Wheel Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 1

The front driver’s side wheel came off of the axel while parking. Lug nuts/studs appear intact, suggesting a suspension component failure. This is a serious safety hazard that could have caused loss of control and injury.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Two days ago a warning popped up on the Tesla screen saying to schedule service for something the car had detected. It said the car could still be driven. I submitted a service request in the app, and in the meantime researched the error. Per google, it said this was a potential issue with suspension / steering components that needed to be looked at. The next day, a Tesla technician called and asked what my appointment was for. I told him about the error and that I had found it said it was for a suspension or steering issue. He told me I was wrong, and that it was only for low tire pressure. The car did not have low tire pressure. He said the appointment wasn't needed, cancelled the appointment, and told me to drive 30-40 miles to clear the error. Literally 5 hours later, after my wife driving my kids down the freeway, when parking on the street in front go my house the car made a giant pop and the front left sank. We looked under the car and the front drivers side control arm had completely disconnected, popping straight down towards the road. More concerning, two bolts popped out, not broken, but just clearly loose and had finally unscrewed. You will see them on the ground in the pictures. If this had happened 5 minutes earlier while on the freeway I don't want to even think about what might have happened. These cars should be recalled, this is super dangerous. Not to mention the fact that Tesla explicitly canceled my appointment for this and told me not to bring the car in.

Incident details: • date/time: [xxx]. • location: [xxx] • event: while driving, the front left wheel partially detached without warning, causing an immediate loss of steering control. Findings (third-party technician at the scene): • the wheel/control arm/linkage had come loose/detached. • two major suspension bolts were extremely loose or had detached. • a rotor screw detached easily during inspection. • photos, videos, and witness statements are available upon request. Current status: Tesla has not provided a failure analysis or demonstrated that the issue is resolved. Similar failures have been reported on social media, and recalls between 2021–2023 addressed front suspension lateral link fasteners that could loosen or detach. “a 2021 recall (NHTSA recall #21v835) affected model 3s from January 2019-April 2021 and Model Ys from March 2020-June 2021. A 2022 recall (NHTSA #22v895) was for certain 2023 Model Ys with issues on the left-hand lateral link. “ my vehicle has not been included in any such recall, and I received no prior notification. Supporting documentation (emails, service records, publications) is available upon request. Risk level: extremely high. This defect creates a severe danger to drivers, passengers, and the public. Tesla’s lack of corrective action leaves many customers at risk. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I initially brought my car in for a weird clicking noise. This noise went away after the car was towed to the service center. During service at Tesla service center in la on August 04, 2025, technicians identified structural deformation of the left-hand rear subframe toe link mounting side wall. This deformation prevents proper alignment of the suspension bolt and makes a 4-wheel alignment impossible. Tesla refused warranty coverage, claiming “impact damage,” citing only cosmetic wheel rim scrape as evidence. However: 1. Torque paint marks remain intact, proving the bolt has not shifted since factory assembly. 2. No collateral suspension damage (control arms, bushings, underbody) was found, which would normally occur if an impact strong enough to bend a subframe ear had happened. 3. This failure mode is nearly identical to Tesla’s prior recall (21v-835 / 23v-235) on the front suspension lateral link bolts, which involved subframe mounting holes deforming and preventing proper alignment. Safety concern: the subframe is a critical structural component of the suspension system. Deformation at the toe link mounting point risks the following issues: improper suspension geometry, loss of wheel alignment, reduced vehicle stability and tire wear, and potential sudden loss of control in emergency maneuvers. Tesla has declined to repair this under warranty, leaving the defect unresolved. I believe this represents a potential systemic defect in the rear subframe design, similar to the previously acknowledged front subframe defect.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

The rims on this car are made so cheap it’s no way I should have this many crack and bent rims I been thru a total of 5 rims already and Tesla don’t offer u the rim protection until u replace a rim no matter how slow I drive my rim always seen to get cracked or bent on rail road tracks or even driving over a speed bump or going thru car wash.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

I am writing to formally report a serious safety incident involving my Tesla Model Y 2023, VIN: [xxx] , in which the front right tire detached from the axle while parking on [xxx] at [xxx] . Description of incident: while maneuvering the car slowly into a parking spot, the front tire suddenly dislodged from the axle or aero suspension. The car became immobile on the spot. Thankfully, there were no injuries, but the outcome could have been catastrophic had this happened at speed. The car was immediately towed to Tesla service center sacramento, arden way, where technicians diagnosed the failure as being due to the issue being caused by loose front lower lateral link mounting bolts and damaged front compliance links — a structural suspension component. Critical concerns: Tesla’s own technicians confirmed that: this failure was not caused by user error or road impact. The issue was caused by loose front lower lateral link mounting bolts and damaged front compliance links the bolts had loosened over time or were improperly torqued during manufacturing or servicing. Emotional & functional impact: I am now afraid to drive this vehicle, unsure of its reliability and safety. I’ve experienced anxiety, sleep disruption, and ongoing depressive symptoms since the incident. This event has interrupted my daily life, shaken my trust in Tesla, and caused extreme emotional stress. Had this happened on a highway or in traffic, it could have led to serious injuries or fatalities. My formal requests: a written report detailing the failure, root cause, and whether it relates to known issues or recalls. A clear statement on whether Tesla assumes liability for this event. A full remedy, which may include: replacement or buyback of the vehicle, compensation for emotional distress and lost use, commitment to enhanced quality control inspections. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving on the freeway, I heard an unusual noise coming from beneath the battery of my car. Concerned, I drove to a nearby friend's house and parked there, carefully checking my dashboard for any warning signals but finding none. I decided to resume my journey, but as I backed out of the driveway, I heard a sudden noise indicating something had come loose, followed by a crackling sound. Upon inspecting the car, I discovered that the control arm had become detached, the axle had popped out, and two bolts had come off. During the towing process, I noticed that the steering had become extremely tight. To my surprise, I had never received any recall notice from Tesla addressing this issue. Considering that my car is less than two years old, I was deeply disturbed by the situation. This incident has significantly undermined my confidence in the safety of the vehicle, as it highlights a potential manufacturing defect involving defective parts. I regularly use this car to drive my children to their activities, and knowing that this could have led to a catastrophic failure such as tire separation, loss of steering control, or compromised braking capabilities especially on the freeway, is worrying. The car was towed to a dealer and currently in the queue for evaluation by Tesla technicians. I requested detailed service report from irvine service center. There were no warning indicators in the dashboard while I was driving or after the bolts came loose.

According to Tesla service, my two "lateral links" for the front wheels need to be replaced. They sent us photos of the issue and it looks like one of the fasteners for one of the lateral links was missing (1 of two fasteners) if the other fastener failed/fell out the car could easily steer out of control. The problem of the lateral links was confirmed by Tesla servicing. They are repairing it under warranty. It was only been inspected by the manufacturer, Tesla. There were no warning lamps. The only indication was the thumping sound during turns.

I am writing to report a serious safety issue following a recent service appointment for my Tesla Model Y at the peabody, MA location (10 andover st) on Friday, [xxx]. After driving approximately one hour on the highway following my visit, I heard a popping noise. Upon arriving home, I inspected my vehicle and removed the lug nut cover from the rear right tire — the one that was serviced during my appointment. To my shock, two lug nuts came off with the cover, and two others were not even screwed in. This is absolutely unacceptable and extremely dangerous. The wheel could have come off while I was driving, which could have led to a catastrophic accident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Issue: a consistent rattling noise, noticeable while driving at speeds of 10-40 mph over bumpy roads or pot holes.

The vehicle lost steering at 10 mph as a bolt from the front suspension's upper control arm and lateral link fasteners became loose and detached rom the vehicle. The wheel was completely misaligned, and the vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle could not be moved to the side of the road, putting my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. I fear that this could have been a fatal accident had I been on the highway. This issue has been confirmed by Tesla service center, and they acknowledged that this is a known issue. There were no warning indicators or recall notices sent to warn of this known issue. My vehicle should have been recalled. Tesla is making me pay $3,000 for repairs despite knowing this is a manufacturer defect, and they are continuing to put lives at risk by not issuing a wider recall.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

I am writing to report severe safety concerns involving my Tesla Model Y. Without any accident or impact, my vehicle experienced a mechanical failure on [xxx}, when the front left tire detached, making the car immobile. The vehicle had approximately 31,500 miles and no prior damage or accident history. Tesla towed the car for repairs. However, during the repair process, I discovered that the vehicle was transferred to a body shop in chantilly, va, without my prior knowledge or consent. When I visited the shop to retrieve personal belongings, I was shocked to see that the condition of my vehicle had significantly worsened. The technician informed me that the car now had serious structural damage, including a twisted frame and extensive paint damage. This damage did not exist before and was not caused by an impact. The technician indicated that repairs would take at least a week if only bodywork was addressed. Most concerning, the vehicle was transferred with no visible damage, yet now has severe structural issues. Tesla has suggested replacing the damaged body parts later, which makes no sense given that the car was in a safe condition prior to the transfer. Additionally, the front wheel, which detached earlier, was reassembled without impact, but the vehicle remains unsafe. It has taken over 30 days to attempt repairs, and the vehicle still is not fully fixed. I do not feel safe driving it under these conditions. Furthermore, communication regarding the damage has been poor. I was not informed of any body or structural damage before the transfer. Tesla’s recent message asked me to pick up the vehicle, stating they will order parts later, which is confusing and concerning. Given the extensive damage, delays, and safety risks, I request the NHTSA investigate these issues. I also urge Tesla to buy back my vehicle so I can use the credit toward purchasing a new Tesla, ensuring my safety and confidence. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information.

This is my 7th report. On [xxx] [xxx] pm I was traveling home from alburquerque and was just past isleta resort and casino heading south on [xxx]. I don't use cruise control very often because of the emergency braking that occurs (and that I have reported several times before). I was on a long drive and decided to try it on a short section of [xxx] on my first day, and found that it was slowing on it's own when I approached a car from behind. Two days later on the way home, when there was no one in front of me, it slowed significantly without needing to and I thought it was better than the past rapid braking. . . As I was thinking about this, the car abruptly "slammed on the brakes". I was forced forward but had my seat belt on. Stuff fell off back seat onto the floor. The igloo cooler on the front passenger floor toppled forward. I'm quite sure there would have been a accident had someone been behind me. Additionally, the car is not recording my tire rotation from 16,000 miles, and continually says the last tire rotation was at 8,000. Good thing discount tire keeps track, as I am now overdue for another rotation (25k+ miles). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6.

I am submitting this service request and formal incident report concerning a serious malfunction of the full self-driving (fsd) system on my 2020 Tesla Model Y. While operating the vehicle on [insert road name or location] with fsd fully engaged, the system initiated a left-hand turn but failed to complete it properly. As a result, the vehicle mounted the sidewalk, causing a blowout of the rear tire and visible damage to the passenger-side rims. Following this incident, I had the tires and wheels replaced. However, the vehicle now exhibits the following ongoing issues: - rubbing noise from the front passenger wheel well when turning - multiple system alerts, including: - autonomous emergency braking disabled - steering alignment issue - stability control and traction control warnings.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

After doing multiple search online came across multiple user complaints about new Tesla Model Y juniper 2026 lr awd you can feel vibration from steering wheel at highway speeds it is really specific at 80mph this is not a normal behavior especially vibrations took it to the service center and was told it was the wheels are not balanced properly so they fixed it apparently but is still doing it. I truly believe there is something Tesla knows but is not acknowledging it.

1. Front passenger side wheel and auto steering system malfunctioned. Yes it is available for inspection. 2. My car was not drivable and I was stuck on the leftmost lane of highway with fast traffic passing by. Had to call 911 to move myself to safety. 3. Not yet 4. Vehicle has been inspected by the police 5. No warning lamps or message prior to failure.

Two weeks I had my Model Y serviced for shaking of the car and steering wheel. They deemed the cause of the shaking due to unalignment of the wheels and they claimed to have fixed the issue. After receiving the car for the week after it began to make a sound of something hitting every time I made a u turn or any time I turned the wheel. While driving 3/8 with my family in the car I made a u turn in a parking lot and heard the same loud sound of hitting. When I went to check two large approximately 3 inch bolts were on the ground but no nuts in sight and my control arm broke the bottom plate and was completely unattached from the car. Thankfully the bolts came off while in a parking lot and not 20 minutes prior when I was driving on a windy road. Within 24hours Tesla contacted me saying my car was ready for pickup without any explanation of why the bolts came off, no full inspection completed for other issues and no alignment of the tires. Under the Tesla mechanic notes they only reinstalled the bolts and tightened the front wheels and not the back. Upon further research online I have found numerous other people complaining of the same issue of the bolts for the control arm falling off on Model Y and 3 Teslas due to forgetting to weld the bolt nuts to the sub frame.

"what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?" the rear left tire (interior side) and rim assembly failed while driving under normal conditions. The tire experienced a sudden blowout, and the rim sustained significant damage. Based on the damage observed, it appears the rim may have failed first, puncturing the tire and causing the blowout. Yes, the damaged components are available for inspection upon request. "how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?" the sudden tire blowout at freeway speeds (60+/- mph) could have posed a serious risk to my safety and the safety of other drivers. Fortunately, I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and safely pulled over to the shoulder. "has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?" as of now, the issue has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a Tesla dealer or independent service center, Tesla repair staff immediately ruled out any responsibilities as they perceived to be a foreign object hit the inside of the driver rear tire, which I did not feel anything hitting the car or the tires bumping any object. We went to an authorized continental dealer/store to inquire for procedure on how to request for investigation for any tire defects, but we were told by the manager that if the tire is oem, they do not accept. "has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?" the vehicle and damaged components have not yet been formally inspected by Tesla, police, or insurance representatives, but I am preparing documentation and plan to submit everything for evaluation by Tesla and possibly my insurance. "were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?" there were no messages (sentry by Tesla), or symptoms prior to the failure. The tire pressure was actively monitored.

Front suspension axel system failed two bolts fell off left wheel arm causing me to lose control of vehicle. I was in the vehicle with my children I was driving out my mothers driveway less than 5mph when the incident occurred I do not even want to imagine what could have happened if I was driving the vehicle on a high way or at a high speed. Tesla representatives I have spoke to over the phone have said them selves this is common and I have read multiple articles online this is a safety issue if this happens on a highway this would and could cause fatalities. The vehicle did not prompt any warnings or messages. Prior to this incident occurring I reached out to Tesla because vehicle had been making a clicking noise and the soonest appointment they had available was not until January. The vehicle has been towed to Tesla van nuys CA and two different tow truck companies did not want to be involved so Tesla road side had to do the tow all 3 tow truck drivers agreed this is definitely a safety issue and common issue with Tesla this needs to be recalled.

The arm felt on the driver side while I’m driving. Also, there is issue with the camera and the screen electrical problem.

The tire losing with steering shaft . The bolt come off , my vehicle can’t make hard turn make it unsafe to able to drive.

Suspension noise, front suspension or steering squeak or groaning while turning. Tesla service identified lh half shaft was damaged and blaming it's due to outside influence because impact to the undershiled. This car should be still under 4 years and 50k warranty but Tesla service refused warranty on the parts.

I was driving into a parking lot and heard a loud bang. I get out of my car and see that the metal that connects the tire to the car came down and screws came out. It is not drivable. I know this is not something normal and shouldn't happen. This is very dangerous and I am grateful I wasn't on the freeway when it happened. I was not involved in any collision and I did not hit anything. This simply happened on its own.

I have had this car since may 2024 and the current mileage on the vehicle is 7,130 miles. In the past few weeks, I have had to completely replace both rear oem aluminum alloy wheels due to cracks caused by normal road driving, which caused both rear tires to go flat. Per Tesla, this costly replacement is not covered under their warranty. I am now learning that this is a common issue with these particular wheels on this particular model (model y performance). It appears the aluminum alloy wheels are simply not sturdy enough to bear the weight of the vehicle and the required tires simply do not provide sufficient cushioning to prevent wheel cracks resulting from normal wear and tear/road driving. Many customers have had to replace the oem wheels with aftermarket wheels made of forged steel. These customers report zero issues with the much stronger wheels. This appears to be a product design or manufacturing problem, which is creating a significant consumer/public health risk.

The bushing spontaneously separated from the axle/wheel making the car unsafe and undriveable. I cannot believe I am the only one. This needs to be investigated and the car needs to be recalled.

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

I have only driven my car for 10k miles in past 2 years. I have been on 3 long trips only. Every trip has become scary because one or the other tire turns flat right on busy highways with my little kids in it. I have had one replacement and two repairs on the only long trips I made. No other car I have have had any flat tires till date on the same routes in past 10 years. Tesla vehicles are heavy and they make tires prone to this posing a safety hazard. Tesla should either publicly announce this or give some solution since if known no one would want to take this vehicle with this kind of risk. I have asked Tesla technicians and it seems it does not matter what company's tire it is.

I was driving out to pittsburgh to drop my daughters off at school, and my rear driver-side tire rapidly went from 40 psi to 20. I almost lost control of the vehicle at one point. It turns out my 9 month old Tesla Model Y performance had a cracked rim. I have had cars for almost 40 years and never had a cracked rim until now. Something is seriously wrong with the 21 inch rims Tesla is making for their Model Y performance models. I was in the Tesla dealer today and 2 other people had the exact same problem, and their is a ton of info online about Tesla cracked rims. I had to pay $1,018 for a new rim that was 9 months old. (so did the 2 other people today) something seriously is wrong with Tesla Model Y performance rims. Their manufacturing process clearly is flawed for this to be such a persistent problem.

Front right side wheel disengaged from the steering wheel. It was very scary situation to deal with and luckily it happened while I was on alley. I was not sure what was going as suddenly car was not under my control and acting weirdly. I hit a parked car and came out of the car safely. When parked the car then realized right wheel was disengaged. Called the Tesla insurance and they are not responding for over a month now since the incident happened. Tesla is saying I need to facilitate all this with the Tesla authorized facility. Bottom-line, car is with Tesla insurance and nothing is happened for over a month.

At approximately, 14,300 miles and while still under full manufacturer's warranty coverage, the front end of my vehicle started vibrating excessively at speeds of over 65 mph while driving on smooth road surface (highway driving). I took the car to the local Tesla dealership to have the problem diagnosed. They determined that the "foam lining" on the inside of the tire separated and caused the wheel to become unbalanced. Their fix was to remove the foam lining and reinstall the tire on the wheel without the foam lining. I now have 1 tire out of 4 that does not meet the original oem spec and condition. Below are the notes from the invoice for $256. 10 that I had to pay to correct the problem. Repair notes: verified customer concern. Found rh front tire to have foam separation. Removed foam rebelanced tires. Test drove vehicle to verify vibration no longer present. Verified repairs. Correction: tire - front - rh (remove & install) - remove and install this seems to be a common problem with these foam lined tires manufactured by goodyear according to Tesla owner blogs. It seems that either Tesla and or goodyear are not claiming responsibility for a potential design and or manufacturing problem which is why I am filing a formal complaint. I will also be filing a complaint specific to the goodyear tire.

My Tesla (dark gray) was t-boned by a 2015 Hyundai (white) while it was passing the intersection on green light. The Hyundai hit my car when it tried to turn right on red light. My car was running at around 25 mph at that moment. About one second before the accident, my car's front collision warning went off, but everything was too late; the Hyundai's left front bumper hit my car. The crash did not cause any serious damage on the white Hyundai; as you can see in the photo, it barely got any dents, except its left front headlight cap was broken. The incident created small dents on my car's right fender panel and front right door. However, even though my car's front right wheel was not directly hit, it fell off during the accident. If my car was running at a high speed, it would have rolled over and caused serious injuries.

Tesla Model Y 2022 lost steering control April 20, 2024 vehicles - Model Y while backing out of indoor parking garage steering wheel locked up! before I could hit the brake the car collided with the cement wall in the garage. Causing some damage to right side. I tried a system reset, no luck. Called Tesla they had me go into diag mode and try a few things with no success. They sent a tow trunk and took to car to the Tesla highland park then to the collision center – they could not unlock the steering wheel and called in people from the fts (field technical support) team to look at it. Very unsafe, it could have been much worse. I do not trust the car anymore!.

I used the full self driving software Tesla provided us in April. On April 15th, the car did not detect a curb therefore the car went right over the curb which popped both right side tires and the front rim. Damage was $1,800. I brought this up to Tesla and they informed me that it was my fault for not taking over and refused to help with the repairs. I understand taking over if there was a 3-foot shoulder, but on roads with no shoulder such as this one I found it impossible to correct in time. Also, at the very last split second, the torque on the wheel was too tight too correct (not enough time anyways). This is a busy state maintained road in the middle of columbia, missouri near a college campus and my safety was put at risk while I had to find the next side street to pull over. This is dangerous software that is not ready yet.

While driving on the freeway the autopilot kept turning on, I would immediately turn the autopilot off. The autopilot came on and turned my steering wheel to the left into the highway barrier, thus causing me to take a corrective action. The weather on the freeway way wet and traffic was moderate. The monitor displayed autopilot, which I turned off many during my trip as I am not comfortable with autopilot . I have an insurance claim as there was extensive damage to my car.

I was sideswiped by another vehicle which just joined our direction of traffic coming out of a cutout. As soon as I saw the vehicle moving fast from inside the cutout to join our direction and into my lane, I immediately decided to move to the lane next to me. I was at the leftmost lane at the time. Halfway into the lane I just felt the violent impact of the other vehicle hitting us. My wife and I were shaken so bad, we were shocked and terrified at what just happened and what else might happen to us. I felt like we were travelling on the front wheels with our rear end up in the air. Next thing we knew, the car stopped in front of a tree. Our iphones and the our car's phone called 911. We were pulled out of the car and taken immediately into an ambulance and orange global hospital, where we stayed for about 2 days. X rays, CT scan and mri were taken. Note: a rod sticking out from the floor hit my wife during the accident. This rod was connected to the wheel and was not supposed to be stick out inside the car during an accident! I believe that a default in car design caused this rod to hit my wife , which caused so much pain, doctors compared her bruised ribs to broken ribs!!.