Suspension Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 1

On the evening of April 8th 2026, my wife was driving our 2023 Tesla Model Y home in san francisco, CA when she noticed unusual noise coming from the front left wheel area. The vehicle was otherwise functioning normally aside from the noise. The following morning, I inspected the vehicle and found a large hex bolt (class 10. 9 grade) on the ground directly beneath the car. The front left wheel was binding and the vehicle was completely undrivable — the wheel felt stuck and made grinding/scraping noises when attempting to move. Based on the bolt size, grade, and location, this appears to be a front suspension lateral link fastener that detached from the subframe. This is the same defect described in NHTSA recalls 21v-835, 22v-895, and 23v-235, involving under-torqued or improperly secured front suspension fasteners on Tesla Model Y vehicles. The vehicle had 28,482 miles at the time of the incident. There was no prior collision, impact, or road hazard event. No warning or alert appeared on the Tesla touchscreen at any point. The vehicle displayed no diagnostic message despite having a compromised suspension component.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

While performing a low-speed reverse turn into a driveway, a loud clunk was heard and the driver side front wheel completely separated from alignment. The vehicle became immediately undrivable. Upon inspection, the ball joint retaining nut was found to be absent from the front driver side suspension assembly. No torque verification mark was present on the fastener. The vehicle is currently at an authorized Tesla service center for repair and is available for inspection. Safety risk: complete loss of wheel alignment and directional control. Failure occurred at low speed in a private driveway. Had this occurred at highway speed the consequences could have been catastrophic. Confirmed by dealer: an authorized Tesla service advisor confirmed that a technical service bulletin exists in Tesla’s system for this exact condition. No owner notification was issued prior to failure. The advisor confirmed the retaining nut is installed by an automated robot assembly process with no human torque verification step and no verification mark applied. Prior warning symptoms: none. No warning lamps, no messages, no audible symptoms prior to catastrophic failure. The absence of a retaining nut on a safety-critical suspension fastener with no quality verification process represents a systemic assembly defect potentially affecting all vehicles produced under the same assembly process.

The bolts attaching the front passenger wheel's lower lateral link to the body fell out. Luckily this occurred while pulling into a parking lot. Once both bolts had fallen out the vehicle was not steerable. There have been many instances of this reported online, but usually they occur with far fewer miles and I was not experiencing the symptoms. The day prior there was an alert stating that an alignment was needed but it was still okay to drive. I could tell there was a slight alignment issue while driving. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla service center and is currently being repaired.

Squeaking (lubrication failure) of the front suspension components, prematurely, are a common and widespread issue with Tesla vehicles. I have approximately 60k miles on my Model Y and the front control arms are making noises. Tesla wants to replace a significant amount of suspension components at a high cost, instead of a recall (or creating serviceable lubrication points on these components). The NHTSA needs to hold Tesla accountable for faulty suspension design and lack of maintainability leading to premature failure.

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I was driving on the freeway and suddenly my care start moving to the right and screen shows me the message steering alignment service recommended ok to drive. When I stopped the vehicle one of the bolts fell off from underneath of the car and I was no longer able to turn the wheels. I towed the car to Tesla burlingame dealership, and they told me that I have to replace front lateral link assembly, nut and washer, half shaft assembly front. Even though Tesla stuff confirmed my issue I the same as previous recall but because my VIN number not in the list and this is wearable parts I have to pay 2000. 00.

While driving under normal conditions, without any prior impact, collision, or road hazard, the control arm on my vehicle suddenly detached. This occurred during active driving and caused an immediate loss of vehicle stability and control. The failure happened without warning and posed a serious safety risk. At the time of the incident, my children were in the vehicle, which significantly increased the danger. The vehicle had not been involved in any accident or misuse. This appears to be a potential manufacturing or assembly defect involving a critical suspension component. Tesla towed the vehicle and repaired it at no cost. However, a suspension/control arm failure during normal driving is a serious safety concern that could lead to loss of steering control and possible crash. I am reporting this incident for safety investigation purposes, as this type of failure may pose a broader risk to other drivers.

I am reporting a suspected defect involving the front suspension or steering system of my Tesla Model Y. The vehicle produces loud popping, knocking, and rattling noises from the front end when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, particularly as the steering approaches full lock in either direction. The noise appears to originate from the front suspension or steering components and occurs consistently during normal operation. This issue raises concerns about potential premature wear, component failure, or loss of steering control, which could pose a safety risk.

Brand new car and its widely reported of front suspension noise, particularly with the rwd models. My car is the rwd model and I have the distinct and noticeable front suspension noise at non highway speeds.

I am reporting a suspected defect involving the front suspension or steering system of my 2026 Tesla Model Y awd. The vehicle produces loud popping, knocking, and rattling noises from the front end when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, particularly when the steering approaches full lock in either direction. The issue is most noticeable when entering or exiting uneven surfaces such as sloped driveways or parking lot entrances where the suspension is under load. During these conditions, the front suspension produces distinct mechanical popping or knocking sounds that appear to originate from the front wheel or suspension area. The noise does not occur while driving straight. It becomes significantly more noticeable when turning left or right at low speeds and worsens as the steering approaches full lock. In addition to the noise, a noticeable mechanical jolt or feedback can be felt through the steering wheel when the popping or knocking occurs. This issue began suddenly without any warning signs. One moment the vehicle was operating normally, and the next the popping and knocking noises began. Since that time the issue has continued consistently during turning maneuvers. The vehicle has not been involved in any collision and has been driven under normal conditions. Numerous other 2026 Tesla Model Y owners have reported similar front suspension symptoms, suggesting this may represent a broader pattern of potential suspension or steering component issues. Because the noise and feedback occur through the steering system while the suspension is under load, this raises concern that a suspension or steering component may be shifting, binding, or prematurely wearing. This condition raises safety concerns because abnormal movement or failure of steering or suspension components could affect vehicle control during turning or emergency maneuvers. I request that this issue be investigated for a possible defect trend affecting Tesla Model Y vehicles.

I am filing a complaint regarding a suspension defect on my new Tesla Model Y juniper. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, I began hearing a distinct knocking / clunking noise coming from the suspension when driving over small road imperfections and at low speeds. The noise is clearly abnormal for a new vehicle and sounds like loose or defective suspension components. I brought the vehicle to a Tesla service center, but the issue has not been resolved. Despite inspection and attempted repairs, the knocking noise continues to occur. This raises serious concerns about the quality and safety of the suspension system. Based on information from other Tesla owners, this appears to be a recurring issue affecting multiple Model Y juniper vehicles. A persistent suspension defect on a new vehicle may pose a safety risk and should be investigated. I request that NHTSA review this issue and investigate whether there is a manufacturing or design defect affecting the suspension system of the Tesla Model Y juniper. Vehicle information: model: Tesla Model Y (juniper refresh) 7saygdee9tf559226 issue: knocking / clunking noise from suspension condition: occurs at low speed and over small road bumps status: Tesla service attempted repair but the problem persists (left and right front upper control arm replaced) this problem should not exist on a brand-new vehicle and requires proper investigation.

While driving, the car came to a sudden stop in the middle of the road, making a loud screeching sound. The sound persisted when the vehicle was made to drive. Checking underneath, I noticed a large bolt fell off. Along with the noise, the suspension also felt very stiff while driving forward. In any case, the car coming to a halt all of a sudden in the middle of the road is a life threatening experience and needs to be looked at.

On February 23, 2026, I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model Y under normal city conditions. While parallel parking at very low speed, I suddenly heard a loud metallic bang from the driver’s side of the vehicle. Immediately afterward, the vehicle lost mobility and the steering wheel became unresponsive and would not turn. I exited the vehicle and observed a detached metal suspension component and a bolt on the ground underneath the driver’s side. The vehicle was not drivable and required towing. I contacted Tesla roadside assistance through the Tesla app, and the vehicle was towed to Tesla service center in coral gables, florida. At the time of the incident, there had been no collision, no impact with a pothole, curb, or road debris, and no prior warning signs or noises indicating a developing issue. The failure occurred suddenly during a low-speed maneuver. Tesla service initially indicated that the vehicle was under warranty and that repairs would be covered if no external impact was found. However, after inspection, Tesla attributed the failure to an alleged “external impact” and declined warranty coverage, providing an estimate of approximately $4,000. After involving my insurance company, the vehicle was inspected by a Tesla-certified repair facility, which found significantly more extensive damage to the suspension system, estimating repairs at approximately $11,000. This incident represents a sudden and complete failure of suspension components resulting in immediate loss of steering control. Such a failure poses a serious safety risk, particularly if it were to occur at higher speeds, as it could lead to loss of vehicle control and a crash. I am reporting this issue as a potential safety defect involving suspension component separation and steering loss in a 2023 Tesla Model Y.

Both torn bushing and broken links at 29k miles.

Front control arms were replaced in January of 2025. I replaced all 4 tires and during the alignment on February 18, 2026 the technician reported to me that the front control arms were beginning to crack. He told me it is a known issue on Tesla model 3 and Model Y. I have set up a service appt to address the issue again. Of note, Tesla service centers refer to control arms as "links" which is very deceptive on the service receipt.

The upper control arm bolt came loose on its own.

Like many have mentioned, the control arm bolt came off or broke. [xxx] / [xxx] / [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On January 29, 2026 my 2023 Tesla Model Y was serviced by Tesla for windshield repair and routine maintenance. Within a week after the service visit, the vehicle began displaying a service warning message on the dashboard. I contacted Tesla and was advised to bring the vehicle back for inspection. Before I could return to the service center, while slowly reversing out of my garage, a large bolt fell from the vehicle and the front left wheel assembly dropped, causing the vehicle to come to an abrupt stop. Tesla service later confirmed that a bolt from the front suspension link assembly had detached, resulting in damage to the front halfshaft, steering gear, wheel speed sensor, and other related components. The vehicle had approximately 38,000 miles at the time of failure. This appears to be a critical suspension hardware failure. If this failure had occurred at highway speed it could have resulted in loss of vehicle control and a serious accident. The vehicle had been serviced by Tesla shortly before the incident and had displayed a warning message prior to the failure.

Vehicle experienced front suspension lateral link failure. The links separated from the sub-frame due to improperly secured fasteners. This is the exact defect described in existing recall sb-21-31-003 / NHTSA campaign 21v835000. The existing recall states 'front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame. ' this vehicle has this identical manufacturing defect but was not included in the recall database. Tesla service confirmed the links 'fell out' and separated from the sub-frame at approximately 65,000 miles. Technician notes indicate a 'speed mismatch between wheel and motor' caused by the link separation - this is the symptom of the underlying fastener defect. The failure resulted in loss of steering control and made the vehicle undriveable (vor - vehicle off road). This is a safety-critical manufacturing defect affecting front suspension, creating crash risk due to sudden loss of vehicle stability and control. Owner is being charged for repair of a known manufacturing defect that should have been covered under the existing recall. This suggests the recall scope was too narrow and did not capture all affected vehicles with this defect. Request investigation into whether recall should be expanded to include additional affected vehicles.

When I backed the car out of our driveway and turned the steering wheel to go on the street in front of our house, there was a loud scraping sound and the car was stuck. Thinking that it could be ice or something, I tried to drive it forward but the same thing happened. Straightening the steering wheel helped but I stopped and checked. The control arm of the suspension had dropped and was scraping on the ground. I called Tesla who asked me to stop driving and had it towed to their repair facility in sterling va. Without even putting it on a lift, they told me there was too much damage and they would not fix it under warranty - despite me saying multiple times that the control arm of a car's suspension should never drop and it is a manufacturing defect/issue. Finally, I filed a claim with my insurance company and had the car towed to a Tesla authorized repair shop. They did an assessment and estimated over $24k for repairs. At this point the insurance company deemed it to be a total loss and asked me to take my personal belongings from the car so they could have it towed to their shop/location.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a newly leased 2026 Tesla Model Y premium rwd, which I took delivery of on February 6, 2026 from Tesla watertown, MA. I am a returning Tesla customer and entered this lease after test driving the same model on January 24, which did not exhibit any issues. Immediately upon driving the vehicle off the lot (approximately 12 miles), I noticed a persistent rattling noise from the front suspension area. The noise occurs over normal road conditions and has been present since delivery, significantly affecting the quality and value of the vehicle. On February 9, Tesla watertown evaluated the vehicle and later replaced both front upper control arm (fuca) mounts. On February 10, before repairs were completed, multiple safety systems suddenly disabled while driving, including regenerative braking behavior, traction and stability control, lane safety features, and automatic emergency braking, creating a dangerous situation. I returned the vehicle immediately and was provided a loaner. I picked up the vehicle on February 13 and was told the suspension issue was resolved, but the noise remained. I then sought a second opinion at Tesla peabody, where a master technician conducted a ride-along and confirmed the condition. He verified that the latest fuca parts had been installed and the front structural “pencil braces” had been removed per Tesla guidance. I was informed the vehicle falls into a known noise category affecting 2026 rwd Model Y vehicles and that there is currently no repair or engineering solution available. This defect has existed since delivery and remains unresolved after multiple service visits and component replacements. I have contacted Tesla regional leadership and customer support multiple times without response.

Front driver side lower control arm bolts came off without external forces. Both bolts fell off with no damage to the threads. Tesla service stated that they were possible not seated or missing per their inspection. Further er damage was caused by this defective part leading to the car not being operable due to no steering and no drive as well as wheel literally coming off the car.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Front driver side lower control arm bolts came off without external forces. Both bolts fell off with no damage to the threads. Tesla service stated that upon inspection of their technician it is determined that the front left lower link bolt was either not properly seated or missing which caused a defective front lower link bushing. (I included a screenshot of their finding). The damage was caused by this defective part leading to the car not being unsafe and inoperable due to no steering and no drive as well as wheel literally coming off the car while in motion. Luckily I was simply backing into my driveway when this failure happened narrowly avoiding a potential life threatening accident. I have researched that this was a known issue for my exact make and model just months before my car was purchased in March 2022. I have attached the document "part 573 safety recall report 21v-835. Unfortunately, Tesla refuses to admit the defect when it was time to pay for the repairs despite clearly admitting it on their initial inspection, leaving me with the repair bill.

While dropping to school in my Tesla Model Y on [xxx] , I experienced a severe safety incident. A lower control arm bolt on the driver's side came off, causing the suspension to collapse. Before this, I noticed symptoms consistent with reported Model Y issues: rattling, clunking/popping noises, particularly when driving over bumps or turning, and unstable steering. This appears to be a manufacturing defect, similar to previous recalls for under-torqued bolts. I am reporting this for investigation to ensure Tesla takes prompt action to prevent future, potentially dangerous incidents. Currently it is towed to telsa service center to resolve the issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Worn or broken bushings control arm is under warranty but Tesla service declined to cover it under warranty I have checked all reviews and feedback this issue is under warranty and free of charge by Tesla service.

There is a rip in the lower control bushing making steering difficult to control. I see that this is a common issue but no recall yet. My car has only 28k miles.

While driving my 2023 Model Y long range I heard a loud grinding noise. I was able to get home and park. When I further inspected the vehicle, I jacked up the car, removed the front driver side wheel, and immediately what I saw horrified me. The "front lower lateral link assembly" was completely disconnected from the vehicle, just hanging with a bolt missing, and another bolt barely hanging on. Upon searching the internet for issues I found several other people who had the same exact issue as me. As of now I have no vehicle to drive due to this mishap, but the bigger issue at hand is how many others are affected by this lack of workmanship, and how many accidents could be caused by the entire wheel disconnecting from the vehicle at high speed. In other vehicles I am used to seeing a crown nut, which has slots that allow a pin to cross and lock in place to prevent this from happening, yet here we are.

While driving my Tesla, the front suspension abruptly failed. Two bolts from a critical suspension/control arm component fell out while the car was in normal motion. There was no impact, no debris, no road hazard, and no prior service that would explain missing bolts. The vehicle suddenly dropped, and the chassis collapsed onto the wheel, causing grinding and severe loss of drivability. This failure occurred without warning. Tesla service inspected the vehicle and confirmed the bolts were missing but could not explain how they came loose or fell out. The bolts showed no damage, and there was no undercarriage damage, indicating a structural or manufacturing defect. This was a life-threatening incident. This type of suspension/separation issue appears to be a known problem with Tesla vehicles. I request that NHTSA review this failure as it poses a significant risk to vehicle occupants and the public.

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

Mechanics found that the front passenger side control arm is missing and completely disconnected. Video evidence from inspection is available. How was this found and safety risk- car lost steering control the component was inspected by my mechanic. No vehicle indicator / warnings.

The front suspension lower 'lateral link' bolts that go into the subframe side of the lateral link fell out. One completely fell out of and was only held loosely in place by the undercarriage plastic. The other bolt (there are two holding the lateral link into the subframe) had backed out about two revolutions. This resulted in a very loud banging noise and the us having to stop the vehicle to inspect. We had to slowly drive the car back to a safe area to diagnose and temporarily rebolt this prior to getting Tesla to inspect. I have photo and video documentation that I can provide showing the incident and how I had to repair this to make the car safe to drive again. There were no warning lamps or messages on the vehicle, just a very loud banding we heard when starting from a stop and or turning the vehicle. Prior to this we heard a faint thump that we could not diagnose. Fortunately the second bolt did not come out and we did not have a catastrophic failure while driving the vehicle. Bolts were not properly torqued and do not appear to have any sort of paint pen marking to document the torqued location.

While driving in light city traffic at low speed the right front wheel developed a terrible grinding noise and would not steer properly, pulled off of the road and called a tow truck car is now at a Tesla service center waiting on repair service.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the driver's side upper control arm had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

I am reporting a catastrophic suspension failure on my 2023 Tesla Model Y that matches the description of recall 22v-895 (manufacturer no. Sb-22-31-002), despite my vehicle being excluded from the official recall population. On [xxx], the front driver-side lateral link separated from the subframe while driving. Tesla service /confirmed the separation in their repair notes, stating the cause was a "separation in the lateral link and subframe" which resulted in damage to the wheel and halfshaft. Recall 22v-895 was limited to only 26 vehicles due to a "manual torque validation" error on November 2, 2022. My vehicle's failure suggests that this manufacturing defect is not limited to the identified 26 units. I am urging the NHTSA to investigate whether the scope of recall 22v-895 was insufficient and if a larger population of 2023 Model Y vehicles is at risk of sudden suspension collapse. This is a major safety concern. Luckily I was not on a highway and was driving around 35mph when the bolt fell off. Tesla is not responding to me with the details. They just fixed the issue under warranty and are saying, we do not know what caused the issue. Please investigate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Front suspension makes knocking and rattling noise - Tesla's solution was to remove structural braces from the car that transmit the noise - the car has not been recertified with the braces removed, I am concerned about adverse safety, especially in small frontal overlap collision.

I am reporting a repeated safety defect that happens only in rainy conditions. My 2022 Tesla Model Y repeatedly shows critical safety warnings including “automatic emergency braking unavailable”, traction and stability control disabled, and “vehicle hold unavailable”. This has occurred during normal driving in rain every rainy season for 3 years, despite 4 service visits and parts replacement including the inverter. It started when I was pregnant and is now ongoing with my newborn in the car. The system failures happen while driving in normal wet/slippery conditions and greatly increase the risk of a crash. This appears to be a systemic safety defect, not driver error, and Tesla has not fixed it after multiple service attempts. Events & dates: •first occurrence: Feb/2024 •service visits: 02/01/2024 1. Verified customer's concern via vehicle log data. Technician reviewed the vehicle's logs and found that the vehicles communication system was faulted. Technician was not able to duplicate the concern at this time. Performed diagnosis and found no issues present at this time. Verified vehicle's communication system is operating as designed at this time. No further repairs are recommended at this time. Recommending customer to continue to monitor situation at this time. 2. Updated vehicle to latest available firmware version per service bulletin. •most recent occurrence: 01/01/2026 fyi today is the 4th time I’ve indicated this issue , and this is during my pregnancy again, I feel extremely stressed and helpless.