Automatic Emergency Braking Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 1

Vehicle autopilot settings with default settings, 1) traveling marked highway speed of 75 mph, vehicle detects something in either the lane to the right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision, 2) traveling at marked highway speed of 75 mph, vehicle detects curve signs either to the right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision, 3) traveling in town at marked speed of 40 mph, vehicle detects a vehicle turning at a safe distance for the speed either right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision. Vehicle autopilot settings: forward collision warning “off”, lane departure avoidance “off”. Emergency lane departure avoidance “off”, automatic emergency braking “off”, obstacle-aware acceleration “off”, will remain set for the current drive without any of the above safety issues. Next drive the automatic emergency braking “on” and the above safety issues can happen. Tesla must make immediate software improvements in the automatic emergency braking system and/or allow continual “off” setting disabling of the automatic emergency braking system.

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint against Tesla, inc. Regarding multiple critical safety failures that occurred with my Tesla Model Y (VIN: [xxx] ) during a collision on Saturday, [xxx], while I was traveling eastbound on [xxx] from the [xxx] exit to the [xxx] exit in pennsylvania. At approximately [xxx], I was driving in the left lane when a BMW SUV abruptly cut into my lane ahead of me, accelerated briefly, and then suddenly braked. I immediately applied the brakes multiple times in an effort to stop my car. Even though there was sufficient space to stop safely, the braking system failed to respond, resulting in a collision with the BMW in front of me. Despite my efforts to avoid the impact, the following dangerous and unacceptable failures occurred at the time of the accident: 1. Failure of regenerative braking / deceleration: when I lifted my foot from the accelerator, the vehicle did not decelerate as expected under Tesla’s regenerative braking system. 2. Failure of braking system: despite pressing the brake pedal twice—including a heavy application—the braking system failed to prevent collision, contrary to Tesla’s advertised safety performance. 3. Failure of collision-avoidance features: critical safety systems—including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and obstacle-aware acceleration—did not engage to mitigate or prevent the impact. 4. Failure of airbag deployment: despite the severity of the crash, none of the airbags deployed, exposing me to serious risk of injury and raising grave concerns about the integrity of the Model Y’s occupant protection systems. 5. Post-collision failure of regenerative braking: following the accident, when I attempted to drive the vehicle, the regenerative braking system was completely non-functional, creating a continuing safety hazard and rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

24 hour after taking delivery, operating on full self driving on a residential street at 25-30 mph, the car struck a landscaping trailer parked on the right. The tailgate of the trailer was down and the car struck the left rear upright post of the trailer causing significant damage to my car. No automatic breaking occurred: the car struck the trailer at full speed. The collision alarm sounded just as the vehicle struck the trailer, not before. I requested vehicle status info form Tesla, but the video stops well before the collision and I can't decipher the rest. But I can send it to you if it would be helpful,.

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.

The gps and camera functionality went out on the same day several days ago. The car thinks it is at Tesla’s headquarters in CA and so you cannot find a charging station near your actual location, and no cameras work meaning the additional safety features for collisions do not function at all. This is a widespread issue based on Tesla user forums.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

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).

The vehicle in front of us came to a sudden stop, but my Tesla failed to issue any alerts or activate automatic braking. When we attempted to brake manually, the car did not allow full braking and continued moving forward, ultimately causing a collision. This strongly suggests a malfunction in the Tesla’s safety or braking system. As a result, I’ve suffered significant financial losses due to the vehicle being totaled and damage caused to other vehicles/other persons injuries involved. This incident is also likely to lead to increased insurance premiums moving forward.

It is impossible to disable automatic emergency, breaking system permanently. The vehicle brakes strongly and abruptly causing the cars behind to slam on their brakes and potentially cause accidents. Every time I disable it, it comes back on next time we get into the car. There has been several instances where the vehicle hit the brakes really hard, even if there was nothing in front of it. . I was told that this is happening because Tesla does not use sensors but realize on cameras for these features and it can be quite wrong. I don’t know how to drive this car safely because the car makes decisions for me. Since it happens all the time, I’m having to keep my foot on the gas, and when it slams on the brakes, I counter it by pressing the gas pedal. The incident date is just an estimate, but it happens all the time.

The Tesla “self driving” features are inconsistent, at best, and frequently fail. I can not believe that the government approves these capabilities or the Tesla is accepting liability for road use. If these features are not reliable under supervised conditions, why would they be considered safe for robo taxi release? I have repeatedly tried to report this to Tesla and they say the systems are operating as designed.

On [xxx], at approximately [xxx], I was driving westbound on the [xxx], just before the [xxx] and [xxx] off-ramp, with my wife and our [xxx] baby in the car. While in traffic, I noticed the regenerative braking system was not slowing the vehicle down adequately, despite having a clear and sufficient distance from the big rig ahead of us. As the gap closed, I slammed down on the brake pedal, but it felt abnormally stiff and did not respond with the urgency or force expected. The vehicle failed to stop in time, resulting in a rear-end collision with the big rig. Thankfully, we were not injured due to the speed of the accident. The breaks have not been inspected due to it being in the collision center there was an alarm but it sounded off too late and the car ended up colliding. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Shortly after I purchased this car it began to put itself into park while the car was moving slowly and even when it was in car wash mode going through a brush carwash that requires cars to be in neutral. I reached out to Tesla support to investigate and they explained this is a safety feature that engages if the driver leaves the seat while the car is not in park. I explained to them that in both cases I had been sitting firmly in the seat and there should have been no reason for the car to put itself in park and asked them how I turn this auto feature off. They said there was no way to turn it off. I explained to them that all automation features should be optional, they argued with me. Came to find out some sensor in my driver's seat was malfunctioning. They took the car to replace the seat/sensor, but I reiterated that all these auto features should be optional and a consumer should be able to turn them off. My car was rendered unsafe to drive due to the malfunctioning sensor, I should have had a way to turn off the feature, I asked them to open a ticket with their engineers to add settings to turn off this automation feature. Fast forward to 6/25/25, as I am pulling my car into a parking space at a store the car slams itself in park, so hard that I thought maybe I had hit something hard with one of my wheels. I followed back up with Tesla support and am being told there is still no way for me to turn off this automation feature. No automation feature should ever be hard coded into a motor vehicle. The risk presented by malfunctioning automation features is too great, and if I want to completely control every aspect of my car I should be able to, regardless of how much automation it is capable of. I am filing a complaint now because Tesla is clearly not taking these concerns seriously.

I was driving on an intestate hwy I-70 east bound on the left lane and I was about to take the exist 62. I was on cruise control and it was raining and the road was wet. When I tried to change the lane the car auto braked and car skid and rotated 360 degrees and hit the railing. The car got damaged front and back. Luckily there was no vehicle near us so my family was safe. But I dont know why the car auto braked and one should not hard brake when the road is wet. I called 911 and Tesla insurance. I took the car to the body shop and they are deeming it total loss. Please take necessary actions so it doesnot happen again.

Phantom braking on the highway. We were the only car and without warning the car slammed on the brakes. There was nothing for the vehicle to hit in the road or cross traffic. It did this 3x in 35 miles. This has happened both while just cruise control and when the full self driving was on. We are too worried to use either of there is any traffic around us. We have not been to dealership yet. Fast beeping when it hits the breaks. Have not seen any alarms.

I was driving my 2026 Tesla Model Y when another vehicle pulled out from a driveway and struck the front/side of my car. The Tesla failed to initiate automatic emergency braking (aeb) and no airbags deployed. This raises serious concerns about the functionality of Tesla’s safety systems in real-world scenarios. The vehicle has not been modified in any way and was in standard driving mode. I have contacted Tesla support requesting a diagnostic and explanation, but I believe this incident should also be reviewed as a potential safety defect.

While proceeding across the southbound two lanes of a divided 4 lane street the vehicle inexplicably braked violently to a complete stop. When stopped the vehicle was across the two lanes of the road (as I was headed for a divided left turn lane). The was traffic on the road that had to stop for my vehicle. It took a couple of seconds for the car to release the brakes and allow me to continue across the street. This could have cause a wreck if the street traffic had not been paying attention or had assumed I was going to continue as should have been expected. I had to try to hit the gear shift stock in order to get the car to continue moving, although I am not sure that the car required this action. I did not know for how long the vehicle would be immobile. I could have been injured or killed due to this "phantom braking" incident.

On Tuesday, [xxx], around [xxx] returning home and in my driveway when the following happened. Pulling into the left side of the driveway because a utility van was parked on the right side of the driveway with the rear door and driver’s side door opened with no one in the vicinity. There was not enough room to go forward into the garage. I was almost at a complete stop with the intention of getting out of the car to shut the drivers side door. That was when the car sped up at full speed and turned to the right into the van and continued in the right direction into the garage. The car was headed to the right back corner of the garage smashing into paint cans, a freezer, sink and cabinets. I had no control over the car from the time the car sped up and smashed into the back of the garage and it all happened in a matter of a few seconds. The vehicle has been totaled by the insurance company. This incident was recorded in the vehicle’s computer. The police department was called the same day and a police officer came to the house to record the incident. The car was towed to gerber collision & glass, 10491 corkscrew commons dr. , estero, FL 33928, phone (239) 947-6050. The car computer system should have recorded the event. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

While reversing in this 2021 Tesla Model Y (software v12, 2025. 14. 1, full self-driving supervised), the vehicle’s ultrasonic sensors showed a wall directly behind on the display. However, the Tesla vision camera system did not visually render the wall, and neither automatic emergency braking (aeb) nor obstacle-aware acceleration activated. The car reversed under driver input directly into the wall, causing a collision with property damage. The safety defect appears to be that the ultrasonic sensors, although still present and visually displayed, are no longer integrated into the collision avoidance systems after Tesla’s software updates activating Tesla vision. As a result, the aeb and oaa systems seem to rely only on camera data, ignoring ultrasonic sensor input — leaving a dangerous blind spot in reverse. This problem affects safety because the driver receives no warning that aeb or oaa will not engage based on ultrasonic detection alone. Tesla’s updated owner manuals (2023. 12) state that aeb is now designed to work in reverse, but in this case, the system failed. The issue has not yet been inspected by Tesla or a dealer but appears reproducible on vehicles with ultrasonic sensors running Tesla vision software. This is likely a widespread defect affecting 2020–2022 Tesla model 3, y, s, and x vehicles equipped with ultrasonic sensors but updated via software. There were no warning lights or system alerts before the failure. I request NHTSA investigate whether Tesla’s software has disabled or failed to integrate ultrasonic sensor data into rear collision avoidance, creating an undisclosed safety risk for owners.

On [xxx] I was driving north on [xxx] at approximately 70 mph when my 2023 Tesla Model Y long range brakes violently applied by them self twice in the space of a few seconds, the sudden unexpected brake application was a shock to me causing me almost lose control of the vehicle and was almost rear ended by a truck that was a few car lengths behind me. My car was in manual mode with the "emergency braking" switch enabled (no self drive or cruise control), the weather was sunny and dry and there were no traffic or obstacles in front of my car. The onboard dash cam briefly captured the incident. The problem did not reoccur for the remainder of my drive home. There was no warning prior to the incident, I believe that emergency brakes may have flashed on the screen ( not sure because I was busy reacting to the situation). The car has not been inspected as of yet. I now have to disable the emergency braking function each time I drive my car because unfortunately the system defaults to the on position and I don't trust it. This issue appears to be a problem with the system that provides visual information to the emergency braking system. I'm making this report because this is an extremely dangerous problem that needs to be addressed by Tesla before it causes injury or worse. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving at approximately 25 mph on a local street in seattle, wa, my Tesla suddenly engaged the brakes without any apparent reason. The vehicle was not in autopilot or full self-driving mode, and my foot was actively pressing the accelerator pedal at the time. The braking was abrupt and forceful, causing a sudden deceleration. The weather was clear with good lighting. There were no obstacles, vehicles, or road hazards in my path that could have triggered the braking. The unexpected stop was shocking and could have led to a rear-end collision, as there were vehicles behind me.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Phantom braking event on highway. Going about 65 miles an hour. It slammed on the brakes. Car is on latest software. I have the video clip whet it shows me trying to get the car under control.

This car is three months old. Driving near my home on a four-lane divided road with 55mph speed limit. While having either cruise or auto-steer enabled and using cruise control only, experiencing ongoing instances—during every drive—of unexpected and unexplained hard, sudden braking, reducing vehicle speed dramatically (multiples of 10mph in less than five seconds). Each time, there has been very light traffic, and there is nothing I can see on the road that could explain the reason for the braking, hence the unexpected nature. The problem could easily cause a rear-end collision soon if another car is following closely, and I’m not able to correct and accelerate fast enough. Vehicle is very clean all around, including camera locations, and the weather is perfectly sunny and temperate each day. I do not recall this event happening while driving at night in my semi-rural area. I have not yet reported the problem to Tesla, so they have not inspected or attempted service on the vehicle.

Fsd failed to break when another vehicle was making a right turn. I had to take over is a split second. I have dashcam footage but unable to upload in this form.

My wife was driving the car on March 7th 2025. Before she leaves the house, she had her front defroster on and the windshield was clear before she leaves the house. 5 minutes later, the front windshield became so foggy to the point she could not see anything in front of her and the front defroster was still on. And because of that so foggy windshield she moved out of her lane with no lane departure warning or anything and then she hit the railway pole without any emergency brakes going off or any warning signs letting her that she is about to hit something. The whole front of the car was gone and the car was totally lost but no airbags deployed at all and that was also concerning. Also there was no issues or any warning lamps or messages before the loss. The car was taken to a body shop and was inspected by the body shop and I believe a representative from my insurance company went to inspect the car at the body shop. So these are the parts I felt faulty or causing the safety concern: - front defroster - automatic emergency brakes - lane departure warning - forward collision warning.

I was driving the car on supervised self drive and going home around 9 pm. When I reached my house I tapped the break to disengage the fsd and take over so that I can pull into our driveway. After coming to a stop the car all of a sudden just took off on its own at almost 60 mph on a residential street. I was repeatedly pressing on the brake to try to control the car. But it seemed like the car had a mind of its own and was not responding to me at all. Approximately 8 seconds (based on Tesla dashcam recordings) later after travelling a distance of approximately 700 feet the car hit 2 parked cars on the street, which eventually activated the brake and brought the car to a stop at the front yard of a house across the street from where the parked cars were hit.

Incident details: date & time: [xxx] driver: my spouse, purpose of trip: personal (heading to a nearby soccer park) location: [xxx] weather & road conditions: clear weather, dry roads, normal traffic conditions driver safety: the driver was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident incident description: my spouse was driving to the nearby soccer park with the vehicle in fsd mode. Upon approaching a railway crossing, the signal was green, indicating it was safe to proceed. However, instead of maintaining a controlled speed, the car suddenly accelerated while attempting to cross. Before my spouse could take control, the vehicle struck the boom barrier, which was either lowering or had already lowered at that moment. The incident happened so suddenly that she did not have enough time to react and override the system. Fortunately, no injuries occurred, but the vehicle sustained damage to the front bumper, windshield, and frame. The unexpected behavior of fsd at a railway crossing raises serious safety concerns regarding its decision-making. Safety concerns: I have been a long-time appreciative user of fsd, but this incident has shaken my confidence in the system. I now fear using fsd. Given the serious nature of this incident, I request an urgent review and response regarding my concerns, as well as coverage for the necessary repairs. Request for investigation & cost coverage: access to vehicle logs: I request access to the vehicle's telemetry and camera recordings to determine why this happened. Fsd system review: please investigate whether this was an fsd-related miscalculation and what corrective actions are necessary. Cost of repairs: as this incident was caused by an unexpected fsd action, I request Tesla to cover the repair costs for the vehicle and any associated damages. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am submitting a complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete power loss while in operation, creating a hazardous situation. Below are the details of the incident: •component/system failure: the vehicle’s electrical system failed, leading to a shutdown. The following alerts were displayed on the screen: •vcfront_a191: electrical system power reduced – vehicle shutting down •vcfront_a192: electrical system unable to support all features – switching off features to conserve energy •bms_a151: vehicle may not restart – service is required •di_a227: please wait while high voltage system powers up •safety risk: the unexpected shutdown posed a serious safety risk. If this had occurred in high-speed traffic, it could have led to a crash, endangering my safety and that of others on the road. •reproduction of issue: the issue has not been reproduced yet, but it is an ongoing concern. I have not received a resolution from Tesla at this time. •inspection by authorities: the vehicle has not yet been inspected by Tesla, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. However, I am willing to make it available for investigation. •warning signs: there were no prior warning signs before the failure. The alerts appeared shortly before the vehicle lost power completely. This issue raises concerns about the reliability and safety of Tesla’s electrical system. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter to prevent potential accidents caused by similar failures in other vehicles.

Tesla has told me the ap4 computer has failed in my car which has resulted in them having to replace it. I had this issue start on 1/12, and I scheduled the earliest appointment available for 1/30. They did not offer me a rental or any assistance during this time, and I need my vehicle to commute to work and conduct other essential activities. It has just over 1,000 miles on it and is ~3 months old now. This issue impacts: backup camera, emergency braking, blind spot detection, lane keep/centering, assisting with parking, automatic high beams and wipers, cruise control/ adaptive cruise control, vehicles built in gps to be stuck at one location every time, has made my touchscreen not automatically brighten or dim, my auto dimming mirrors be too dim in most driving conditions, constantly fail to install system improvements and safety updates, and because my vehicle keeps trying to do this, it has caused increased battery drain as well. This has increased the safety risk of my vehicle tremendously, and I have received no reparations for it.

Park assist error message when put car in reverse. No visualizations on display. Early collision not working. Several times (not in this instance) backup camera has been black and does not show an image. Sentry system error message. Fsd offline. (may not be a safety issue but wanted to provide information as it would show other errors in the system affecting safety) I have a scheduled appointment with the service center in February.

Cameras not working suddenly, navigation software hung in last location coordinates, auto pilot and it’s safety features not working backup cameras not working , creating blind spot while reversing the car not sure what caused the issue , there was an over wire update few days back maybe that is causing it reported to Tesla service but appointments are backed out seems many cars has this issue recently in last 1-2 months.

Automatic emergency braking stopped working. Parking assist stopped working. Back window is dismal. You can't see anything behind through the window. All cameras stopped working and it poses a safety hazard.

All cameras and related functions stopped working, including back up camera. Gps is not working. Tesla pushed back my service appointment until 1/21/25. Safety is an issue now due to blindspots and they will not give me a loaner car. Tesla informed me the computer needs to be replaced. They reported this is wide spread and Tesla is not sure why it happened. I was informed that even though my new appointment is 1/21 it is likely that it would be pushed back further. I have only had this car for 5 weeks. No warning lights came on prior to this happening.

I was driving at a speed of 60 miles per hour in rainy weather when the car’s emergency braking system suddenly activated. At the same time, the steering wheel locked due to the braking, and I completely lost control of the vehicle. The car spun multiple times before crashing into the center divider of the highway and finally coming to a stop. This was an extremely dangerous incident from a safety perspective. This was the first time such a braking malfunction occurred. The incident has not yet been investigated by the insurance company, and no warning or notification was displayed by the vehicle at any point.

After a software update pushed by Tesla, the ap4 computer in my 2024 Tesla Model Y shorted out, causing a complete failure of all safety systems controlled by this computer. The following safety-critical and driver-assist features have become non-functional: 1. Cruise control (adaptive or otherwise) 2. Forward collision warning 3. Lane departure warning 4. Lane keeping assistance 5. Blind spot warning 6. Parking collision warning 7. Full self-driving and auto park features 8. Cameras required for autopilot functionality 9. Auto headlight dim / auto wiper system 10. Back up camera rendered inoperable additionally, because the gps system has failed, the vehicle’s navigation system is inoperable. This impacts Tesla’s unique route planning feature that sets up supercharger stops during long journeys. Without a functioning navigation system, I cannot properly plan my travel or locate charging stations, which severely affects the usability of the vehicle. This system also initiates preconditioning of the battery (heats it up to be able to charge), so super charging is extremely slow without the gps system availability. Safety concerns: the failure of these systems, especially safety features like forward collision warning, lane keeping assistance, and blind spot monitoring, puts both the driver and others on the road at risk. Losing access to safety-critical functions after an update is unacceptable and poses a serious danger to vehicle occupants and surrounding traffic. Rear visibility in the car is very limited without the federally required backup camera. Incident details: • the issue occurred immediately following a software update. • Tesla pushed the update remotely without providing any warning or indication of potential risks. • the failure appears to be related to a hardware short in the ap4 computer, directly caused or exacerbated by the update.

All cameras stopped working. Blind spot detection not working. Blinkers stopped working. No parking assist. Auto wipers . Adas not working. Screen auto brightness not working. Clicking when letting off accelerator. We damaged our tire and rim due to this issue.