Tesla Model Y owners have reported 196 problems related to suspension (under the suspension category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Tesla Model Y based on all problems reported for the Model Y.
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.
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The lateral lower front right suspension link and its securing bolts failed, causing the control arm to drop and the vehicle to become uncontrollable. (the bolts actually fell out on the ground) this was the second repair involving the same suspension area, with prior work performed on March 27, 2025. The replaced components should be available for inspection upon request. The failure caused the vehicle to become uncontrollable while backing into a parking spot. Had this occurred at road speed, it could have resulted in a complete loss of control, posing a risk to the driver, passengers, pedestrians, and surrounding traffic. Tesla service confirmed the failure during the January 5, 2026 repair and replaced the affected suspension components under invoice #[xxx]. Tesla service technicians inspected the vehicle during both repair visits (March 27, 2025 and January 5, 2026). There is no record of inspection by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms were present. The failure occurred suddenly while backing into a parking spot with no advance indication. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
All in the same day: 1) odd sound from behind the pedal area of driver side front quarter (sounded like a styrofoam cooler top rubbing against the cooler is the best way to describe - faint though). 2)bang when in a parking garage turning full right but still able to control without difficulty. Made it home without incident. 3)later that day, just after getting off of i4 in orlando I pulled into grocery parking lot and parked. When I returned to my car I again turned right and a loud bang and the car jerked to a sudden halt. I was able to back into a parking spot but there were 2 large screws in the driving land and the left wheel was toed slightly to the left. Ultimately it was detached when we tried to tow it we had to remove tire and put on a device to allow us to move it. Per Tesla “I have updated that estimate! the vehicle has very heavy damage, and this is the start. Once we replace these components their (sic) could be more damage, and it also could potentially need to go to a body shop!” thankfully this didn’t happen at speed with my daughter in the car on i4! this is unsafe and a simple internet search revealed it is not an uncommon parts failure at this mileage! this is dangerous. All of this at just 54,000 miles. (4k out of warranty).
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A critical front suspension component failed on my 2023 Tesla Model Y without any accident, misuse, or external damage. While backing out of my garage at low speed, a loud “bam” occurred — the front lateral link bolt fell off, detaching the lateral link and causing the front body to drop onto the tire. My child was inside the vehicle. Tesla-certified technicians inspected the vehicle and service records confirm the lateral link bolt was loose and missing, directly causing the failure. Multiple suspension components were replaced under warranty, confirming a manufacturing defect, not customer-caused damage. This is a serious safety-critical failure. At driving or highway speed, it could have caused loss of steering, severe injury, or death. The day before, my spouse drove the vehicle on the highway with our younger child — by luck, a catastrophic event did not occur. Before and after the wheel detached, the Tesla monitor did not display any warnings. Even after the lateral link and wheel partially detached, the vehicle remained in driving mode and ready to operate, despite a wheel being unsecured — a basic condition that should trigger an immediate alert. This demonstrates a critical failure in Tesla’s safety systems. There were no recalls listed under my VIN. However, NHTSA records show similar failures, with recall notifications issued under NHTSA recall 21v-835 in 2021 for 2021 and earlier Tesla Model Y and model 3 vehicles. The same failure in my 2023 Model Y at 23,641 miles shows the defect was not fully corrected and continues to pose a public safety risk. I am reporting this to NHTSA due to the extreme safety risk and request a full investigation.
Two of the bolts fastening the front left control arm has fallen off an my car was not moveable. The front left wheel was static and not moving. This happened during while I was driving in active traffic. Had to get the car towed to Tesla for servicing.
While slowly backing out of a parking space at a whole foods in san jose, CA, the driver's-side front wheel suddenly collapsed without warning. The front tire completely locked up, preventing further movement. Upon inspection, I found two bolts lying on the ground and the lower control arm detached and hanging loosely. The sudden jolt from the tire impacting the vehicle's body also caused minor damage to the plastic underbody cover. I had the car towed to the Tesla service center at 2801 northwestern parkway, santa clara, CA 95051, and it is now in their possession. Fortunately, this occurred at very low speed in a parking lot—if it had happened on the freeway, the outcome could have been catastrophic. I've since discovered similar incidents reported by other Tesla owners in this forum thread: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
A structural chassis component (v-brace) was permanently removed from my vehicle by Tesla service during a service visit. The removal was performed under a Tesla-described engineering retrofit (Tesla service article 9188600). The component was not reinstalled or replaced, and Tesla stated that once removed it cannot be reinstalled. The service visit was originally initiated due to a persistent rattle/noise from the vehicle the safety concern arises from: •a permanent modification to a structural chassis component, performed without my authorization. •removal of a component originally installed for structural reinforcement and stability, creating uncertainty regarding vehicle rigidity, crash behavior, and handling. •the continued presence of an unresolved structural noise/rattle, which can be distracting to the driver and may indicate an underlying structural or mechanical issue. The vehicle was sold and delivered with this component installed, and its removal was not disclosed or approved prior to service. The noise/rattle was present prior to the service visit and prompted the service appointment. The structural component removal occurred during the service visit. The problem was reproduced and confirmed by Tesla service and they: •acknowledged the noise/rattle concern. •performed a structural retrofit involving removal of the v-brace. •marked the concern as “resolved”, despite the noise still being present. •later stated the noise is considered “normal”, even though it is not present in all Model Y vehicles, including the juniper variant. No warning lights or system messages appeared. The only symptom was a persistent rattle/noise originating from the vehicle chassis the vehicle was inspected and modified by Tesla service, acting on behalf of the manufacturer. The modification was performed under a Tesla engineering directive. No independent service center, insurance representative, or law enforcement agency has inspected the vehicle.
The defect involves the front suspension and/or steering system of a new 2026 Tesla Model Y long range awd. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Symptoms—persistent front-end clunking/thunking (primarily driver-side), steering instability, and vibration—began immediately upon delivery in late 2025, with Tesla notified same afternoon as delivery. The vibration now begins around 60 mph and intensifies with speed. Steering feel is excessively vague on-center (requiring constant correction to maintain lane position) yet overly twitchy and sensitive to inputs, creating inconsistent and unpredictable handling. The condition has progressively worsened and now renders the vehicle unsafe at highway speeds due to risk of loss of control. No warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms have appeared prior to or since onset. Tesla service centers have had multiple opportunities to evaluate the vehicle under warranty. The problem has not been confirmed objectively by Tesla; during at least one evaluation, a technician drove only at speeds below complaint threshold (despite requests to test at the speeds where symptoms occur), stated he did not feel the issue, and performed no further diagnosis. Multiple appointments were canceled or rescheduled by Tesla (including one after I arrived). The vehicle was repeatedly returned without documented objective testing or repair addressing the complaint. During one visit, the Tesla app indicated an active “visual quality check” while the vehicle remained parked outside and not being worked on for an extended period (documented). To rule out tires, I installed a brand-new set; the vibration worsened afterward. Safety risk: unresolved steering/suspension instability increases the risk of loss of vehicle control at highway speeds, endangering occupants and other road users. Odometer at onset: 15 miles current odometer: 3596 miles.
I am reporting a potential safety defect related to premature rear tire wear on my 2024 Tesla Model Y performance at 15,482 miles, on may 2, 2025, Tesla’s paramus, NJ service center confirmed an alignment issue and performed a four-wheel alignment. At the same visit, they replaced both rear tires with michelin pilot sport as 4 275/35r21 103w xl and sold me a tire protection plan for those tires (Tesla invoice #xxx). Tesla_invoicexxx the vehicle now has 24,460 miles. The rear tires have worn out in less than 10,000 miles and about 7 months since the alignment and replacement. The tread wear is excessive and uneven compared with the front tires, and is inconsistent with the normal expected life (around 20,000+ miles) of these tires. This appears to indicate an ongoing alignment or suspension issue that is causing abnormal rear tire wear. Rapid rear tire wear on this vehicle could lead to loss of traction, especially in wet conditions, and therefore represents a safety risk. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint in case it reflects a broader issue with rear tire wear/alignment on Tesla Model Y performance vehicles.
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Severe lateral swaying / side-to-side swaying (“boat-like” or “floaty” motion) at highway speeds (65–80 mph) on any concrete-surface interstate, especially grooved or slightly uneven concrete (typical on illinois highways such as I-90, I-294, I-55, etc. ). Description of safety concern: the vehicle continuously rocks side-to-side in a pronounced, pendulum-like motion that requires constant steering corrections to stay in the lane. The motion is severe enough to cause motion sickness in passengers within minutes and makes the driver tense and fatigued. In crosswinds or when passing trucks the swaying becomes even worse and feels unstable. I no amount of lane centering or driver input fully eliminates the sensation. Service history: December 2025 – schaumburg, IL Tesla service center • technician test-drove with me on I-90 and immediately felt the exact swaying I described. • service advisor and service manager both stated this is a “normal characteristic of the 2025 Model Y juniper” and that no repair or adjustment is possible. • loaner 2025 Model Y juniper provided exhibited identical swaying behavior. I do not believe constant, pronounced lateral instability at normal highway speeds is an acceptable “characteristic” in any passenger vehicle. It impairs control, increases driver fatigue, and creates a legitimate safety risk, especially in adverse weather or emergency maneuvers. Tesla refuses to acknowledge this as a defect. I am therefore requesting NHTSA investigate whether the 2025 Tesla Model Y suspension calibration and/or damper tuning creates an unreasonable safety risk due to excessive lateral instability on typical u. S. Concrete highways.
The vehicle exhibits harmonic oscillation in the steering column since the day I drove the vehicle home on the interstate. Even though tires had been balanced out of pocket due to long service center wait times with a road force balancer, balanced again at the service center, match mounted and road force balanced again out of my own pocket, noise reducing foam removed and balanced on an uncalibrated balancer that resulted in a same day bring back and final road force balance. Service center refused to troubleshoot further after lead tech drove vehicle after third attempt of repair. I asked whether the tech felt the vibration and the service advisors face turned red, and fed the line that it is normal nvh from the solid front drive unit mounts and that was Tesla's stance. This issue has been widely reported online to vehicles that are rwd as well. The bad wheel balance exacerbates the harmonic in the column. Exceptional wheel balancing with rvf down to 6lbs on the front wheels only made it less intense. When driving on any uneven road, or crossing bridge expansion gaps for example, the steering oscillation gets worse, as the uneven roads make it worse. Reasonably assumed at this point it is not caused by just a balance issue. Tesla refused to try a set of known good wheels on the vehicle. This is not normal nvh or general road feel; something in the front end of the vehicle gets into harmonic oscillation. I asked if Tesla would like to keep the car for a proper diagnostic and whether they had looked into other components of the front end, and if they were not going to diagnose further I'd request a buyback. The simple response was that a buyback request would be initiated. It could be a myriad of issues, none of which should be my responsibility to try and track down or fix on a vehicle that exhibited the behavior since day one and still does after 1500 miles. I've passed the account to the service center manager and district manager yet to no reply.
Hi, its not really an incident but I found what have happened suspicious. I got my Tesla from the delivery zone at the giga factory in austin, TX last Wednesday. Right after the delivery I found an issue with steering wheel alignment. Steering wheel was tilted right and car was pulling right in the road. I addressed this issue to Tesla and visited service center last Saturday Nov-22nd. Technician confirmed an issue. Wheels alignment was performed on the vehicle and it was returned to me on the same day. As soon as I got the the road I found that issue wasn't fixed. It went better but not fully fixed. I came to the service center again. Senior technician took a ride with me and confirmed the issue again. She also told me that they will probably will have to look into suspension because alignment didnt help last time and it could be more serious issue. The car was taken care of and returned to me in 90 min or so. Service advisor told me that suspension and steering were torqued and another alignment performed. When I took it to the road and I found that issue was fixed and I'm happy now but ifter that I recieved a message from the service center that I found suspicious. Despite the communication in person in the message afterwards was stating that no issues were found (see attach). I found this suspicious and decided to let you know as that may look like an attempt to hide some serious safety concern with steering. Please find screenshot in the attachment.
While backing out of a parking stall, the bolts securing the front right lower control arm fell off. One of the bolts rolled under the car and the other bolt was still in the control arm. This vehicle has never been off road, or in an accident. It was towed to the dealership for repairs. It terrifies me to consider what would have happened to me or my family had the bolts fallen off driving at freeway speeds. "Tesla technician notes: the customer reported that the lower front control arm fell off, which was verified by inspection showing extensive damage to the suspension, subframe, and front drive unit. The issue was caused by both bolts falling out of the right front lower lateral link. To address this, technicians replaced the front lower lateral and compliance links, steering rack, rf spring and damper assembly, subframe, drive unit, rf halfshaft, rf wheel arch liner, stabilizer bar links, and aero shield, and performed a four-wheel alignment check and adjust. The repair was validated by ensuring all components were securely reattached and functioning properly. ".
1. There is a constant thunking noise coming from the front suspension when traveling on slightly bumpy roads at low speeds. 2. Both front seats squeak and squeal as if they are loose and not bolted in correctly. 3. Front brakes screach and squeal when coming to a stop in cold or wet weather, escpecially pronounced during cold weather. (this is an active service bulletin in all vehicles made in their berlin factory but is happening in u. S. Built vehicles as well.
The front suspension on my 2021 Tesla Model Y developed progressive creaking and groaning noises during low-speed turning, especially in parking lots or when maneuvering. The noise began intermittently around 45,000 miles and became much louder by around 86,000 miles, which made me concerned about a potential safety issue before a long family trip. The sound comes from the front lower suspension area and indicates that something may be loose or failing. I am worried about the possibility of losing steering control if the suspension components separate or shift while driving, especially with my children in the car. The Tesla service center in lisle, illinois inspected the vehicle and informed me that both front lower lateral links and both front lower compliance links must be replaced (all four front suspension links). The repair estimate is about $1,600. This problem appears identical to the condition described in Tesla’s campaign/recall sb-21-31-003 / NHTSA 21v835, which involves improperly torqued front lower lateral link fasteners on 2020–2021 Model Y vehicles. My vehicle shows identical symptoms and identical components, but my VIN does not appear in the recall. I contacted Tesla corporate support by email requesting a safety/goodwill review, but I have not received any response. I believe this issue is safety-related and may indicate that more vehicles should be included in the existing recall. I am attaching the Tesla service diagnosis confirming the required replacement of all four front suspension links.
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Concern: passenger side front wheel trim - fitment issue upon making right turns somewhere from passenger side front suspension area making loud noise started today around 5:30 to 6pm and wheel alignment is error started is showing on screen. Repair notes: technician inspected and road tested the vehicle, verifying a loud noise from the passenger side front suspension area during right turns, as reported by the customer. The issue was caused by loose bolts on the lower lateral link on the left side. The technician replaced the front lower lateral link assembly, along with the necessary bolts and nuts, and performed a four-wheel alignment check and adjustment. After the repair, the technician confirmed the noise was resolved and the vehicle's alignment error was no longer displayed.
On my way home about 2 mi from my house. I heard a little clunk noise coming from the front of my car and I keep driving and I hit a bump. It sounded really loud so I really drove slow. I got home back into my garage. I can hear it really loud sound from the front. The next morning I jacked my car up pull the wheels out. Was checking to see where the noise coming from. What I notice on one side the bolts on my lower positioning arm both were halfway out. Check on you other side of it. The bolt were totally out and resting on the bottom plate of the car. So I went ahead and tried to put it back in. I was able to screw it back in. The bolts were okay. I removed the bolts and looked at it and was still in good shape so able to rethread it back in and tighten it up. This looks like a situation where these bolts will never screw them properly, so that's the reason why I want to report it. I was reading online lot of people having the same problem with this 2023 Tesla y models. The other thing is this could have been very dangerous. It could just broke off and fell. I could have crashed. Maybe kill someone or myself.
While parking the car, the bolts on the front lower control arm/tension link—part of the front suspension assembly—came off entirely. Our family, including our two children, were in the car, and the situation was terrifying. If this failure had occurred while we were driving, it could have resulted in a major, life-threatening accident.
I am reporting a safety defect involving loose lower control arm bolts on my 2023 Tesla Model Y long range (VIN: [xxx] ), discovered at 33,008 miles. We purchased the vehicle brand new, and it has no modifications or repairs to the suspension. On 09/02/2024, a warning light appeared. At the time, I did not know if it was related to the suspension. In the weeks after, I began noticing popping/clunking noises when turning or going over bumps, and the steering felt noticeably looser and less stable. On 11/08/2024, the issue was identified: bolts on the lower control arm were backing out and were extremely loose. On 11/11/2024, during a scheduled Tesla service visit, I drove the vehicle to the service center and demonstrated the noises and steering issues. Tesla technicians inspected the vehicle and confirmed it was unsafe to drive due to the loose control arm bolts. This is a serious safety concern. Loose or backing-out lower control arm bolts can lead to loss of steering control or suspension separation, creating a high risk of a crash. The vehicle did not provide a clear suspension-related warning prior to this issue, and the problem would not have been noticeable to an average driver until it became severe. Because this occurred on a well-maintained, unmodified vehicle with just over 33,000 miles, I am concerned this may indicate a broader manufacturing or quality-control issue affecting other Tesla Model Y vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this defect for potential patterns and determine whether a recall or corrective action is warranted. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
My 2021 Model Y at 49,865 miles had a safety-critical failure of the "front lower compliance and lateral links. " the Tesla technician confirmed it was a "safety issue. ".
Obviously Tesla accepts the very serious problem that it is presenting in the vast majority of Model Y juniper 2026 specifically in the rwd line, they are making deliveries of these vehicles without having gone through a rigorous quality control that determines that the noise actually exists and that over time they could affect too many components of the suspension and end up compromising the stability of the vehicle, violating road safety issues, it is something unprecedented and absurd that they do not even take the task of checking the cars exhaustively and determining the root failure that this suspension problem implies, it is a noise as if the front shock absorbers did not work and were totally dislocated, out of their normal location.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the rear driver’s side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. After the failure had occurred, the mechanic who towed the vehicle informed the contact that the failure could be related to a detached axle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front suspension lateral link had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. After researching, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 21v835000 (suspension). The contact expressed concerns that the vehicle should be included in the recall due to the similarities between the reported failure and the recall summary. The approximate failure mileage was 45,483.
Control arm on the left side fell off while parking.
Driver side rear outer camber bolt lost the nut holding the bolt for the camber arm. Rear tire cambered in greatly. Upon disassembly saw that bolt has backed out about 75% because of the absence of nut. If bolt had completely backed out the camber of the rear wheel would have collapsed completely and very possibly caused an accident.
Just in school driveway going over speed bumps and 2 bolts that is hold the control arm fell out.
Component/system: braking system (caliper bolt) and suspension (control arm/linkage bolt). Description of incident: while traveling on a tollway at 70 mph, I heard a faint noise followed by a severe metallic scratching sound coming from the front driver-side wheel. Upon inspection at a tire service center, it was discovered that a brake caliper bolt had fallen out, causing the caliper to displace and score the inner rim of the wheel. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla service center, where the caliper and wheel were replaced under warranty. Tesla could not identify a root cause but stated they performed a quality check on all remaining wheels. Subsequently, a second failure occurred on the front passenger-side wheel. A different bolt—this time related to the suspension—loosened or fell out. The vehicle produced a severe grinding noise and felt unstable, as if the wheel was about to dislodge. Safety risk: both incidents posed an immediate risk of catastrophic mechanical failure at high speeds. A detached brake caliper can lead to total loss of braking or wheel lock-up, while a suspension bolt failure can cause a complete loss of steering control. Either scenario could have resulted in a high-speed collision, endangering my life and the lives of my two children. Confirmation/inspection: • confirmed by dealer: yes, Tesla service center performed repairs on both occasions. • available for inspection: the vehicle has been repaired, but service records and photos of the damage/missing bolts are available. • other inspections: initial driver-side failure was visually confirmed by discount tire. Warning signs: there were no dashboard warning lamps or messages. The only symptoms were a brief "pop" or "click" followed immediately by loud metal-on-metal grinding and vibration.
The Tesla Model Y performance has a tire wear problem that causes uneven wear and creates cupping that occurs within 7500 miles of tire wear. There is also a weird sound even when you have new tires on the vehicle. The noise grows as your speed goes up it is almost painful at 70mph. It is a known issue and Tesla refuses to address the problem even though they are aware of it. This cupping issue creates a loud noise within the vehicle and reduces the tire mileage to under have of the rated mileage. I have taken my Model Y in three times and while they state they are unable to work on the noise unless I replace my tires. I believe there is other problems with the suspension because of the noise the Model Y make regardless of the cupping.
*lower lateral link assembly, front lower compliance link assembly, front aero shield, and front halfshaft assembly were damaged. Unable to steer the car afterwards. *sudden loss of steering, blocking lanes of traffic. *problem is common on Teslas and a previous isolated recall was done. Tesla denies this being a widespread issue. Made some clunking sounds prior, no lights or any indication this was life threateningly serious. Car suddenly made a loud snap sound backing up, can see parts of the suspension dragging on the ground. Car needed to be towed by flat bed to a Tesla service center.
While driving, I heard a loud clicking noise from the front driver side wheel, followed by resistance and dragging of something under the vehicle. I did my best to pull over safely, but I could no longer steer the car. The control arm complete broke off of the wheel, and was now almost resting on the street while the tire/wheel was lodged into the wheel well bent sideways.
The heating system in my 2024 Tesla Model Y failed after only one winter season. Under normal hvac operation, the vehicle blows cold air and does not provide cabin heat. Heat only intermittently works when defrost mode is selected. This failure affects the vehicle’s ability to safely operate in cold weather, including proper windshield defogging and defrosting. A loss of heating presents a safety risk to occupants and reduces visibility. Tesla diagnosed the issue and provided an estimated repair cost of approximately $3,235. 00. The vehicle is just outside the warranty period, and this appears to be a premature failure of the heating or heat pump system, not normal wear and tear. Given the age of the vehicle and prior reports of Tesla hvac and heat pump failures in Model Y vehicles, I believe this may indicate a design or component defect that warrants investigation.
While driving home from a shop, my Tesla Model Y suddenly stopped in middle of busy road and became unable to move forward. I had to press the accelerator hard, which caused a loud noise before the car moved slightly and I was able to pull over to side of road. I narrowly avoided being hit by another car. Upon inspection, it was found that front tire connecting rod and suspension had failed, causing rod to drop off. The tow truck who assisted me mentioned that this is common issue with Tesla vehicle. This was a terrifying experience and I feel extremely fortunate to have escape an accident. My vehicle is less than 24 months old and I am deeply concerned about the safety and reliability of this component . I strongly urge Tesla to issue a recall and investigate this defect. There is no assurance that this failure won’t happen again. And this is scary.
The bolt that holds the front lateral link portion the the lower control arm to the subframe fell out while driving. I lost the ability to steer the car and had to stop immediately and have the car towed. In searching the internet this is a know issue by Tesla but has not been recalled.
During normal driving on sat Sep 27 2025, unusual noises started to come from the front left wheel. There were no warning lamps or messages, and no indication of issues prior to onset of the noise. I had the vehicle towed to a Tesla service center the following day. Tesla's technicians found that the front lateral link bolt on the left hand side had backed out and fallen out of the subframe. They determined that the cause was related to improper torque specification or application of the original bolt. They reached this conclusion in part because the passenger side lateral link to subframe bolts were also under-torqued. Rear bolts were not affected. Tesla has replaced the front lateral links on both sides with new bolts. There was no vehicle accident or damage, so there has been no involvement or inspection by police or insurance. It is fortunate that this issue began when the vehicle was traveling at low speed, and that I chose to have the vehicle towed to the service center rather than driving it. The bolt has loosened when the noise started, and finally fell out at the service center. Had I been driving at highway speeds when the bolt fell out, I could have lost control of the car and injured myself and others. Online research suggests this is not an isolated incident for this model of car.
Noticed a minor squeaking sound during turning and during minor road bumpiness. Got worse, so did troubleshooting (turn wheel full right/left at very slow speed). There was a very loud pop/bang, and then a horrible grinding sound with accompanying vibration. Got out, noticed a large bolt laying on the ground. Looked under the car, and noticed the bolt was missing from the lh lateral linkage. The wheels are now canted/misaligned with each other (both facing inward, or one straight/one turned). There were zero warnings from the on board computer. If this had happened at highway speeds it could have been deadly or otherwise catastrophic. Completely unacceptable design.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the front suspension lateral link fasteners were loosened. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v835000 (suspension), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 22,000.