Suspension Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 2

Driver side lower control arm lost two bolts, can not drive.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

This issue occurred on August 02, 2026 at around 3pm. I was parked and put my 2023 Tesla Model Y in reverse to give myself enough room to drive forward from being parked on road next to my house. While going into reverse, I heard a really loud bang noise coming from under the front section of the car. I put the car in park and got out to take a look around. At first I thought I had hit something while backing out but did not see any object in the reverse camera. So then I kneeled down and looked under the car and that's when I saw the passenger side front lateral arm of the suspension detached and left hanging down from the wheel. I let Tesla know what occurred using their app to message the company.

I am getting a creaking and clunking sound in my front passenger side suspension. It happens when I turn and go over bumps.

• what the issue intermittent suspension noise/clunking that suggests a possible failing component. • why it’s a safety concern: potential suspension failure could cause loss of control. • what Tesla did: Tesla refused warranty service related to a safety issue involving the suspension because they said they could not hear the noise, despite repeated reports. I asked them to look at the suspension anyway and they refused my warranty service stating that since they could not hear anything they would not inspect and cancelled my appointment. • when it happens: speeds, bumps, turning, acceleration, etc. • frequency: intermittent, constant, worsening. • mileage: approximately 44000. • weather/road conditions: any conditions • whether the vehicle has been repaired or inspected: Tesla refused to inspect my vehicle under warranty for this safety related complaint and said if they can't hear a noise they won't look at it.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Vehicle can become difficult to steer in certain situations.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

2023 Tesla Model Y, only 18,270 miles. While driving with my wife and children in the car, the front suspension/axle control arm disconnected from the wheel assembly. A large suspension bolt failed — it came out bent and heavily corroded (photos available). We heard an abnormal noise, then the steering stopped responding and the wheel splayed out of position. We were at low speed and stopped safely. The car was undriveable and had to be towed. The day before, we drove this same car on the highway at 75 mph. Had this failed then, with my family aboard, it would almost certainly have caused a serious or fatal crash. Critically, Tesla had sent us a notice that the vehicle needed service. We scheduled it per their availability for Aug 6 — but the control arm failed before that date. We were never told the car was unsafe to drive. Had we known we were at risk, we would never have driven it with our children. The vehicle was inspected by a Tesla service center. Tesla did not fully cover the repair — I was charged — and the lateral/structural damage from the failure was not fixed. Insurance was used to tow the car (also at our cost). The failed bolt and suspension components are in our possession and available for inspection on request. Cause: unknown — I am not a mechanic — but a bent, corroded suspension bolt and a disconnected control arm on an 18,000-mile vehicle indicate a premature failure of a suspension/axle fastener. I request that the manufacturer and NHTSA inspect the component. This is a serious loss-of-steering hazard.

While driving straight ahead in my lane on a wet freeway in an active construction zone, the vehicle abruptly and without warning lost traction and spun out of control. I was traveling in a normal, controlled manner with the flow of traffic and was not turning, braking hard, or making any abrupt maneuver when the loss of control occurred. It was so sudden that I initially believed another vehicle had struck me. I was unable to recover control, and the vehicle left its lane and was involved in a collision that resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss. This is a nearly new all-wheel-drive vehicle, approximately 17 months old, equipped with electronic stability and traction control. I am an experienced driver with a clean record and had driven this same vehicle through mountain roads the week prior without any issue. A vehicle of this type is not expected to suddenly lose control while traveling straight. The specific component or system that failed is unknown. No warning lamps or messages appeared before the loss of control. The vehicle data available to me as an owner is limited and does not reflect the full diagnostic logs the manufacturer retains. The vehicle is a total loss but is preserved and available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer has not inspected or responded. A police report was filed.

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

The control arms are defective on this vehicle for the second time. I began hearing a clunking sound when I would turned the vehicle in July 2026. When the sound got louder and sharp left turns felt less controlled, I took the vehicle to a local independent tire repair shop immediately. They told me the left control arm was cracking badly, so I made an appointment with Tesla. Tesla is currently replacing my control arms for the second time. They also found additional suspension issues with the sway bar links. Previously, I experienced total control arm failure in November 2024 when the vehicle had less than 14,000 miles and was less than a year old. This resulted in the car being towed to the Tesla service center for complete control arm replacement. This jeopardized the safety of both myself and other drivers as I had no control of the vehicle’s steering. In July 2026, when I started to hear the same sounds indicating control arm failure, I brought the vehicle into a repair facility immediately to get it diagnosed to prevent such a dangerous incident from happening to me again. This is a serious defect in the 2023 Model Y, and upon research I discovered there are numerous control arm complaints, making this vehicle defect a hazard to potentially millions of drivers.

While exiting a parking space, I noticed a very obvious clunking sound from the front of the car. As I started driving slowly and moving the steering wheel back and forth, there would be a loud clunk and a bump in the steering wheel when moving it from the right back to center. I drove home 30 miles very carefully and called Tesla when I got there. They set up a tow and fixed the car under warranty. They said bolts had loosened on the front lower lateral link assembly. Safety was at risk due to the possibility of my car falling to the ground and not being able to steer. In the right setting, this could have cause a major accident. I did not receive any warning lamps or any warnings of any kind. There was never a clunk until the bolt was fully out. The car didn't steer or drive any differently either so no way to know something was wrong.

I am experiencing a loud, persistent creaking and groaning noise coming from the front suspension of my 2023 Tesla Model Y whenever the vehicle travels over bumps, uneven road surfaces, or during low-speed steering maneuvers. This structural front-end noise raises immediate safety concerns regarding a potential premature failure of critical suspension components, specifically the front lower lateral links or upper control arm ball joints. I am deeply concerned that this component wear could lead to a sudden detachment of the suspension link while driving, resulting in a sudden loss of steering control and an immediate crash hazard. Tesla is aware of widespread suspension issues in these Model Years, but there is currently no active safety recall to protect owners from catastrophic part failure. I am filing this to urge a mandatory safety recall before a serious failure occurs. I have just over 63,000 miles.

Noises started coming from suspension and I had an independent shop verify the issue. The lower control arm had separated from bushing and rubbing against subframe.

While driving, the front lower suspension lateral link (fore link) completely detached and separated from the subframe. The aluminum arm dropped down, pulling entirely free from its mounting bushing and shredding the plastic underbody aero shield. The failure caused a sudden and immediate loss of wheel alignment and camber control, making the vehicle entirely unsafe to drive and requiring an emergency tow. There was absolutely no impact, collision, or external road hazard that caused this failure; the component separated entirely due to structural or fastener failure.

Power steering is giving difficulty while driving on the highway, stiffens up and hardens and makes it difficult to steer to the left or the right. Took it to the dealer, they confirmed needed a new steering rack, checked online quite some people with the same issue especially with their cars coming from the same year. No warning lamps doesn’t show up on the screen, took to Tesla dealership and they ran a diagnostics and then confirmed.

My vehicle falls within the 2021–2023 Model Y population identified in NHTSA preliminary evaluation pe26-006. The vehicle is a 2021 Model Y and current mileage is 73,350 miles. I am experiencing progressively worsening front suspension squeaking/creaking when turning the steering wheel in either direction, which can now be heard both inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle also feels noticeably bouncier than normal. I first noticed a faint creaking sound in July and it has gotten worse over time. So I have concerns regarding the lower lateral-link/control-arm suspension failure. Additionally, I have experienced unusual wear on my tires and alignment issues in the last couple of years. There was also a previous recall from 2021 , 21v-835 / sb-21-31-003, that involved certain 2020–2021 Model Ys where the front lower lateral-link fasteners could loosen and allow the lateral link to separate from the subframe. Nhtsa specifically described the potential consequence as changed wheel alignment, instability, and increased crash risk. I have reached out to Tesla about my concerns and they stated there were no open recalls and quoted me for repairs. I have screenshots of the Tesla correspondence if needed. I have an upcoming appointment with Tesla on 9/24/26 for diagnostic testing.

My 2023 Tesla Model Y experienced a serious front suspension/control-arm fastener failure while I was driving on a road trip from phoenix, az to los angeles, CA. The incident occurred in riverside, CA. The vehicle has approximately 40,000 miles and is still within Tesla’s basic vehicle limited warranty. One front a-arm/control-arm bolt came completely out, and another related front suspension bolt was found loose. The tire and wheel are not damaged and are not flat. The vehicle became unsafe and undrivable. Tesla’s app initially categorized the issue as a flat tire, but this is not a tire issue. It is a front suspension fastener failure that could have caused loss of control, especially at highway speed. I am aware Tesla previously issued service bulletin sb-22-31-002, also associated with NHTSA recall campaign 22v895000, involving certain Model Y vehicles where front suspension lateral link fasteners may not have been properly attached. Tesla reportedly limited that campaign to a small affected population, and my VIN was not included. However, my vehicle appears to have suffered a very similar front suspension fastener failure. I am asking NHTSA to review whether this issue may affect vehicles beyond the originally identified population. Tesla should inspect the front suspension fasteners, control arm/lateral link mounting points, torque condition, threads, steering components, and alignment, and should determine whether the failure was caused by improper torque, defective fastener retention, assembly issue, or another safety defect.

I was driving the vehicle and heard a lot crack and felt the steering wheel unstable. Whenever I would turn the steering wheel the car would make crackling noises and I would feel the car go up as I was driving. When I was turning into my driveway the car felt like the whole left wheel had fallen off, according to my spouse she said the wheel looked like it was folding in as a turn and the car was elevating. We made an appointment with Tesla service senter and we had to get our car towed since it was not drivable. I went to speak with the Tesla agent and they had told me there was wear and tear on both lower front arm links and that they had replaced them. My car has only 19,000 miles so that seemed extremely strange and fast. The following day as I was cleaning my driveway I noticed a big suspension bolt on the ground, I took a picture of the bolt and sent it to my agent and he confirmed it was form the suspension bolt. Something they never mentioned until I found the bolt in my driveway. They repaired the issue according to them, we had no messages or indications of something going on. We also noticed that our wheels were getting worn down unevenly due to this. This is a family vehicle which is concerning that we could’ve had a more serious accident if it would’ve happened at a highway or on a trip.

Steering wheel vibration occurs at highway speeds between 70 and 75 mph on a 2026 Model Y with under 1,000 miles at time of complaint. The vibration was reported to the dealer, who performed a tire balance and alignment check and confirmed both were within specification. The vehicle was tested by the dealer during a service ride-along and no vibration was detected by the technician. However, vibration was independently confirmed by the owner in a same-model loaner vehicle on the same road, suggesting the issue may not be isolated to a single vehicle or tire set. Similar vibration issues have been reported by other owners of the same Model Year in online owner forums, with no documented fix currently available. Safety concern: reduced steering feedback at highway speeds. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.

2021 Tesla Model Y suffered a complete failure of the front lower lateral links, compliance links, and upper control arms at only 29,103 miles. The vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer. It is currently being repaired at my cost. There was no warning lights or messages. I had noticed a creaking sound upon turning, especially while in reverse. I believe this mirrors the exact mechanical failures seen in NHTSA campaign 21v835000. However, my VIN number was not listed in this recall.

Failure of the front lower lateral link and compliance link assembly. A creaking noise when steering at low speeds prompted me to take the vehicle to be checked out at a Tesla repair shop. The vehicle required a complete replacement of these parts at an independent cost of $1,900. I have the line-item proof of parts and labor.

Clicking noise in rear suspension upon acceleration and assistive braking. First time I brought it in the Tesla service center lubricated the halfshafts. Clicking went away but returned a little over a month later. 2nd time the Tesla service center adjusted torque on suspension. Looking at thread online this seems to be a common issue with older Tesla Model Y. These are not normal maintenance items. I am worried about the safety of the suspension with this vehicle and how long it will be safe to drive before additional fixes, checking proper torque is required.

I own a 2021 Tesla Model Y with approximately 51,300 miles. Beginning in June 2026 I noticed a persistent creaking noise from the front suspension, most audible when accelerating and when turning at low speed. The vehicle had been rear-ended in June 2026 and repaired at a body shop; the noise was reported to the shop at that time and persisted after the repair was completed. On September 2, 2026 I brought the vehicle to a Tesla service center for diagnosis. The technician test drove the vehicle, verified the noise, and performed an inspection on a lift. The written findings were that both front upper control arm ball joints were partially seized, both front lateral link bushings were torn, and both front compliance link bushings were torn. Tesla recommended replacement of the front upper control arms, front lower lateral links, and front lower compliance links, quoted at approximately $2,610 at my own expense. Tesla further stated that a four-wheel alignment could not be accurately performed in the vehicle's current condition because of the torn bushings. No crash, fire, or injury has resulted. The vehicle remains in service. I am filing this complaint because these are the same front suspension components identified in NHTSA's open investigation into front suspension link separation in model 3 and Model Y vehicles, and my vehicle falls within the Model Years under review. The failure is bilateral and occurred with no impact to the front of the vehicle and no off-road or track use. I am concerned that degraded bushings and seized ball joints across all three component types create a risk of link separation and loss of steering control without meaningful warning beyond the creaking noise.

A day or two before the incident a warning displayed on the computer that was very vague. I didn't notice any issues with the steering or suspension at the time. I believe I scheduled an appointment but it was two weeks out at the Tesla service center. On June 4 as I pulled into my driveway I heard a noise and then struggled to get the car into the driveway completely and avoided the garage altogether. The driveway is fairly flat. In the driveway I found a large bolt that had fallen out of the suspension. The car was undriveable at this point and had to be towed to the service center. The front lower lateral assembly was replaced. If this had happened while driving at any rate of speed I don't know how I would have avoided any obstacles. I have some pictures of the front suspension area but I couldn't tell anything was wrong from them.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle on the highway at an undisclosed speed, she heard a loud noise and suddenly lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to pull off to the side of the road while the vehicle made a loud squealing noise and swerved simultaneously. The contact stated that her passenger side wheel had came off and a bolt. The vehicle was towed three separate times: first to a nearby parking lot, then to the contact's residence, and finally to the dealership. The vehicle was not officially diagnosed, but the contact noted that the lower suspension component was completely separated from the front passenger side wheel and touching the ground. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,844.

Bolts for front lower lateral links in suspension backed themselves out over time, eventually causing the suspension to suffer a total collapse and trigger a complete loss of steering authority.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

I purchased a 2021 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [xxx] ) used directly from Tesla. I am the first retail owner outside of Tesla. I am currently experiencing a knocking noise from the driver side suspension. I have requested that Tesla inspect and complete the following federally mandated safety recalls and service bulletins, none of which appear in my vehicle’s service history: • NHTSA recall 21v-835 / sb-21-31-003 — front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen and separate from the sub-frame, causing instability and crash risk • NHTSA recall 21v-912 — suspension knuckles may fracture • sb-20-31-006 — front upper control arm ball joint reseal Tesla service has refused to perform these repairs free of charge, citing expired warranty (warranty expired April 5, 2025). Tesla’s response does not address that these are federal safety recalls, not warranty repairs. Federal law requires recall repairs to be performed free of charge regardless of warranty status, age, or mileage. Tesla has also failed to provide written documentation confirming whether these recalls were completed prior to selling me the vehicle. Instead, I have been redirected to a self-service VIN lookup tool and a general data privacy request form — neither of which confirms when, where, or whether the recall work was actually performed. I am requesting NHTSA investigate Tesla’s failure to complete these safety recalls prior to selling this vehicle to a retail customer, and their refusal to honor federal recall obligations. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while pulling in and out of a driveway, and while coming to a stop or driving from a stop, the vehicle made an abnormal sound that became louder over time. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the service center, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front driver’s and passenger’s side upper control arms had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

While parking my Tesla in my driveway, I suddenly lost the ability to steer the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle, I noticed that the front driver’s side wheel was locked. I looked underneath the vehicle and observed that components of the front suspension had collapsed. The vehicle could not be driven and required towing to a Tesla service center. Tesla repaired the vehicle under the manufacturer’s warranty at no cost to me. Immediately before arriving home, I had been driving on the highway with my children in the vehicle. If this suspension failure had occurred while traveling at highway speed instead of while parking, it could have resulted in a loss of vehicle control and a serious crash. I am submitting this report because I believe this represents a significant safety concern. The Tesla service invoice does not accurately reflect the concern I reported. I did not bring the vehicle in because of a noise or vibration. While parking in my driveway, I suddenly lost steering, the driver’s front wheel locked, and the front suspension collapsed, leaving the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was towed to Tesla. Tesla replaced multiple front suspension components under warranty, including both front lower compliance links, both front lower lateral links, and the left front halfshaft. The attached photos show the vehicle before it was towed. I suddenly lost steering while parking, the driver’s front wheel locked, and the vehicle became undrivable. Although the Tesla invoice lists the concern as “noise or vibration,” the vehicle was actually towed because of this suspension failure.

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).

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.

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).