Warnings problems of the 2026 Tesla Model Y

I was in a parking lot and activated autopilot while the car was next to a stationary pillar near a parking space. Immediately after activation, the vehicle failed to detect the pillar and drove directly into it. The impact happened so quickly that there was no practical opportunity for human intervention to avoid the collision. There may or may not have been a warning, but even if a warning was displayed, it occurred too late to allow the driver to react before the impact. The system did not provide effective parking collision warning or apply automatic emergency braking. This incident caused damage to the driver-side door and mirror. My safety and the safety of others were at risk because the system failed to prevent a collision with a fixed obstacle. No inspection has yet been performed by Tesla service.

I was provided a Tesla Model Y juniper demo vehicle for a test drive on August 3, 2026 and the incident took place in it around 6:00 pm (±45 min). Full self-driving (fsd) was engaged. I had placed an order for a new Model Y on August 2 and took delivery on August 10 (different VIN). During the demo, fsd initially performed well: it autoparked into an apartment parking spot and exited once correctly. However, the second time, the system made a dangerous maneuver. It activated the left indicator and accelerated rapidly as if entering a roadway, but instead turned left directly into a pole. The pole struck the rear door. I braked, but the system’s sudden move left no time to react. A reasonable human would have exited slowly and cautiously, but fsd acted abruptly and unsafely. My pregnant wife was in the passenger seat, and both of us were frightened. This incident raised serious concerns about fsd’s ability to handle low-speed, high-precision situations. The car should have detected the pole and stopped, yet it did not. If a child or pedestrian had been nearby, the consequences could have been severe. This also makes me question whether fsd could make dangerous high-speed maneuvers. At the Tesla showroom, we were told fsd drives “better than a human,” which misled us as new customers. This was the first car I purchased, and I was unfamiliar with fsd’s limits. Only after the incident did I realize how risky it can be. In my new Tesla, although offered a free fsd trial, I have chosen not to use it. Tesla’s claims administrator, fleet response, has since sent me a repair bill of $7,611. I was never asked to sign any waiver, never shown liability terms, and was told demo drives are insured. This incident shows serious safety concerns and misleading sales practices regarding fsd at Tesla.

Vehicle make/model/year: 2026 Tesla Model Y (launch series) incident date: [xxx] incident location: [xxx] system/component involved: automated driving systems / autopilot / steering what happened: while driving my new 2026 Tesla Model Y on autopilot, the vehicle suddenly turned off the main road near [xxx] , and steered toward the curb. I immediately pressed the brake, but due to the vehicle’s speed, it still hit the curb, causing damage to the front right tire, wheel well liner, and triggering multiple system error messages. Shortly after, I witnessed another Tesla model 3, also using autopilot, make the exact same wrong turn at the same location and crash into the curb. No injuries occurred, but this appears to be a mapping or autopilot software issue that can cause vehicles to leave the roadway unexpectedly, creating a serious safety hazard. Tesla is preparing the incident data, but this report is being filed to alert NHTSA of a potential autopilot safety defect in this area. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).