Wheel Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 1

This is a brand new car when I bought it in 2023. I found the arm controls are damaged when replacing my tires.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

On xxx my 2021 Tesla Model Y, VIN [xxx], was taken to Tesla service in west covina, California, at 69,097 miles. While turning, a front suspension bolt fell out and the car knocked. Tesla estimate 3000-009-0039917905, service sv02f26ab8, dated xxx, quotes replacement of both front lower lateral links, part 2188341-00-d, and four nylon-patch lateral-link bolts, part 1109912-00-b, plus the front subframe, both front halfshafts, both lower compliance links, the front valance, and the front aero shield. The estimate is $8,237. 58 with tax and is marked customer-pay. I have not signed it. This is the same joint as NHTSA recall 21v-835, Tesla sb-21-31-003: the front lower lateral-link fastener can loosen and let the link separate from the subframe. My VIN is not in that campaign. A Tesla manager said a recall letter was mailed to me in xxx, he said I did not bring the car in, and I am therefore liable. I have no such letter. No xxx NHTSA campaign covers this 2021 VIN for this bolt. I asked him to provide to proof of that letter. He said he doesn't have proof because he doesnt work in that department but he told me the date and that's his proof. The failed part is the recalled bolt. The estimate does not show that the subframe, both axles, both compliance links, and the fascia were damaged by it. I am reporting this for the open lower-lateral-link investigation, pe26006. The car had a sudden suspension separation while turning, which can cause a loss of control. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

I began hearing a squeaking noise coming from the front of my 2023 Tesla Model Y. While pulling out of a parking lot at a low speed, the front left control arm failed and the bolts came out. When the failure occurred, the vehicle suddenly steered to the left. Fortunately, I was traveling at a very low speed when this happened. I am concerned that if the same failure had occurred while traveling at freeway speeds, I could have lost control of the vehicle and potentially been involved in a serious accident. Tesla has since repaired the vehicle. After this incident, I researched similar failures and found multiple reports from other Tesla Model Y owners describing control arm/suspension components or associated fasteners coming loose or separating. I am reporting this because I am concerned this may represent a broader safety issue with the Model Y suspension system.

Inner barrel of factory oem rear passenger wheel developed circumferential crack with no known impact. On 09/17/2026 I discovered a crack running along the inner lip/barrel of the factory rear passenger wheel on my 2026 Tesla Model Y with approximately 21,000 miles. The vehicle is 5 months old from new. There was no pothole strike, curb hit, or accident that I am aware of. The tire (continental procontact RX) shows no sidewall bulge, cut, pinch, or blister, and the outer wheel face shows no curb damage. The crack was found during visual inspection. The wheel was never repaired, refinished, or modified from factory condition. Tesla service inspected and denied warranty coverage, stating a small bend was observed near the crack and attributing it to road hazard. No corresponding tire damage was documented. Repair quote provided was $846 for wheel replacement. This is a safety concern because a cracked wheel barrel can cause sudden air loss or wheel failure at highway speed, leading to loss of vehicle control. I have retained photos of the cracked wheel. Searching online, this seems to be a common issue with Tesla's as it is discussed in many blogs and social media websites.

While driving, I heard a loud noise every time I turned the wheel. When I called the service center, it took weeks to get an appointment, so the vehicle had to be towed in. Once inspected, Tesla found the front lower lateral link had detached because a bolt securing it was not fully tightened at the factory during assembly; over time it worked loose and fell off, which was the noise I'd heard. The left front wheel was visibly angled out and severely misaligned (alignment report available). Tesla replaced the front lower lateral link pair and performed a four-wheel alignment. The service advisor told me this was not the first time he had seen this specific failure. Before I insisted on an explanation, staff indicated the car's own diagnostics were not flagging anything wrong. I'm concerned this could cause loss of steering control while driving, including at freeway speed, with no advance warning to the driver. This appears to match open NHTSA investigation pe26006.

Three of my tpm batteries went out so I had all 4 replaced. The tires were almost brand new with absolutely no issues besides the warning light from the faulty tpm’s. When I got my car back, all 4 tires were leaking air and caused me to have to refill them daily. I have been trying for 3 weeks to have Tesla fix it and they only give me excuses and pass blame. My car is now unsafe to drive when it was fine before I brought it in.

2022 Tesla Model Y - premature inner rear tire wear due to excessive negative camber from factory. Both rear tires worn to cords on inside edge at 17k miles, outside tread 6/32 still. Alignment specs show rear camber out of spec caused by short factory rear camber arms. This is a known defect, creates blowout risk at highway speed. Vehicle never modified, never in accident. Mileage 113,136. I have photos. Bronx NY.

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A front bar on the lower front left of the car collapsed leaving 2 screws on the groung and steerling wheel not usable.

Tesla was in fsd and had the latest software update installed on 8/6/28 which included the new fsd version released. On 8/7/28 on the way to work that my wife takes every time she goes to work the fsd ran over a large pot hole which it had never done before on the previous fsd version. The car started having rattling of the steering wheel and a rattling noise from over the rear driver wheel area. The next available Tesla service appointment was on 8/27 but we walked in and Tesla offered to do an alignment and found that the driver front and rear rims were bent from the pothole and we had to be pay close to 1800$. Thereafter, the rattling over the rear wheel well is louder but Tesla has not accommodated us with an earlier service appointment and refused to make any accommodations for the fsd update resulting in this damage.

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.

Vehicle can become difficult to steer in certain situations.

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.

I purchased a used 2023 Tesla Model Y from Tesla in austin, texas. Upon and after delivery I discovered the following safety defects that were not disclosed to me prior to purchase: the front left door is completely off its hinges and scratching, the rear right door does not shut properly, the passenger side window is not seating correctly in its track, the front left tire is damaged, and both wheel rims have visible chipping and damage. Tesla's own delivery managers documented all of this in their system at the time of delivery. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle. I have escalated to Tesla executive leadership and filed complaints with the bbb and texas attorney general.

I am reporting a catastrophic structural wheel failure involving my 2023 Tesla Model Y, VIN [xxx], with approximately 78,439 miles. On xxx at approximately 9:30pm, while heading home at approximately 35-40 mph, the front passenger-side wheel fractured and separated into two major pieces. The vehicle was being operated normally on a freshly paved road under clear skies. There was no pothole, curb strike, collision, or known impact with any object before the failure. This was not a routine flat tire or cosmetic wheel issue. The structural wheel itself split apart, creating an immediate loss-of-control risk and raising serious concerns about the integrity of the remaining three original wheels. We purchased a replacement wheel, tire, and tpms sensor out of pocket and had the repair completed by mcgriff best-one tire & service, a respected regional tire shop. After examining the failed wheel, mcgriff documented that the damage did not appear to have resulted from an impact and appeared consistent with a manufacturing or factory defect. The failed wheel has been retained and preserved for inspection. An earlier mcgriff service document mistakenly identified a previously owned Tesla model 3 that remained in its customer system. Mcgriff corrected the vehicle information, and the corrected documentation and photographs confirm that the repair and inspection involved the subject 2023 Tesla Model Y. I reported the incident to Tesla and requested escalation to field engineering or product safety, transportation of the vehicle for inspection, examination of the remaining wheels, and a written engineering report. Tesla’s birmingham service personnel initially treated the matter as a routine customer-paid wheel replacement. Tesla subsequently dismissed my written safety concerns and closed the service chat without providing a substantive investigation, engineering findings, or assurance regarding the remaining wheels. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

Tesla full self-driving (fsd) — control handover protocol. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. What happened: on June 25, 2026 at approximately 4:17 pm, the vehicle was operating under full self-driving (fsd) navigating into a residential driveway. The driver pressed the gas pedal to take manual control. At the exact moment fsd transferred control, vehicle telemetry confirms the steering wheel was at ?299° (nearly 3 full turns of hard left lock). No warning was given. With a ~13:1 steering ratio, approximately 300° of wheel rotation was required before driver input would affect the front wheels — taking 0. 4–0. 5 seconds during which the front wheels remained pointed left despite the driver turning right. The vehicle struck a tree at approximately 13–15 kph. Secondary failure: fsd re-engaged once during the first override attempt, requiring a second override before full control was obtained, further delaying driver response. Telemetry confirmed: factory crash algorithm (rcm_crash_algo_wakeup_event_active), electronic stability control, and traction control all activated at impact. Post-impact speed registered ?1. 67 kph (backward bounce), confirming direct collision. Safety risk: fsd handed off control mid-maneuver at extreme steering lock with no warning, creating an unrecoverable situation in a confined residential driveway. Prior warnings: none. No warning lamps, messages, or alerts before or during handover. Inspection status: vehicle photographed. Insurance inspection pending. Not yet inspected by Tesla or dealer. Independently confirmed via vehicle telemetry export (85,776 rows, 300 sensor channels).

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.

Model y (VIN: [xxx]). On xxx, I brought my vehicle to Tesla service for replacement of the front wheel hub assembly and paid approximately $1,000 for the repair. Shortly after picking up the vehicle, I noticed abnormal knocking and clicking noises while turning the steering wheel. Because I was concerned about the safety of the vehicle, I sought a second opinion from an independent repair facility. On xxx, the independent shop inspected the vehicle and found that two wheel hub mounting bolts had not been properly tightened and that one mounting bolt was completely missing. The repair invoice states that the vehicle was being operated in an unsafe condition and that continued operation could have resulted in wheel hub failure and a serious accident. The shop corrected the condition by replacing the missing bolt and properly tightening the wheel hub assembly. I incurred an additional expense of $284. 47, which would not have been necessary had the original repair been completed properly. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

"I have a Tesla Model Y that experienced what looks like a steering malfunction, with documented data and repair records already in hand. "while driving our 2024 Tesla Model Y when the steering wheel suddenly turned itself, hard left, and driver couldn't regain control. The car went up a hillside, between a utility/ electricity pole and an electrical box, coming to a stop just inches from the pole. No injury, but real vehicle damage. " "I pulled Tesla's own vehicle data log for that exact moment. It shows the steering angle went from +362° to -358° — basically two full wheel rotations — in about 1. 5 seconds, while the torque sensor barely registered any force. Then the wheel stayed pinned at full-left lock for about 8 seconds while the car was actively accelerating in drive. " there was a fault code 14 mention in the data file right before the incident. "Tesla told us their review of the data showed 'no malfunction. ' but afterward, Tesla's own repair records show they replaced the steering gear assembly and the drive unit — after we complained the steering felt stiff once we got the car back from the first repair. ".

I am filing a complaint for my 2023 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [xxx] ) due to tpms failure after update 2026. 2. 9. 1. Tesla denied recall 24v935 coverage. I request review. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The right rear aluminum rim on my 2026 Tesla Model Y (juniper trim) has a crack in it, causing a slow air leak. I discovered this issue approximately 2 weeks ago when I noticed the tire was repeatedly losing pressure. I have had to refill air in the tire every 2-3 days. The crack is located on the rim itself, at the sidewall area between the rim and the tire, where air bubbles can be observed escaping when submerged or sprayed with soapy water. I have no recollection of hitting any potholes or curbs that would have caused this damage. The rim appears to be defective from the factory. The vehicle component (rim) is available for inspection. No crash, fire, or injuries have occurred at this time, but continued driving poses a safety risk due to the potential for a sudden tire blowout. Photos and a short video documenting the crack and escaping air are available.

Tesla Model Y is experiencing a front passenger airbag sensor failure (OCS) covered by factory bulletin sb-23-20-002 alongside tmps and eaeb alerts. Tesla corporate resolutions is refusing to fix these safety system failures with out charging $1400 out-of-pocket, citing warranty expired.

On 05/31/2026, while Tesla full self-driving (fsd) was actively engaged, the vehicle was taking the la brea avenue entrance ramp onto the I-10 freeway in los angeles, CA. Fsd suddenly accelerated aggressively and the vehicle drifted hard to the left without any driver steering input. The driver was forced to hit the brakes and manually override steering to prevent a serious accident. The behavior felt like a system glitch. Both driver-side wheels sustained severe impact damage and are confirmed cracked. Tesla service center confirmed the damage in writing on 06/08/2026 and quoted $2,325. 74 in repairs. This dangerous fsd behavior matches the pattern currently under active NHTSA engineering analysis.

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

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

Excessive inside tire wear even tough tires are not at tread wear indicator cause dangerous situation. Tesla knows of this problem. And it is designed this way with no camber adjustment to rear suspension.

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

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

Catastrophic axle failure, I was driving out from my driveway when this happened. Just the day before my wife was driving on the highway, and I was driving with my two boys. I have video of the complete failure of the left driver's side axle. The vehicle was towed by the dealer and is at the dealer as we speak. There has been no inspection by the police or insurance representative. We had reported it to Tesla at our last appointment but they said they could not recreate the noise.

Vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model Y long range complaint: I am reporting a serious safety issue involving a vehicle sold by tim dahle Nissan murray in murray, utah. Approximately three weeks ago, I purchased a 2023 Tesla Model Y long range from this dealership. After purchase, I discovered that the rear seat belts were not functioning. I have evidence indicating that the dealership was aware of this defect prior to the sale. This is a critical safety issue, as seat belts are required safety equipment under federal motor vehicle safety standards. The vehicle should not have been sold in this condition. Additionally, the vehicle had an issue with the right rear wheel/tire losing air. When I returned to the dealership, they failed to properly inspect or repair the issue. Instead, they reduced the air pressure in the other tires to match the leaking tire, rather than addressing the defect. After leaving the dealership, the tire again lost air. Upon inspection by another service provider, the wheel rim was found to be bent. When the tire was inflated to proper pressure, it began leaking air immediately. This created an unsafe driving condition, as the vehicle could not maintain proper tire pressure. I was forced to have the vehicle repaired by Tesla at my own expense ($1,390). The combination of non-functioning seat belts and an unsafe wheel condition placed my family, including my newborn child, at significant risk. I am requesting that this matter be investigated as the dealership knowingly sold a vehicle with defective safety equipment and failed to properly address additional safety-related issues. Also a police report was filed but I do not know how to get ahold of that it was filed with the murray police department.

These rims outter lip have a poor design and when hitting a pot all the outer lips add additional pressure and the rim causes the tire burst this is the 2nd time this has happened to me. In 2 the years I had the car. The first time it happened was in NY state.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

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

Both torn bushing and broken links at 29k miles.

Incident involving fsd (supervised) v14. 2. 2. 4. On February 15, 2026, while the vehicle was operating under full self-driving (supervised) v14. 2. 2. 4, the system failed to detect a stationary curb. The vehicle initiated a trajectory that resulted in a collision, causing a structural gouge in the passenger-side rear tire sidewall. Per MA 540 cmr 4. 04, this damage renders the vehicle unroadworthy. I have saved dashcam/sentry video footage as proof of the system's failure to navigate the obstacle.

While driving, the vehicle displays a critical “air pressure in tires very low — pull over safely” alert. When I pull over and inspect, the tire pressure is normal and there is no flat. The alert clears on its own after driving a few more miles. The vehicle has been serviced four times for this issue between February and may 2026 at Tesla service centers in austin TX, flower mound TX, san diego CA, and los angeles CA. The tire pressure monitoring sensors have been replaced three times (rear left twice, front left once). On the may 7, 2026 san diego service visit, the technician documented the root cause as a low voltage issue with the sensor system. The issue continues to recur after each repair. A false critical safety alert that instructs the driver to pull over creates a safety risk because it trains drivers to distrust real alerts, and pulling over on highways carries its own risk.