Suspension Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 2

Component that failed: front lower lateral link and compliance link suspension bushings. Failed components were removed by Tesla service and are no longer available for inspection. Safety risk: failed suspension bushings directly compromise steering precision, vehicle stability, and handling — particularly at highway speeds. A driver unaware of this failure could experience loss of steering control or unpredictable handling without warning. Confirmed by dealer: yes. Tesla florida (tampa, 11945 north florida avenue) confirmed the failure in writing on may 22, 2026. Technician repair notes state: “inspection failed due to worn suspension bushings in the front. ” Tesla confirmed this was the first time these original components had ever been serviced. Invoice #[xxx]. Manufacturer inspection: yes, repaired by Tesla service center. Cost: $1,669. 58. Warning lamps or prior symptoms: none. No warning lights, no alerts through the Tesla app, and no prior symptoms communicated to the owner. Failure was discovered only because vehicle was brought in for an extended service agreement inspection. Assessment: original factory suspension bushings completely disintegrated at 56,258 miles on a 2021 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [xxx] ). This is not normal wear — photographic evidence shows full structural disintegration of rubber bushing material. Other Model Y owners may be driving with identical failures without knowledge. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

The car is unstable on the highway when there is a crosswind - either from wind gusts or from large vehicles. The car is easily pushed by wind until lane assist activates to stop it from going outside of the lane. It feels very unsafe to drive on the highway. This is how the car was when it was bought. An alignment was done during the first Tesla service visit and that helped slightly. The second Tesla service visit they said the vehicle was operating as expected and then checked wheel balance after I insisted. They said they fixed wheel balance but it still did not change how the car handles in crosswind. The third Tesla service visit (different service center) they said the vehicle was working as expected and said they could not drive for a significant distance to test. If lane assist ever fails when I'm not ready to instantly react to a gust of wind, it feels like it would easily move into another lane or off the road. When passing large vehicles where wind changes direction, the car sometimes gets pushed left and right which sometimes triggers an alarm and shows an on screen message saying to take control of steering. I test drove another of the same model car for an hour and had the same unstable feeling in the wind but was unable to test long enough to find an area with high crosswind.

A 2021 Tesla Model Y experienced steering/suspension warnings followed shortly by a steering-assist reduction event. On or around may 21, 2026, the vehicle displayed: “steering alignment service recommended — ok to drive, schedule service soon. ” the vehicle was brought to Tesla because the owner was concerned the car had detected a steering, alignment, suspension, or safety-related condition. The Tesla invoice from that visit appears inconsistent. It states that “a wheel alignment check was completed,” but also states “no labor performed — customer did not authorize repairs or inspection,” with 0. 00 labor hours and no charge. A documented steering/suspension diagnostic inspection, alignment report, alert-log review, or safety assessment was not performed by Tesla or inspected. The owner was advised to replace tires and return later. Approximately 90 miles later, during a low-speed three-point turn, the vehicle made a loud pop/clunk from the front area and displayed: “steering assist reduced — steering may require increased effort. ” a related alert also stated lane departure avoidance features were unavailable. This created a safety concern because steering effort may unexpectedly increase during low-speed turns or parking maneuvers. Tesla later inspected the vehicle and documented torn front lower lateral/compliance link bushings and vehicle log data showing steering gear alerts. Tesla replaced the front lower lateral links and front lower compliance links and performed alignment work. After those repairs, Tesla stated a steering gear alert was still present and recommended steering gear/steering rack replacement with additional alignment work. The concern is that a steering/alignment warning occurred shortly before the physical front-end failure and reduced steering-assist event, but the earlier Tesla visit does not clearly document that the warning was meaningfully inspected or safety-assessed. Vehicle is currently unsafe to drive and is in Teslas possession.

While driving, a critical heavy-duty front lower control arm / lateral link bolt completely detached from my vehicle and was found intact on the ground with factory green threadlocker still visible on the threads. The undercarriage and chassis show absolutely zero signs of external impact, scrape, or road hazard damage. This structural failure caused an immediate, severe safety hazard, rendering the vehicle completely unsafe to drive due to a catastrophic risk of wheel separation and total loss of steering control. This exact component failure is identical to Tesla's historical safety recalls, specifically NHTSA recall campaign number 21v835000 and its expansions, which explicitly state: "the front suspension lateral link bolts may not have been secured to the correct specifications. . . Causing the fasteners to loosen over time and separate from the sub-frame. " because the bolt loosened and fell out over time due to insufficient factory torque, the loose component put uneven mechanical stress on the lower control arm, resulting in the complete failure and damage of the control arm assembly. Tesla service center has refused to honor this as a latent manufacturing defect, hiding behind warranty expiration. They have unconscionably misclassified a known, life-threatening production defect as standard "wear and tear," forcing me to pay a $265 diagnostic fee and the full cost of a complete control arm replacement under protest. I am filing this report because Tesla is actively endangering consumers by failing to expand their suspension fastener recall to cover vehicles experiencing the exact same catastrophic manufacturing defect outside the arbitrary warranty period. Nhtsa odi complaint records show multiple substantially similar failures outside Tesla’s recall VIN population, including odi nos. 11630487, 11554803, 11494976, 11493354, 11486040, 11689987, 11675200, and 11632785 for Model Y vehicles, and odi nos. 11720800, 11705487, 11675676, 11664858, 11637813, etc.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

While making a normal right turn at low speed in a residential neighborhood, I heard knocking sounds from inside the vehicle and immediately lost steering control. I had to physically force the wheel back into position to regain control of the car. After the initial incident, every right turn and brake application produced a loud rubber grinding sound accompanied by significant loss of steering control. The vehicle was completely unsafe to drive. Tesla previously issued recall sb-22-31-002 for 2023 Model Y vehicles for improperly torqued front lower lateral link fasteners at the factory which are the exact same components that failed on my vehicle. Tesla confirmed my VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle has been driven normally with no accidents or abuse. Mileage at time of failure was approximately 58,000 miles.

Tesla 2026 Model Y was involved in a severe motor vehicle accident directly caused by a critical software and/or hardware malfunction of Tesla’s full self-driving (fsd) system. At the time of the incident, the vehicle’s full self-driving (supervised) software suite was actively engaged and driving the vehicle. While navigating, the system suffered an abrupt and uncommented control malfunction. Despite prompt attention, the autonomous system executed an erratic, uncorrectable maneuver that overrode human intervention thresholds, completely failed to respond safely to the immediate driving environment, and directly caused a collision.

Bolt fell out of the lateral control arm on the front left wheel. Car was inoperable.

2025/2026 Tesla Model Y juniper experiences noticeable vibration starting at approximately 75 mph on smooth highways. The vibration is felt throughout the entire vehicle: steering wheel, doors, seats, and pedals/floor. It is not limited to the steering wheel. Tire balancing, alignment, and foam checks have all been performed with no resolution. Tesla service states the issue is ‘normal/within spec. ’ video of the vibration with speedometer visible is attached. This matches a widespread pattern reported by other juniper owners. Video: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Clicking/thumping on sharper turns a day before the issue. Then today, there was a loud clunk while driving. When I was reversing into my driveway, there was scraping noises and resistance. Upon exiting the vehicle, I saw the passenger side front control arm loose. It is now inoperable.

Service concern — front suspension / rattling noise vehicle is experiencing a persistent rattling/knocking noise from the front area when driving over bumps, uneven pavement, or rough roads. Noise is noticeable at low to moderate speeds and appears suspension-related. Condition seems consistent with known Tesla Model Y service concerns regarding: * front upper control arm mounts, * front damper assemblies, * and wiper bracket pencil braces. Requesting inspection and evaluation * front suspension components, * damper assemblies, * upper control arm mounts, * and any applicable Tesla service bulletins related to front-end nvh/rattling concerns. Noise has become increasingly noticeable during normal driving conditions and is affecting ride quality. Please document findings and advise whether repairs are covered under warranty. The symptoms typically include: * rattling noise over small bumps * knocking or clunking from the front suspension * noise on rough pavement, speed bumps, or uneven roads * sometimes vibration or looseness felt near the dashboard/firewall area the repair procedure mentioned is consistent with a Tesla internal service approach for addressing front-end nvh issues (noise, vibration, harshness). Here’s what each item means: front upper control arm mounts these are suspension mounting components near the top of the front wheel assembly. If worn, loose, or improperly isolated, they can create: * metallic knocking * clicking during suspension travel * vibration transferred into the cabin replacing them helps stabilize suspension movement. Front damper assemblies the dampers (shock absorbers/struts) control suspension rebound and compression. Faulty or noisy dampers can produce: * hollow clunks * rattles over expansion joints * repetitive knocking on rough roads replacing the assemblies usually resolves internal damper noise. Wiper bracket “pencil braces” these braces sit beneath the cowl/wiper assembly area. On some vehicles they c.

Car makes loud noise from front axel.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

The front driver-side lower control arm bolt completely fell off the vehicle while in motion at 5pm in a parking lot. The failure caused the front suspension to immediately collapse, resulting in the front driver side of the vehicle dropping and resting directly on the wheel. The failure was witnessed and confirmed by the roadside assistance tow truck operator. The operator had to temporarily jack up the car and fasten the bolt back into the control arm just to safely load the vehicle onto the tow truck. The vehicle is currently awaiting formal inspection and repair by an auto repair shop. The vehicle and the detached bolt were inspected at the scene by the tow truck operator dispatched through my auto insurance. An initial claim was reported to my auto insurance provider. It has not yet been inspected by Tesla yet. There were no warning lamps, error messages, or prior symptoms. The failure happened suddenly and without warning; I simply heard a loud noise, felt the vehicle physically shift and drop to the ground.

Service concern — front suspension / rattling noise vehicle is experiencing a persistent rattling/knocking noise from the front area when driving over bumps, uneven pavement, or rough roads. Noise is noticeable at low to moderate speeds and appears suspension-related. Condition seems consistent with known Tesla Model Y service concerns regarding: * front upper control arm mounts, * front damper assemblies, * and wiper bracket pencil braces. Requesting inspection and evaluation * front suspension components, * damper assemblies, * upper control arm mounts, * and any applicable Tesla service bulletins related to front-end nvh/rattling concerns. Noise has become increasingly noticeable during normal driving conditions and is affecting ride quality.

On may 4, 2026, at approximately 9:10 am, the 2023 Tesla Model Y was being operated at low speed in a parking lot while backing into a parking space. As the driver turned the steering wheel to maneuver into the space, there was a clunk and the front driver-side wheel jerked. The driver stopped immediately, before fully entering the space. The front driver-side suspension had separated: the lower control arm/lateral link became detached at its attachment point, the wheel and rim tilted outward and folded under the wheel arch, and the front halfshaft (axle) pulled out of the front drive unit. The vehicle was immediately immobilized and could not be driven. No collision, curb strike, or impact occurred. The failure happened during a low-speed parking maneuver. Photographs taken at the scene before any recovery, on may 4, show the detached control arm intact and undamaged and the wheel folded under the arch, with the rim, tire, and adjacent bodywork undamaged. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla service location on may 6, 2026, and inspected. Tesla's repair estimate identified damage to both front suspension assemblies, including control arms, lateral links, suspension fasteners, the front crossmember/subframe, steering rack, halfshaft, and front drive unit. This failure mode — a front suspension lateral link/control arm separating from its attachment due to a fastener concern — is the same failure mode addressed by Tesla recall sb-22-31-002 (NHTSA campaign 22v895000) on certain 2023 Model Y vehicles, in which a loose fastener can allow the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame, causing loss of vehicle control. This VIN was not included in that recall campaign. Had this separation occurred at highway speed rather than during a low-speed parking maneuver, it could have caused a loss of control and a crash. No injuries occurred. No crash or fire occurred. The vehicle has approximately 56,480 miles. Photographs and the repair estimate are ava.

Component: suspension: front — lower lateral and compliance link assemblies; missing and backed-out lateral-link-to-subframe fasteners; torn bushings beginning in xxx, the vehicle produced a reproducible knocking noise from the front end when reversing and turning at parking-lot speeds, with no dashboard warnings. Tesla service ([xxx], invoice xxx) verified the noise and documented on the invoice that the cause was: 1. A front left lateral-link-to-subframe mounting bolt missing entirely; 2. A second lateral-link fastener significantly backed out; 3. Torn bushings in both front lower compliance links. The technician replaced both front lower lateral link assemblies and both front lower compliance link assemblies with new hardware (invoice line items: xxx lateral links; xxx and xxx compliance links). Total customer cost for the suspension work: $1,539, out of warranty; goodwill and defect coverage were denied in writing as "wear and tear. " a structural fastener missing entirely from a primary front suspension link is not ordinary wear. It is the precursor condition to the lateral-link separation investigated under pe26006, which covers this vehicle by year and model. With one bolt absent and the second backed out at under 30,000 miles, this vehicle was effectively one fastener away from the detachment event the investigation documents. The contemporaneous torn bushings in both compliance links reinforce premature component failure, not age-related degradation. No crash, fire, or injury occurred, and the vehicle remained drivable. However, the failure occurred without warning on a safety-critical steering and suspension load path. Evidence retained by owner and referenced in this complaint: -pre-repair inspection photographs & post-repair invoice information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Backed-out lh rear lower fore link bolt causing structural elongation damage to the rear subframe mounting hole, requiring full subframe replacement. Vehicle had been serviced exclusively by Tesla. Tesla issued service bulletin sb-25-31-004 on April 17, 2026 covering this exact condition. Tesla declined to perform the repair under the bulletin citing out-of-warranty status. A touchscreen alert directing me to service was active at the time of denial.

--torn bushings on both the lateral and compliance links --my understand is that torn bushings, if they completely failed, could cause a wheel to lose its rigid control causing the control arm to shift wildly, causing severe steering wander, loud clunking noises over bumps, unstable braking, and rapid, uneven tire wear. In worst-case scenarios, it can lead to a sudden loss of vehicle control and at worst cause an accident --also, this can also cause alignment issues and excessive tire wear--in my case, the torn bushings caused the front tires to chunk --three dealerships, including Tesla, confirmed the issue, including that it likely impacted the alignment and tires --the earliest symptoms were uneven tire wear: 1) all four tires from my first set were chunking and had to be replaced; 2) the front two exhibited the same chunking and have yet to be replaced.

While driving, my vehicle released a loud pop and metal noise. After pulling over large bolts fell from the front of my car caused by a suspension issue. Tesla service later confirmed that the problem was due to improper torque in the suspension components, specifically the front lower links. This resulted in hardware failure, including bolts loosening or coming out of the suspension assembly. This is a serious safety concern, as it could have led to loss of control while driving. The vehicle required replacement of suspension components and hardware under warranty. This defect appears to be related to improper assembly or servicing rather than normal wear and tear. Tesla is now refusing to give me a detailed report of the manufactured defect cause.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Vehicle brought to Tesla service plano TX for front-end rattle on bumpy roads at 49,951 miles. Technician found right front compliance arm split, left front compliance arm tearing, right front aft link starting to wear, left front aft link split at bushing, rear bolt for link loose, and opposite side nut separated from the subframe causing bolt to have zero tension. Tesla replaced entire front subframe assembly, both front lower lateral links, and both front lower compliance links under basic vehicle limited warranty. During the same visit, the technician performed a vehicle health check (form SC-25-00-016 r2) and documented additional rear suspension defects: rear lower fore links have play and rear upper fore link bushings have excessive travel. Technician marked the suspension section as repair/replace. Service center declined warranty coverage on the rear, calling it normal wear despite the technician's findings. This is the second major warranty visit. At 14,928 miles in September 2024, Tesla austin replaced the power conversion system, 16v li-ion battery, and pyrotechnic battery disconnect due to a loose harness connector causing vehicle shutdown warnings. Vehicle was manufactured at Tesla gigafactory austin TX. A separated subframe nut is a structural safety defect that could result in wheel alignment shift and loss of vehicle control. I drove this vehicle with my family including two children before the defect was discovered. Tesla service plano, service number xxx, service advisor owen v [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Front suspension makes creaking noises for a few months now. The car only makes noises when steering wheel is turned while reversing and sometimes when turning. Took the car to Tesla and they told me since the sound is not that loud and not really reproducible, then to bring it back when it gets worse. My car only has 34k miles on it.

There was a grinding sound coming from the lf wheel. This was progressively getting worse. Car was shaking while driving so dropped it off with my mechanic due to safety concerns. Per the mechanic that fixed the issue: inspection found lf wheel bearing is loose. A bolt backed out on inside rubbing through axel shaft. Allowed wheel bearing to damage to damaged from moving in place. Axle shaft damaged from rubbing on backed out bolt. Replace lf axle shaft and wheel bearing. Informed by mechanic that wheel could have fallen off while driving. No prior work. Mechanic believes most likely issue was not having the bolts appropriately installed at time of manufactue.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

My 2021 Model Y has about 24,500 miles began squeaking when turning the steering wheel or hitting bumps. I read online that many Tesla owners had the same issue. The design on these weren't great allowing water to penetrate these parts and cause them to ware down faster. I already paid for the replacement of the upper and lower control arms.

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.

My 2022 Model Y performance developed severe front-left inner shoulder tire wear caused by a suspension alignment defect. On 4/7/2026 at 57,974 miles, les schwab diagnosed excessive shoulder wear due to alignment issue, deemed the tires unsafe, and required a liability waiver before I could leave (wo #xxx). I drove to Tesla portland. Tesla’s own expressalign check confirmed the front toe was out of spec, with multiple values flagged red on their equipment. The left front toe was the most severe, matching the wear pattern les schwab diagnosed that morning. Tesla charged me $1,874 for four new tires but did not perform a corrective alignment. Their own post-install report shows front toe still flagged red (left front toe slightly worse than before). They released the car on new tires with alignment still out of tolerance. I had paid Tesla for an alignment in Feb 2025 at 33,261 miles to prevent uneven wear. It failed within 24,713 miles with no suspension impacts or damage. The specific inner shoulder wear pattern, validated independently by both les schwab and Tesla on the same day, is consistent with the documented suspension geometry defect in 2020-2024 Model Y vehicles. I request NHTSA consider expanding the scope of recall 21v-835 (Tesla sb-21-31-003), which addressed front suspension lateral link issues on 2019-2021 model 3/y, to include 2022+ Model Y vehicles exhibiting the same alignment geometry failure. This is a safety hazard. Les schwab required a liability waiver. I replaced all four tires as a safety necessity to transport my children. The underlying defect appears to be a factory design or manufacturing issue that Tesla’s alignment service does not resolve. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the suspension on the undercarriage of the vehicle was separating from the vehicle. The contact stated that a year prior to the failure, the half shaft used to attach the wheel to the vehicle subframe was fractured and was falling off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla service center to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the battery was very heavy and was possibly the cause of the failure. The vehicle was being repaired out of pocket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,811.

Fore link snapped.

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.

Within four months my car has suspension problems and I didn't know until my tires got bad there was a noise and I didn't know that was the suspension. I bought four brand new tires and I took it to the Tesla dealer and I told the attendant that my car was wearing the tire inside really bad. After I bought 4 brand new tires I took it to the Tesla for an alignment and when you left the car was even worse with the noise so bad. I am barely driving my car and I don't really know what to do if I have to take it to Tesla. I tried to get an appointment with Tesla and they are so full and my car feels like a rocking chair sometime. The Tesla has only 31,000 miles.

Left lower control arm link failure. No collisions had occurred in the history of the vehicle, and small sounds were heard prior to failure, with the total failure sound being obvious. No system malfunction warnings were displayed.

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.