Exterior Lighting Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 1

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

The vehicle display flashed red and then the vehicle turned off completely while in traffic with no ability to change gear, operate the electronic door releases, or turn the hazards on. Safety was put at risk because insufficient notice of failure was given so it was impossible to get out of traffic, the vehicle could not be put in neutral so could not be pushed out of traffic, further the hazard lights could not be turned on so I had to stand in traffic waiving people around the vehicle. Because the electronic door releases didn't work, the doors could not be opened from the outside, had a front window not been open, it would have been easy to trap our child in the car. The dealer confirmed that the failure took place from vehicle logs but was unable to reproduce the problem. The dealer/manufacturer inspected the vehicle. Prior to this happening the vehicle showed warnings that power was reduced and vehicle may not restart about 20 minutes prior to the event, but the warnings disappeared after a minute. Even though Tesla confirmed the failure, they refused to diagnose the problem or fix it so the vehicle remains dangerous.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Tesla decided to remove the safety unlock illuminated button from its front trunk (frunk) sometime in mid 2025. This can be a safety issue which was present in earlier models and against the federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 401, mandating an interior release mechanism for enclosed trunks to prevent entrapment. I contacted Tesla and they told me that my vehicle was made after Tesla decided to remove this safety feature.

The headlights turned off while driving. Not being able to see where you're going is risky. The problem has occurred twice under the same conditions - light snow covering on the car. It has not been reproduced at dealer or service center. Components have not been inspected. The headlights operate properly when the snow is removed. No warning, messages or symptoms. Tesla assist states that if there if driving in snow or low viz conditions, the headlights should be turned on manually, which is not intuitive or appropriate given the advanced nature of the car.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

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.

The right rear taillight and turn signal on my Tesla Model Y became dim and intermittently flicker, and the turn signal does not function properly. This issue began immediately after a Tesla software update. The malfunction significantly reduces rear visibility and signaling to other drivers, especially at night, creating a safety risk. I contacted Tesla service and provided photos/videos. Tesla have scheduled a repair which is 1 week later but declined to confirm whether the vehicle is safe or legal to drive with this lighting malfunction. Tesla also declined to provide a loaner vehicle or alternate transportation and advised me to use my own judgment. Rear lighting and turn signals are safety-critical components required by law. Operating the vehicle in this condition poses a risk of rear-end collision or failure to signal lane changes or turns. I am filing this complaint due to safety concerns and Tesla’s inability to provide written guidance confirming safe operation until repair.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

During a snowstorm, the headlights caused blinding visibility issues due to the reflected light from the snow flakes. Normally, using low beams fixes this problem. I tried all combinations of headlights during the drive- auto high, high, auto low, manual low, just parking lights. All resulted in horrible visibility conditions that limited speed to around 20 mph. The vehicle was inspected by Tesla service. Tesla reported the headlights operate as designed. There is a light bar above the headlight that remains on when driving and this illuminates the snow. This lightbar should turn off at night or at least have an option to turn off by the driver.

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.

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.

Tesla removed the lighted emergency frunk (front trunk) release button and its wiring from this vehicle and other similar newer builds. The elimination of this key safety feature is a clear violation of the u. S. Federal motor vehicle safety standard fmvss 401 for interior trunk release; requiring all new passenger cars with trunk compartments (rear and front) to have a way for someone trapped inside to escape. There is currently no method to open a latched front trunk cover from inside this new vehicle.

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.

Description of problem: the 2026 Tesla Model Y does not include an interior emergency release button inside the front trunk (commonly referred to as the “frunk”). Under federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 401 (49 c. F. R. § 571. 401), all passenger vehicles with a front- or rear-opening trunk compartment are required to have an interior emergency trunk release mechanism that allows a person to exit if accidentally trapped. Safety risk: this missing feature presents a significant entrapment hazard, especially for children or smaller individuals who may become enclosed in the frunk either accidentally or during cleaning or maintenance. There is no way to open the frunk from the inside, which could result in suffocation, heat exposure, or death. The lack of an emergency release mechanism makes it impossible for an occupant to self-rescue if trapped. The vehicle and frunk assembly are available for inspection upon request. Problem confirmation: this issue has been reproduced and confirmed directly by observation—no emergency release mechanism or glow-in-the-dark handle is present inside the frunk. As of now, Tesla has not confirmed the problem and the company is aware of this omission as stated in their owners manual inspections conducted: the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or any independent service center regarding this specific issue warning lamps/messages: there were no warning lamps, alerts, or messages indicating the absence of the emergency release system. The issue was discovered during routine use and inspection of the front trunk area other Tesla vehicles, including earlier Model Y and model 3 units, are equipped with an illuminated emergency release handle in the rear trunk. However, the 2026 Model Y frunk lacks any such release mechanism, suggesting a potential design change or oversight that could warrant a federal safety recall. Attached will be pictures of the cars manufactured before and after 9/2025.

Fsd was unable to avoid object in road, may be due to how the adaptive headlights work as I was unable to see the object as well fsd/adaptive headlights may may it hard or impossible to see objects on road at night no in the process of a insurance claim no.

First cold day of the year and the heater stopped working. With the heater not available the windshield couldn’t be cleared it would always fog and cover the windshield blocking the view infront of the vehicle. Next couple days it was even cooler and the windshield was frozen with no way of heating and clearing the view. Yes the issue was reproduced by the service center upon taking the vehicle there once the vehicle was a little warm. Tesla service center mentioned there was an internal fault in the compressor which they can’t be clear so have to replace a compressor, exv valve, pressure temperature sensors and coolant. Vehicle was parked when I tried to turn the heat on in the morning it would just blow cool air. No warning before the failure. Once the compressor faulted it would give a warning “vcfront_a447” cabin climate control system requires service. And just blow cold air everytime the vehicle is started. If turning on heat from the phone app or inside the cabin it would blows cold air for about 10 mins then it will show the warning lamp.

The interior of the front trunk (frunk) does not have an emergency release button or the hardware to support it. In the event that a child or person is inside the front trunk with the hood closed, that person cannot escape the enclosed area without having an outside person finding a key or tool to open the front trunk. Also, there is no light in the front trunk so it is completely dark when closed. This feature (emergency release button) previously came standard in this make and model prior to October 2025.

I took delivery of this vehicle on [xxx]. Unknown to me Tesla changed the frunk design of my Model Y premium juniper. It has no light or emergency open button as seen on all juniper models made up until the one I received. My understanding is if a three year old can fit in the trunk/frunk space it must have a light and a way to open it from the inside in an emergency situation. Please recall for a fix. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Description of the problem: the front trunk (“frunk”) of my 2026 Tesla Model Y juniper is missing the interior emergency release button and light. This component, which was present in earlier Model Y versions, allows a person trapped inside the frunk to open it from the inside. In my vehicle, there is no visible button, glow-in-the-dark handle, or wiring harness for this feature. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the malfunction involves the frunk emergency release mechanism (illumination and release button assembly). The component appears to have been omitted during manufacturing. The frunk and all relevant panels are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? without an interior release, a person—especially a child—could become trapped in the front trunk with no way to exit, posing a risk of suffocation or heat-related injury. The frunk is large enough for a small child to enter and can be closed from outside the vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes. The issue was confirmed by Tesla service, which stated the vehicle was “built as designed” without the interior emergency release. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? yes. The vehicle was inspected by a Tesla service center representative. No other inspections have been performed. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? no. There were no warning lights or error messages. The absence of the emergency release was discovered immediately after delivery. Assessment: the removal of this safety mechanism may violate the intent of fmvss 401and presents a potential safety hazard.

My vehicle’s auto-high beam system does not properly recognize other traffic. It specifically fails to substantially dim the high beams when approaching oncoming vehicles or when behind other traffic on roadways. I have reported this to the manufacturer and attempted to have the dealership fix this on multiple occasions. The dealerships insist that the vehicle dims the required number of pixels in the headlights to not blind other drivers. However, this does not appear to be effective as other drivers that I have followed behind reported that they were being blinded by my highbeams while I was behind them. There is a notable difference between the highbeams and the low beams which the car fails to substantially adjust for when using this required feature to utilize the self driving/auto pilot feature.

Tesla vehicles include an “ambient light” feature called sync with music. When enabled, the cabin lights pulsate, flash, and change intensity in rhythm with the audio being played. While marketed as a visual enhancement, this mode is extremely distracting when the vehicle is in motion. The constantly strobing and pulsating lights inside the cabin draw the driver’s attention away from the road, especially during night driving when the effect is brightest. Details of the issue: •the light pulses are highly dynamic and mimic stage lighting or flashing effects, which compete for the driver’s visual attention. •the distraction is more severe in low-light or nighttime driving conditions, where the contrast between the pulsating interior lights and the dark environment is stark. •the rapid changes in brightness and color can momentarily impair night vision when the driver looks back toward the windshield. •there does not appear to be a safety lockout that prevents the mode from operating while the car is in motion. Safety concern: this feature increases visual distraction for the driver and may impair safe operation of the motor vehicle. The flashing lights could also pose a potential risk for individuals sensitive to strobe effects or conditions like photosensitive epilepsy. Allowing this mode to run while driving is a safety hazard. Request: NHTSA should investigate whether Tesla’s sync with music ambient light feature complies with federal motor vehicle safety standards related to driver distraction and interior illumination, and whether restrictions should be placed on its use when the vehicle is not in “park. ”.

Las luces son demaciado fuertes y el aire conducionsdonen florida no funciona.

The rear light bar is extremely unsafe, it is especially undercarriage lighting which is illegal to have on while the vehicle is in motion. Not visible enough during inclement weather conditions, and can cause glare issues for other drivers while the roads are wet, due to its downward shining. The light can easily be obscured by hauling things such as bike racks. People are wrapping the plastic panel u deer the light which can alter performance. The light does not illuminate the full width of the car giving drivers behind a false sense of the car’s width. This has to be the most unsafe light on any car on the market.

This is a proactive step to report that the headlights on Model Y juniper 2026 are not projecting seamlessly onto the road. The low beam shows patchy lights and also has a blocked-out grey patch on the right-hand side of the car. This patch is not due to any wreckage of the headlights. The high beam is also not precise and feels as if it is a column of light, which is not very clear to drive in. I took my car to Tesla's dealership, and according to them, that is how the lights project, even on their demo car. I think the headlights should project a clear light onto the road, and these are not. This could cause an accident due to a lack of clarity.

Low beams are too bright and aimed too high, constantly blinding other drivers. Automatic high beams are always turning on and will not automatically turn off when another vehicle is detected.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

While vehicle was driving on fsd at approximately 75 mph on freeway, the vehicle in front of me kicked up a small piece of tire trend. The piece of tire hit the headlight and shattered the glass on the headlight assembly, while not damaging any other part of the car. I have owned quiet a few cars from all makes including another Tesla however it seems this cannot be normal for the headlight assembly to shatter with such a small piece of rubber. I have tried to reach out to Tesla but they of course refuse any possibility of defect with Model Y headlight assembly so I wanted to submit this incident in hope that if enough people have experienced similar incident with their headlight assembly it would be recalled.

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

I believe that all Tesla have an issue where the brake lights do not turn on soon enough when the vehicle is slowing down especially at slower speeds and I feel this makes them get in a lot of rear end accidents at lower speeds. I've seen many videos online of people getting hit and the car in front of them is braking and the Tesla slows down with no brake lights then the vehicle behind them hits them.

I was told by Tesla that a computer system update installed by Tesla burned out the ap4 computer on the car. This affects all cameras, navigation, automatic lights and much more.

Components failing - reported as central computer. This made the vehicle turn signals and backup cameras fail as critical components. These two elements were/are completely non-functional. Additional less critical safety functions that have been disabled include blind spot monitoring and cameras, both forward and reverse emergency braking, and pedestrian alerts. My safety was put at-risk due to camera failures while driving and backing out of parking spaces. These vehicles are designed with poor and minimal visibility due to their cameras compensating for visibility shortcomings. You cannot adequately see proximity to other vehicles or pedestrians when cameras are not active. This particular impacts reversing when backing in and out of parking spots since the rear windshield is so small and poorly angled. Drivers have reported that the cameras for them are failing mid-drive leading them to not know where other vehicles were next to them and making unsafe lane changes thinking their warning systems were active. The vehicle component has not been inspected by anyone as there was thankfully no actually accident or incident due to the failure. Tesla has not inspected the vehicle due to no availability for 3+ weeks and they will not consider human contact to expedite review. There are now 100s of community reports of the same defect on online communities all showing failures on same-day or within 24 hours of each other. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The symptoms simply stopped working. It required a phone call to Tesla support to even receive an accurate error code. Tesla is claiming a "short" in the main computer system of the vehicle. This occurred for myself and dozens of others all within several hours of each other in the early morning hours of Friday November 29th 2024. Suspicion is that that this was due to a software update from Tesla.

Auto high beams: they come far too soon or don't dim when when following other vehicles, they do not dim soon enough when meeting cars over rolling hills. They do not dim for oncoming vehicles on a slight bend in the road or on intersecting streets. They also do not dim when in town on lit streets. I've tried to turn them off and manually operate the lights. You are unable to disable the auto high beams for more than a brief period when fsd is available (enabled or disabled). Any action (turning on legacy cruise control, auto-steer beta, fsd, disengaging and reengaging fsd, shifting the car out of part, etc) turns the auto high beams on regardless of whether or not I disabled them previously.

Driving incident with auto high beam: I was driving on the freeway early in the morning with the auto high beam feature activated. However, due to heavy fog, I wanted to turn it off. I asked my passenger to help me find the option on the screen. Unfortunately, she clicked the wrong button, which completely turned off all the lights while we were driving. This caused a moment of panic, and I had to slam the brakes, realizing I had veered off the road. Thankfully, there was no one behind us. While it was an oversight on my passenger’s part, I can’t help but wonder: shouldn’t there be a warning or a disabled button while driving, especially in the dark? I’m not sure if this qualifies as a safety issue, but it certainly felt life-threatening at the moment. Had there been another vehicle behind us or if we had hit a divider, the situation could have been much worse. Suggestion for improvement: to enhance safety, I suggest implementing a feature that disables the off button in light controls while the vehicle is in motion, especially in low-visibility conditions. Additionally, a clear warning message could pop up if a driver attempts to adjust the lighting settings while driving, ensuring that safety remains the top priority.

All safety features and cameras on this vehicle are currently disabled. Specifically, the following functions are not operational: forward and parking collision warnings, blind spot warning, lane departure and lane-keeping warnings, rear cross-traffic warning, self-driving capability, adaptive cruise control, navigation system, location tracking, sentry mode, premium connectivity features, reverse camera, front and side cameras. Additionally: the headlights remain on continuously during daylight hours. The interior control panel screen and the side and rear mirror displays are stuck in night mode.

I purchased a 2024 Tesla Model Y and received delivery of my Tesla vehicle on [xxx], at 4 pm est. Upon receiving the vehicle, I noticed manufacturing defects on the tail lights, which I reported to Tesla support immediately and scheduled an appointment on September 29. Unfortunately, no appointments were available at that time, and my service date was postponed to October 28, 2024. On [xxx], while traveling at low speeds, the rear passenger tire of my vehicle unexpectedly exploded. They are the factory-installed continental tires 255/45/19. The car had to be towed to Tesla in coral gables, where they installed a temporary tire and quoted me $517. 35 for replacement—despite the vehicle being less than a month old. Since delivery, I’ve also observed that my tail lights have accumulated water, indicating a potential safety hazard and manufacturing defect. I have contacted Tesla support on multiple occasions, but they have not provided clear guidance on whether a loaner vehicle will be provided while these issues are addressed. The lack of timely and effective support for these escalating defects has been extremely frustrating and concerning. Primary concerns: safety hazards related to the tire explosion and water accumulation in the tail lights. Delays in service appointment scheduling. Lack of clarity and support from Tesla regarding service procedures, such as whether a loaner vehicle will be provided. Given these issues, I am requesting assistance from the NHTSA in addressing the quality and safety of this vehicle, as these defects and delays are affecting my ability to operate it safely and reliably. Thank you for your attention to this matter. [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Here is what happened. I was traveling on a narrow winding two-lane road at night when, desiring to see the information on the current drive, I reached down to the lower left corner of the touchscreen to change the small sub-panel located there. It was on the music panel so I swiped to the left to change to the trip information panel. As soon as I swiped to the left my lights went out and I'm driving in total darkness! in complete fear of running off the road I managed to stop and switch on the 4-way flashers. Someone that had been following me went on around about the time I got the flashes on. Fortunately, I had stopped still on the road and pretty much on my side. (it could have been much worse!) quite scared and flustered I managed to get the lights switched back on. I don't remember, but I must have used the normal lighting control buttons on the main touchscreen panel. For a while I had no idea how it happened but eventually figured it out. Whenever you change your lights with the turn-signal stalk (go to dim, to bright or flash them) a small sub-panel pops up in the lower left corner of the touchscreen with all the light control buttons. It stays for about 4 seconds and goes away automatically. So, if you reach down to start or pause the music a few seconds after dimming you lights, your headlights go off - the off button falls where the play/pause button was located a few seconds before. But its much worse than that. You can also simply swipe to the left (what I had done) and the row of lighting buttons act like a slider! the lights can go from auto to off without warning, no confirmation needed! answers to the five questions follow. - this problem certainly appears to be a design flaw in the touchscreen user interface so can be reproduced and inspected. - we could have crashed or been hit by other vehicles resulting in injury or death. - no - no - no warning whatsoever. Please don't write this off as "operator error". That would be irresponsible.

I had the vehicle wrapped on July 5, 2024. The vehicle has never been in a collision. The shop whom did the work did a video of the install showing it was a manufacturer defect. Took the vehicle to Tesla and they denied my warranty even when showing them proof. Both left and right side headlights have the mounting issue which could cause undesired beam to incoming traffic. Bumper is the only thing holding the headlights.

Turn signals turn off prematurely. Disengaging the cruise control or entering a turn lane after the turn signal is activated appear to turn off the turn signal before reaching the intersection or turn. This occurs whether I use the half or full press on the turn signal stalk. To be honest I'm not sure the difference between the half and full press, since they appear to function the same. This is dangerous for 2 reasons. 1. ) vehicles waiting at the intersection may believe I have changed my mind on turn and take actions on the belief that I am not going to turn. 2. ) it creates a distraction as I need to react and take further action to re-activate the turn signal rather than focusing on traffic and the turn.

We americans need you to stop auto manufacturers from using blinding headlights on their cars. This will cause accidents and you will be liable for allowing this to begin with.