Equipment Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 1

Since a 2026 over-the-air software update, every time I disengage Tesla full self-driving (supervised) while driving, on any road and at any speed, the center touchscreen shows a large pop-up titled "why did you intervene?" with four buttons (navigation, parking, critical, other) and a voice-message option. It covers about a third of the display, including navigation, media controls and, during parking, the camera view. It does not clear on its own while driving; it stays until the driver taps an option or shifts into park. Photos attached. Disengagements happen at the most demanding moments: correcting the system, avoiding a hazard, merging or parking. This prompt draws the driver's eyes and hand to the touchscreen at exactly those moments, on every disengagement and several times per drive. I believe this creates a foreseeable visual-manual distraction risk and conflicts with NHTSA's visual-manual driver distraction guidelines. This is a particular safety concern because I regularly drive this vehicle with young children on board. Any distraction at the moment I take over from fsd puts them at risk. There is no setting to disable this prompt; the only way to avoid it is to stop using fsd, which we paid for. The car is collecting training feedback from drivers in real time at the expense of attention to the road. I request that NHTSA review this and that Tesla make the prompt dismissible, defer it until the vehicle is parked, or make it optional. Reproducible on every fsd disengagement; not inspected by a dealer. Vehicle software 2026. 27. 11, fsd (supervised) v14. 3. 10.

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On October 13, 2026, at approximately 1:30 pm, my 2023 Tesla Model Y was operating with full self-driving (supervised) engaged on I-595 in davie, florida. While approaching a closed express lane entrance, the vehicle steered toward the end of a swing gate barrier marked "do not enter" and collided with it. The impact damaged the lower left portion of the windshield. No injuries were reported. The incident was captured by the vehicle's dashcam. Florida highway patrol attended the scene, reviewed the footage, and documented the collision. The vehicle's steering behavior while fsd was engaged raises concerns about its ability to recognize and safely respond to closed lane entrances and physical road barriers. The incident has been reported to Tesla, with a request to preserve relevant vehicle data and investigate the fsd behavior. No technical findings have been provided yet.

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While driving on freeway, driver door glass exploded and shattered into pieces without anything hitting it.

I was driving Tesla in full self driving and when it parked halfway in the garage and as soon as tried to take control it dashed into my garage inner walls and went through it within a fraction of a second. It was out of control.

I am filing this complaint regarding a serious front suspension failure involving my 2021 Tesla Model Y. Vehicle information: •manufacturer: Tesla, inc. •model: Model Y •model year: 2021 •VIN: [xxx] •mileage: 92,515 miles •Tesla service inspection date: xxx •service location: Tesla service center, [xxx] description of safety defect: my 2021 Tesla Model Y experienced a serious failure involving the front driver’s side lower control arm/lateral link assembly. The inner mounting bolt backed out and the lower control arm detached from its mounting point on the front subframe. The control arm bushing was torn, and the suspension arm became loose, rendering the vehicle unsafe and undrivable. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla service center in [xxx], where the issue was documented in the service estimate dated xxx. Tesla proposed replacing the front lower lateral links, front subframe assembly, left front lower compliance link, and right front halfshaft, along with performing a four-wheel alignment. Safety concerns: I am extremely concerned that a critical suspension mounting bolt could back out and allow the lower control arm to separate from the vehicle’s subframe. A failure of this nature could result in loss of steering control, wheel misalignment, or a serious accident, particularly if it occurs at highway speeds. This is not a routine suspension wear issue. It involves the separation of a critical suspension component that is essential for maintaining vehicle stability and steering control. Potential related recalls and investigation: I requested that Tesla review whether my vehicle is affected by the following recall or investigation references: •NHTSA recall 21v-835 •NHTSA recall 23v-235 •NHTSA recall 26v558 •Tesla service bulletin sb-26-31-004 •NHTSA investigation pe26006 see more info in attachment. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Subject: formal safety complaint – Tesla fsd failure and missing video evidence vehicle: 2024 Tesla Model Y long range VIN: [xxx] fsd version: fsd (supervised) v14. 3. 10 incident date: October 9, 2026 location: [xxx] dear NHTSA, I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a suspected failure of Tesla's full self-driving (fsd) system. On xxx, my wife activated fsd while our Tesla Model Y was parked in a parking lot. The vehicle began reversing and collided with another stationary vehicle behind it. Although the other vehicle showed no visible damage, our Tesla suffered significant deformation to its trunk and rear body panels, with estimated repairs of $5,000–$15,000. My primary concern is that fsd apparently failed to detect or respond appropriately to a stationary vehicle directly behind it. Such a failure could have caused serious injuries if a pedestrian or child had been present. Additionally, I requested my vehicle data from Tesla, but the "video recording" section was empty. I am concerned about the missing footage and the availability of critical evidence needed to determine what happened. I respectfully request NHTSA investigate the suspected fsd object-detection and reversing safety failure. Request preservation and review of relevant Tesla camera recordings, fsd logs, vehicle telemetry, and collision data, if available. Examine why no video footage was included in my Tesla data download. Determine whether similar incidents indicate a broader public safety concern. This incident has caused substantial financial damage, inconvenience, and emotional stress. I believe an independent investigation is necessary to protect other Tesla owners and the public. Sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Subject: repeated fsd attempts to enter closed reversible express lanes – 2026 Tesla Model Y (hw4) I am submitting this complaint to report repeated potentially dangerous behavior involving full self-driving (supervised) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y equipped with hardware 4 (hw4). On multiple occasions, fsd attempted to enter closed reversible express lanes along interstate 75 in the atlanta, georgia area. These express lanes operate in different directions depending on the time of day, with physical barriers controlling access. Despite the entrances being closed, fsd repeatedly attempted to enter them, requiring my immediate intervention to prevent potential collisions. Incident 1: September 19, 2026, approximately 10:45 pm location: terrell mill road express lane access, I-75 northbound fsd version: 14. 3. 8 while traveling northbound on I-75, fsd indicated its intention to enter the express lanes through the terrell mill road access point, which was closed at the time. I attempted multiple times to redirect the intended maneuver using the turn signal. Despite these attempts, fsd continued toward the entrance and was about to execute the turn when I took manual control to prevent the vehicle from entering the closed roadway. Incident 2: October 6, 2026, approximately 6:30 pm locations: big shanty road access and barrett parkway access, I-75 southbound fsd version: 14. 3. 10 while traveling southbound on I-75, fsd signaled its intention to enter the express lanes through the big shanty road access point, which was closed. I intervened and disengaged fsd to prevent the vehicle from entering. After passing that entrance, I reactivated fsd. The system subsequently rerouted and attempted to enter the closed express lanes again through the barrett parkway access point. I had to intervene a second time to prevent another potentially dangerous maneuver. Incident 3: October 8, 2026, approximately 6:00 pm location: I-75 southbound express lane entry, north of hickory grove road fsd.

I am reporting two nearly identical safety incidents involving Tesla full self-driving (supervised) on my Model Y. In both cases, the vehicle failed to detect a stationary concrete pillar and did not apply automatic braking, resulting in collisions. First incident – September 16, 2026 while using fsd (supervised) to reverse into my residential driveway, the system hesitated due to a parked vehicle on the left side. Instead of completing the reverse maneuver, the vehicle moved forward and struck a door pillar / gate post. I intervened and took over control only after the impact had already occurred. The vehicle sustained visible damage (scuff/dent on the side/rear area). Photos are available. Second incident – October 4, 2026 again using fsd (supervised) in a similar residential parking/driveway situation, I believed the vehicle was reversing and would correct its path. Without any warning or automatic braking, the vehicle continued and struck a concrete pillar. I had essentially no time to react before contact. I stopped the vehicle after the impact. Additional damage occurred. Photos of the vehicle position relative to the pillar and the resulting damage are available.

This is my 13th complaint regarding this car. When I drive out of internet connection, the car switches to "navigating offline" and is pretty inaccurate, even if the destination showed while I had connectivity. Tesla makes you pay for "premium connectivity" to get apps that you may already have a subscription or phone access to. I do not have premium connectivity and was under the assumption that I would not be stranded if I drove out of internet range. But it has happened to me before, especially in the mountains. Since the car has to be towed if it gets a flat, and Tesla "always" knows where my car is, I consider it a safety concern (especially as a single woman) to be out of contact. I drove to big bend national park on 9. 27. 26 and returned on 10. 4. 26 and had several instances of "navigating offline".

On 10/2/26 at approx 9pm I was using Teslas fsd to return home from nyc to NJ. I entered the Lincoln tunnel expressway at 30th street and around 38th street the car suddenly entered a ramp marked with a do not enter sign and a red light. It was too quick to disengage and move to the left (green lit) ramp. Luckily there were no issues on the closed ramp (possibly it was closed in preparation for construction later that night). But I was very concerned that fsd could make this mistake.

This is a brand new car when I bought it in 2023. I found the arm controls are damaged when replacing my tires.

While using full self-driving (supervised) on el camino real in san bruno, California, my Model Y approached the vehicle ahead dangerously closely before abruptly braking to a stop. I did not initiate the braking. It appeared to be automatic emergency braking, but the system responsible has not been confirmed by Tesla. No collision occurred. I was not pressing the accelerator. However, the approximately two-minute video shows an accelerator indicator active for a prolonged period, including during slowing, stopping and lane changes. I am concerned that the indicated accelerator input did not match my actual input. I cannot determine whether this was a display, pedal-sensing or fsd/software issue. I reported this to Tesla service burlingame and attached the video to my service request. Tesla initially recommended restarting the touchscreen and subsequently issued a $325 general diagnostic estimate. Tesla stated it would not inspect the vehicle without approval of that estimate. I have not authorized paid diagnostics, and the safety concern remains unresolved. I requested preservation of vehicle logs and technical escalation. Please investigate the near-collision, the braking intervention and the apparent accelerator-input discrepancy. The incident occurred at about 9 a. M. ; speed was approximately 20-30 mph. I tentatively recall fsd version 14. 3. Xx, but cannot confirm it. The exact vehicle software version, incident mileage, warning information and source interface of the accelerator indicator are unknown. I have not completed an on-site Tesla inspection. The video, Tesla correspondence and diagnostic estimate are available upon request.

When in full self drive (fsd), the car turns (every time) west on [xxx] in [xxx] when existing the xxx high school front driveway ([xxx]). This is a one way street where all traffic is directed east, so having it drive west means it's driving the wrong way on a one way road. Additionally, when then traversing the perimeter of the school and then traveling east of the [xxx]/[xxx] intersection on [xxx], the car will drive through the parallel parking spaces instead of the main lane. Both of these are critical safety issues and if the car were fully automated or perhaps a cybercab, this could be extremely dangerous. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On September 28, 2026, I was driving my 2026 Tesla Model Y dual motor northbound on interstate 17 in arizona near the sedona exit area. Full self-driving (supervised) was engaged. The vehicle was running software version 2026. 27. 11 and fsd (supervised) version v14. 3. 10. There was light rain in the area and the roadway was wet. I was traveling approximately 66–67 mph in a posted 75 mph zone. While fsd was engaged, the vehicle unexpectedly initiated a lane change. During or immediately following the lane change, the vehicle encountered the wet/standing-water area, lost control, and struck the concrete barrier. I am concerned about why fsd initiated this lane change under these roadway conditions and whether the system properly detected and responded to the wet roadway. I have requested that Tesla preserve and review all available fsd logs, vehicle telemetry, steering and braking data, lane-change and path-planning information, camera data, collision data, and other information associated with this incident. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident as a potential safety issue involving full self-driving (supervised), particularly its lane-change behavior and operation under wet roadway conditions. I am very positive this incident wouldn’t have happened if fsd wasn’t in play. This is huge safety concern I want to share to avoid any issues!.

The vehicle itself will not follow safety lane control. Full self driving was in fact it crosses double white lines and toll roads and will merge into other lanes that has led to unsafe situation excessive ticketing, especially in the [xxx] area. This has happened several times, where it’ll go over the double white line ignore the laws and it will stay in the left lane, causing traffic and disruption. Today it did it several times and jerked into the toll lane when it was a double white line and caused a traffic issue instead of working through it. It signal quickly and then just moved over which was not ok and it was against the rules. Each state has their own set of laws and the cars should be able to adjust each state to follow those laws to ensure safety. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I and other telsa drivers report Tesla fsd takes too long to enter a lane from which the car has to turn. Some drivers report “last minute” trying to get into turn lane or expressway off ramp. Twice last week my Tesla (model y built in June 2026) waited much too long to get into the required turn lane. On both occasions I was either in outside lane needing to turn left, or middle lane needing to turn left. One first occasion Tesla in fsd was only 0. 3 miles from the turn as cars behind stacked up preparing to make the left turn. On second occasion, car in fsd was only 0. 2 miles from turn, even indicating by led light strip turning red, that a car behind was in my blind spot. Yet, the Tesla wedged itself in front of the car behind already in the turn lane forcing that driver to slam on his brakes to let Tesla in for the turn. The second occasion could have resulted in an accident or incited a road rage incident from the driver behind. I asked grok to request Tesla engineers fix this fsd poor decision-making. Grok said he’s aware of this problem, correctly referring to it as a “lane change timing” issue, but stated he could not message Tesla engineers. At next opportunity, I sent a message via microphone in my car, though not during a “why did I take over intervention” request, because I did not intervene. Grok offered help saying I could use my turn signal to get in turn lane further in advance of the turn, or change speed mode to adjust for traffic behind, but that defeats use of fsd. Would NHTSA please make this a priority issue for Tesla engineers to fix?.

Critical fsd lane change - 2020 Tesla Model Y software 2026. 26. 6. 5 and fsd v14. 1 lite changed lanes suddenly and violently at freeway speed while entering an express lane with flexible lane delineators between the express lanes and the freeway. The automation made the lane change at the very last second, narrowly avoiding impact with the plastic posts, and swerving back into the left-most freeway lane. The action of the fsd could have caused a loss of control of the vehicle as it compensated for the weight shift caused by suddenly swerving. There was space between the Tesla and other vehicles at the time but this could have been catastrophic with only slight changes to the road condition etc. . . Reported to Tesla fsd beta team. No known failures, warning lights or other issues with the car.

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Tesla supervised full self driving sped southbound into a school speed zone. Flashing speed zone yellow lights required speed of 20 mph. Tesla continued at 49-50 mph. Driver intervention was required to slow down to 20 mph. There has been one other incident reported for this Tesla in the same school zone operating northbound last week.

Fsd failed to recognize the emergency vehicle and attempted to pull out into the intersection.

While I was driving on the highway in rainy weather, my electric vehicle suddenly made a very loud blast or popping sound and immediately stopped working. The vehicle lost power, and all electrical functions became inoperative while I was in the middle of the highway. This created a serious safety hazard because I was unable to continue driving or operate the vehicle normally. There was no visible damage to the exterior of the vehicle. The tires were intact and appeared to be in normal condition, with no tire damage or other external damage that could explain the sudden loss of power. The vehicle stopped unexpectedly while driving in wet conditions, without any apparent external impact or physical damage.

I was using my cars fsd program and it nearly turned me in front of an oncoming semi truck. This was after it hesitated to turn the car when it had a safer opportunity. I thought it would wait but then it started to turn and I had to stop it, which left me slightly out of my lane which was scary too, with a giant truck coming head on.

When using fsd in a Tesla, they are forcing you to take your eyes off the road to engage with their quationaire on why I disengaged with fsd. Its always because I want to. I am being forced to look at the screen which also it is blocking important information. I am not a slave and won't be forced to answer a questionaire several times a day while driving. It makes users angry having to do that and I truly believe it is a safety hazzard. There needs to be an option to either not participate or scroll down so it goes away.

I was using fsd today and was driving along highway 24 in orinda and the car almost hit the highway island at speed of 64 mph. I attached the bideo.

Vehicle disengages my turning signal after I enter the turning lane, leading me to have to turn it on again or risk unsafe turning situations. No fix or work around offered.

The autopilot/active safety sensor system and automated emergency braking (aeb) component failed. The vehicle experienced an uncommanded, severe "phantom braking" event and simultaneous steering lock. The vehicle is currently [state if it is at a tow yard, repair shop, or totaled, e. G. , at an insurance-designated salvage yard] and is available for inspection upon request.

When I manually disengage Tesla fsd while the vehicle is moving, a persistent feedback popup appears. It cannot simply be dismissed and requires interaction or feedback to clear. This has happened every day since fsd 14. 3. 2 was released, including September 13, 2026, the incident date entered on this form. This creates visual and cognitive distraction at the exact moment I have assumed manual control and need to focus on driving. I sometimes disengage fsd simply because I want to drive; disengagement does not necessarily indicate an fsd failure. Feedback should be optional, readily dismissible, or deferred until the vehicle is parked. I request that NHTSA review this behavior as a potential driver-distraction safety issue.

Component that failed & available for inspection? the power window on the passenger-side rear door failed to auto-reverse when it hit an obstruction while closing. It closed with enough force to pinch and injure my child's finger and did not reverse. The 2024 Tesla Model Y is available for inspection on request. How was safety put at risk? the window was closing automatically (auto-lock), with no one touching the switch, when it pinched and injured my child's finger. Fmvss 118 requires power windows to detect an obstruction and reverse during hands-free closing. It did not reverse at all. This puts children and passengers at continued risk of finger and hand injury. Reproduced/confirmed by a dealer or service center? yes I reproduced it myself. With a child-sized finger-width carrot placed in the window path during an automatic close, the window failed to reverse and crushed the carrot instead of retracting. I have video of this. Not yet confirmed by a service center; I am scheduling a Tesla service inspection. Video can be viewed in the attachments that's in gif format. Inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance or others? not yet. I am reporting this to Tesla service and filing this complaint at the same time. Warning lamps/messages/symptoms before failure, and when? none. No warning lamps, alerts, or messages appeared before or during the incident, and there were no prior symptoms that the automatic window reversal system was malfunctioning. Our best guess is that its always been malfunctional.

Today, the Tesla updated while my wife was in the car. During the update all electrical systems went down and the car was locked from the inside and out making it so she could not get out. Because the electrical systems were down while the update was going she did not have any ac either. So she was locked in the car without ac in 107f weather. This is an extreme danger to her health and should be taken care of right away. As well if you had dog mode on it would have locked dogs in the car without ac. This is also an extreme danger because there is not a safe dog mode. The truth is it could be disable at any time without the ability to interrupt or stop the update.

My 2022 Tesla Model Y does not reliably activate the rear air-conditioning vents when a baby is properly restrained in a rear car seat. When the climate system is set to auto, the rear vents remain off because the vehicle does not detect the baby/car seat as an occupant. When an adult occupies the same rear seat, the vehicle detects the passenger and the rear vents activate automatically. This creates a significant safety concern because the driver can have the climate system running normally and the front of the cabin can be cool, while very little conditioned air is being directed to the rear where the baby is seated. On multiple occasions, my baby has been visibly hot and sweating in the rear car seat even though the front of the cabin felt cool and the front climate system was actively running. The problem is particularly concerning because a baby cannot communicate that they are overheating, and there is no obvious warning to the driver that the rear vents have remained off. A driver could reasonably assume that setting the vehicle’s climate control to auto is appropriately cooling the occupied cabin. I have been able to reproduce and isolate the issue. Applying approximately 20 pounds of pressure to a particular area of the rear seat cushion causes the vehicle to recognize the seat as occupied and the rear climate vents to activate. Removing that pressure causes the normal behavior to return. This indicates that the automatic rear climate behavior is dependent on an occupancy-detection threshold or location that a properly installed child car seat with a baby may not satisfy. A child occupying a rear seat in an appropriate child restraint is a normal and foreseeable use of the vehicle. The automatic climate-control system should not depend on an occupancy-detection method that can fail to recognize this situation and consequently leave the rear vents off. I believe this presents a huge safety defect and request that NHTSA investigate this.

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The car came to a standstill at an intersection with a red light and the proceeded through the red light. I have the video, the car was on fsd I have the video , cannot load it below.

I brought the vehicle to a Tesla service center for a front suspension noise. During the alignment portion of that repair, the technician found a crack in the left side of the rear subframe casting, the structural member that locates the rear suspension links and supports the rear drive unit. The subframe required full replacement. There was no impact event. The vehicle has never struck a curb, pothole, or object, and Tesla's own written finding confirmed there was no evidence of any side impact. Tesla attributed the crack to stress transmitted from failed front lower control arm bushings, which were replaced at the same visit. The front lower lateral links and their subframe fasteners were also replaced during this repair. The Tesla technician stated he had not seen this subframe crack so severely at this mileage, and that he normally sees this failure only on vehicles over 100,000 miles, or vehicles that have hit severe potholes or fallen off steep curbs, none of which applies here. A rear subframe cracking under normal driving loads at 68,000 miles is a structural failure with safety implications. The subframe controls rear wheel alignment and retains the drive unit. Progressive or sudden failure could cause loss of alignment, instability, or loss of vehicle control. I am reporting this so NHTSA can determine whether premature rear subframe cracking, potentially linked to front suspension link failure, represents a defect trend on these vehicles.

2026 Tesla Model Y was operating with autopilot engaged. While making a right turn at a school, the vehicle struck a brick area, continued forward, struck a wall and rolled over. The driver and passenger survived without apparent injury. The vehicle was towed and appears to be a total loss.

Vehicle: 2026 Tesla Model Y system involved: full self-driving (supervised) date of incident: September 2, 2026 approximate time: 5:20 pm location: I-10 area near tucson, arizona crash: no injury: no near-miss / safety-critical event: yes I am reporting a serious safety incident involving the full self-driving (supervised) system in my 2026 Tesla Model Y. On September 2, 2026, at approximately 5:20 pm near tucson, arizona, I was using full self-driving (supervised) while traveling toward I-10. The vehicle was expected to enter I-10 but did not enter the highway as intended. Instead, the vehicle proceeded onto a service road, then entered an abandoned parking lot. Rather than safely correcting the route it started towards highway ramp against the normal direction of traffic. I immediately took manual control,stopped in an empty emergency area between the ramp and the service road and activated my emergency hazard lights. I remained stopped while approaching traffic slowed after observing my vehicle. Once it was safe to proceed, I manually and slowly repositioned the vehicle in the correct direction and entered I-10 using the ramp. There was no collision and no injury. However, I believe this event created a serious and potentially fatal risk because the vehicle’s automated driving system directed the vehicle toward a highway ramp in the wrong direction, creating the possibility of a wrong-way conflict with incoming traffic. I am also notifying Tesla for evaluation. I wonder if more similar incidents were reported recently (I learned the fatal collision killing passenger on oct 31st in az due to fsd malfunction).

The full self driving feature on highways serves within the lane, getting close from line to line similar to how an impaired driver would drive.

My Model Y has an intermittent hvac issue that occurs only when there are more than 4 occupants in the vehicle. I first reported this while the car was still under warranty, at just over 46,000 miles. We had changed the filter as we thought it was resolved. The issue reappeared, and I scheduled a service call within 10 days. Because the fault is sporadic and couldn't be reproduced on demand, the service call was canceled. The problem persisted, and I brought the car back in. This time, at 50,750 miles, your technician diagnosed the root cause and confirmed it is a system fault due to defective parts, and that it has been happening even when the car was under warranty—not something I caused or could have prevented. He also told me directly that if left unaddressed, this will likely lead to compressor failure down the road. Despite the issue being reported and documented while the car was under warranty, I've now been quoted $3,200 to fix it, entirely out of pocket, simply because the diagnosis happened to land a few hundred miles past the warranty cutoff. Had this surfaced further down the road as normal wear and tear, I'd have accepted it as a cost of ownership. But this is a known defect that was reported in-warranty and only went undiagnosed because of its intermittent nature — that shouldn't be the customer's burden to absorb. On top of that, I found an uninstalled hepa filter assembly sitting loose in my trunk after this service visit — not installed, not packaged, just left there. It had nothing to do with the nature of the visit. That's not the kind of quality control I'd expect, especially given the rest of this experience. This raises real concerns about the quality control on this visit & customer experience from the service team (manager).