. The risk is foreseeable, preventable, and severe. I request that NHTSA’s office of defects investigation evaluate this condition, review similar complaints for this Model Year, and consider corrective action (recall or retrofit) requiring an illuminated internal emergency release. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

In bright sunlight or at certain sun angles, the central touchscreen in my 2026 Tesla Model Y becomes unreadable due to glare and washout. This screen is required for essential driving functions. Safety concern: the touchscreen is used for selecting drive and reverse, viewing the rear camera, and accessing other safety-related controls. During glare conditions, I have difficulty seeing the screen clearly, which interferes with safe vehicle operation. Why this is dangerous: there are no physical backup controls for gear selection or rear camera viewing. Inability to clearly see the screen creates a safety risk, particularly during parking, reversing, or low-speed maneuvers. Conditions: the issue occurs repeatedly during bright daylight when sunlight strikes the screen at certain angles. This is not a rare event and has occurred multiple times. Requested action: investigation into screen glare and visibility for safety-critical controls in Tesla vehicles, and evaluation of whether a design modific.

I have no front hood (frunk) emergency release button. Seems like it should have one.

New 2026 Model Ys made after October 2025 no longer have an emergency release/opener for the front trunk. Easily large enough for a child to lay in and be trapped.

There is no emergency release button and light inside the frunk (front trunk) of my Tesla Model Y performance 2026.

The frunk emergency release switch/button is not present on brand new purchase.

The rear door releases contain no easily accessible mechanical back up for releasing the door. In an emergency during a loss of power rear passengers would either have to know how to access the hidden door releases cable or would be trapped.

On December 21, at approximately 9:17 pm, my Tesla was operating with full self-driving (supervised) engaged while reversing out of a parking space at 4 cook cir, medford, MA, USA. During the maneuver, the fsd system failed to detect a low-positioned barrier and collided with it, impacting the rear right quarter panel near the rear right wheel. The damage was caused by the actions of the fsd system while under active control. The vehicle remained drivable; however, the incident represents a failure of the full self-driving system to ensure safe operation during a low-speed maneuver. I believe this incident resulted from a defect or malfunction in the fsd software and request a formal safety investigation. On December 21, at approximately 9:17 pm, my Tesla was operating with full self-driving (supervised) engaged while reversing out of a parking space at 4 cook cir, medford, MA, USA. During the maneuver, the fsd system failed to detect a low-positioned barrier and collided with it, impacting the rear right quarter panel near the rear right wheel. The damage was caused by the actions of the fsd system while under active control. The vehicle remained drivable; however, the incident represents a failure of the full self-driving system to ensure safe operation during a low-speed maneuver. I believe this incident resulted from a defect or malfunction in the fsd software and request a formal safety investigation. Photographs of the vehicle damage and the incident location are attached.

No emergency release inside frunk.

Incident date: December 11, 2025 vehicle: 2026 Tesla Model Y location: dfw airport, irving, TX system: full self-driving (autopilot / fsd) description: on December 11, 2025, my 2026 Tesla Model Y was operating under full self-driving while exiting an airport when the vehicle struck a gate arm, causing property damage and windshield/body damage. No injuries occurred, but the collision happened while the fsd system was actively controlling the vehicle. Following the collision, I requested the vehicle operational and fsd engagement data from Tesla for the incident timeframe. Tesla provided a csv dataset; however, the fsd engagement and autonomy decision-layer data were almost entirely missing, despite the vehicle being in motion and presumably under fsd control. On follow-up requests, Tesla stated they are unable to provide additional autonomy data and that “Tesla does not collect all your vehicle data,” despite marketing the system as full self-driving and collecting extensive telemetry. This raises a safety concern because: 1. A collision occurred during fsd operation. 2. Tesla is not providing complete autonomy data for safety assessment. 3. There appears to be no transparency into fsd decision-making, object detection, or control authority at the time of impact. 4. Owners, insurers, and potentially regulators cannot review how fsd behaved during a safety-related event. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA is aware that: (1) a collision occurred under fsd control, and (2) Tesla refused complete operational autonomy logs for evaluation.

The defect involves the front suspension and/or steering system of a new 2026 Tesla Model Y long range awd. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Symptoms—persistent front-end clunking/thunking (primarily driver-side), steering instability, and vibration—began immediately upon delivery in late 2025, with Tesla notified same afternoon as delivery. The vibration now begins around 60 mph and intensifies with speed. Steering feel is excessively vague on-center (requiring constant correction to maintain lane position) yet overly twitchy and sensitive to inputs, creating inconsistent and unpredictable handling. The condition has progressively worsened and now renders the vehicle unsafe at highway speeds due to risk of loss of control. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms have appeared prior to or since onset. Tesla service centers have had multiple opportunities to evaluate the vehicle under warranty. The problem has not been confirmed objectively by Tesla; during at least one evaluation, a technician drove only at speeds below complaint threshold (despite requests to test at the speeds where symptoms occur), stated he did not feel the issue, and performed no further diagnosis. Multiple appointments were canceled or rescheduled by Tesla (including one after I arrived). The vehicle was repeatedly returned without documented objective testing or repair addressing the complaint. During one visit, the Tesla app indicated an active “visual quality check” while the vehicle remained parked outside and not being worked on for an extended period (documented). To rule out tires, I installed a brand-new set; the vibration worsened afterward. Safety risk: unresolved steering/suspension instability increases the risk of loss of vehicle control at highway speeds, endangering occupants and other road users. Odometer at onset: 15 miles current odometer: 3596 miles.

Per federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 401 an emergency release in any enclosed trunk compartment large enough to hold a person (generally defined as having a volume of at least 1. 2 cubic meters or similar dimensions that could pose an entrapment risk). My 2026 Tesla Model Y does not have an emergency release in the front trunk (frunk) area and it appears Tesla Model Y’s manufactured after on and or after September 2025 no longer have this included. I assume this is because Tesla came out with the standard Model Y which has a smaller frunk and are using that labeling to get away without putting the button in the premium Model Y’s which have a larger frunk and are required by federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 401 to have an emergency release button.

While operating under active full self-driving (supervised) mode the Tesla abruptly and without any driver input shifted from drive into neutral while accelerating through a curved highway on-ramp at highway speeds. This uncommanded gear change caused an immediate and total loss of motive power, resulting in the vehicle colliding with the guardrail before I was able to manually re-engage drive. If I had not reacted promptly and calmly all passengers could have been killed with a collision at high speeds. The earliest available appointment for inspection at a Tesla service center has been scheduled for December 23. There were no warnings at all.

I [xxx] ) was driving my Tesla Model Y (2026) with full-self-driving engaged while leaving the parking lot of the flower mound community activity center (1200 gerault rd. , flower mound, TX, 75028). After exiting the parking area and entering the roadway, the car came to a stop between two lanes and unexpectedly began reversing, even though there was another vehicle behind me. The system failed to detect the car behind, and a collision occurred before I could even understand what was happening. I have all the video recordings of the incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The front trunk on my Model Y is missing emergency release button. There is not way of to exit if kids get trapped in it.

The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y juniper lacks both internal lighting and an emergency safety release mechanism. This design flaw creates an unnecessary and severe safety risk, as a small adult or child could easily become trapped in the frunk with no way to signal for help or escape. In low-light conditions—such as at night or in a garage without adequate illumination—the absence of a light would exacerbate disorientation and panic for anyone trapped. Without an internal release latch or glow-in-the-dark handle (standard in many vehicle trunks to prevent entrapment deaths), this could lead to a life-threatening suffocation or injury situation, especially if the frunk is accidentally closed on a person during loading/unloading. I discovered this issue while inspecting the frunk during routine cleaning and noticed that my four-year-old sat very comfortably inside the frunk listening to music while I cleaned the car. No incident has occurred yet, but the potential for harm is clear and warrants immediate investigation, as it violates basic entrapment-prevention standards observed in rear trunks and other vehicles. This defect compromises occupant safety and should be addressed through a recall or a retrofit that includes an illuminated emergency release. Please investigate similar complaints for this Model Year.

In my 2026 Tesla Model Y long range, there is no emergency release in the frunk (front trunk). I do believe there is a law that requires this. What if the unthinkable happens and someone gets stuck inside of it? I have seen others post about not having it as well, so it is definitely not limited to a small number of vehicles. I do not even see the harness for the emergency release inside of the panel. This is a huge safety issue.