Wiper Problems of Tesla Model Y - part 2

Tesla Model Y owners have reported 143 problems related to wiper (under the visibility 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.

36 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 04/16/2024

My Tesla is supposed to have "automatic" wipers that go on by themselves to keep the windshield clear so one can drive in rain. Manual wiper speed control is difficult because the driver has to look at center screen and use menus to select a speed. There is no intermittent wipers control; the lowest speed setting is too fast for light range. Only one pass operation is possible without using the center console while driving which is dangerous. The automatic wipers are very erratic, sometimes running faster than needed or coming on when it's not raining to other times hardly coming on at all making it very difficult to see and making driving very accident prone. The poor operation can, of course, adversely affect the proper operation of the automatic driving capability too since that depends on vision by cameras through windshield. Other owners I know voice the same concerns. This issue is a big problem anytime it rains and even worse back last winter when it snowed. I've only had my car 3 months. I have talked to a few other owners who indicate this problem didn't exist as much 6 months or a year ago indicating it could be a problem caused by a recent car software update or a change in the equipment used for wiper control in my Tesla y. I'm not sure if the problem applies to other models (ie s, x, 3).

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

37 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 04/07/2024

Tesla recently rolled out an update that gives everyone in the us a trial of fsd. After this update I've had numerous situations where the car would panic and act like I was about to collide with a parked vehicle both while driving down a residential street in daytime and when coming around corners. This never happened in previous version. Also the auto windshield wipers no longer work when its raining but will turn on when its dry and cause dirt to smear on the window, mainly when the sun is facing the driver which makes it very dangerous. The last issue is pretty big, the car has been exhibiting severe phantom braking when on the highway using adaptive cruise control (fsd I guess now?).

38 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 03/24/2024

Windshield wipers fail to work properly when in auto mode. Windshield was covered in rain and visibility was reduced to zero. Windshield wipers would not activate to clear the rain. The problem has happened multiple times while raining.

39 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 03/03/2024

Auto steer in city which is the free software unnecessarily distracts with warnings, so much that I was almost in an accident 3 times. This doesn’t happen with full self service driving in the exact same scenario because it’s a paid service, essentially forcing owners to subscribe and pay for full self service driving. Furthermore, if you don’t react to unnecessary and distractive warnings you get a warning that auto steer (which is paid for as part of the car purchase) will be disabled.

40 Wiper problem of the 2021 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/23/2024

I often experience significant lag for rearview camera and the turn signal indicator lights. Sometimes it takes up to 10 seconds for the rearview camera view to come up. It's dangerous because it's hard to tell if the car is in reverse or not. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts to change gear. I have similar experience with the turn signal indicators. It takes multiple attempts for the signals to come up, or there is often significant delay on when I turn on the signal and when the lights actually come on.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

41 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/23/2024

I have been trying more than 4 times with Tesla to get this open recall fixed but failed.

42 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/19/2024

Auto setting on windshield wiper does not activate wipers. It happens in a downpour and moderate rain. Other times it activates in a sunny day or with minimal water on window. When it fails, I have to manually turn on wiper which requires taking my eyes off the road to look at the screen to set the speed. This is very dangerous at one of the worst times when I need my eyes on the wet road and traffic. Tesla has refused to look at the sensors and claims there is no issue. I have contacted them twice about this and gotten a “it’s a firmware issue. We’ll send an update soon. ”the problem has persisted for several months. I have attached screen shots of the messages from Tesla.

43 Wiper problem of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/13/2024

Turning on defrost vehicle has cracked windshield.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

44 Wiper problem of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/06/2024

The automatic windshield mode does not function properly. On some sunny days, the windshield wiper will automatically engage. Yet, during heavy downpours, the automatic windshield wipers will not engage or it will wipe very slowly. I have to press the stauk manual or press the manual setting while driving in the rain. Very unsafe due to distraction and poor visibility while driving.

45 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/06/2024

The falcon braking system kicks in automatically, and the windshield wiper does not turn on automatically as it would in any basic car now a days. The available autopilot/ adaptive cruise control only gives unteliable cruise control. There were times where in the middle of a freeway the cruise control starts braking, luckily there were no vehicle behind us so there were no collisions so far. The price tag on this car and the way it keeps fluctuating is un-acceptable so I ended up paying a lot for the car than the actual value from Tesla directly and the basic features like auto wiper and cruise control is a huge disappointment.

46 Wiper problem of the 2024 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/05/2024

Automatic wipers are unreliable, they turn on when no rain is present and they fail to come on when rain is present. Additionally the manual wiper controls are unsafe to use while driving and are not easy to adjust, resulting in a significant distraction while operating a vehicle in the rain. The vehicle also lacks manual intermittent wipers, unless left in auto which barely works.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model Y 🔎.

47 Wiper problem of the 2021 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/05/2024

As the window starts to fog up, I turn on the defrost. The defrost does not come on for 2 to 3 minutes. However, there is some air that comes out that causes the window to fog up more. It reduces the visibility and I have to pull over because I can’t see. This happens every time I turn on the defroster. There is some delay of 2 to 3 minutes before the hot air actually blows out. I went to Tesla to see if this is a recall and they said my car did not qualify but it seems there are other test ones that have the same problem. It is dangerous when I am driving and the car windows if I turn the defroster on, it’ll cause me to lose complete visibility within seconds, and then it takes 2 to 3 minutes for the hot air to kick out.

48 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 02/03/2024

Auto wipers either don't work when it's raining or will always come on randomly when it's dry. Manuel wipers work fine.

49 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 01/30/2024

To whom it may concern at the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA), I am writing to urgently express my concerns about the latest software update for the Tesla Model Y’s autopilot system, which, in my view, significantly compromises safety. As a Model Y owner, I have generally found the vehicle and its features to be reliable and safe. However, the recent update has introduced an overly stringent hands-on-wheel detection mechanism that is not only inconvenient but also potentially hazardous. The new update requires frequent and often forceful interaction with the steering wheel to assure the system of driver presence. This change is drastically different from my previous experience, where I received only one hands-on-wheel violation in two years. The current sensitivity of the system disrupts the smooth operation of the autopilot, leading to frequent and abrupt disengagements. I have found myself struggling to maintain the system’s activation, inadvertently causing the vehicle to exit autopilot mode multiple times. This issue goes beyond mere inconvenience; it actively detracts from driving safety. The need for constant and sometimes aggressive adjustments to satisfy the system’s requirements is distracting and can lead to erratic vehicle behavior. The irony is stark: a system designed to enhance driving safety and ease is now a source of potential danger and stress. The unpredictability and over-sensitivity of the updated system could lead to dangerous situations, especially on highways or in heavy traffic, where sudden disengagement of the autopilot can be particularly risky. As a driver, I now find myself more focused on keeping the autopilot engaged than on the actual driving conditions and surroundings, which is surely contrary to the feature’s intended purpose. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue as a matter of urgency.

50 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 01/27/2024

Tesla's auto-wipers do not detect rain on the windshield and are dangerous to drive with enabled. During heavy rain with the windshield covered and unable to see the auto wipers would not enable and clean the windshield. I was forced to "wake-up" the wipers with a manual swipe, but even then the auto-wipers failed to keep the windshield clear while only occasionally/intermittently cleaning the windshield. Tesla's auto-wipers are dangerously ineffective.

51 Wiper problem of the 2021 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 01/16/2024

Windshield developed a huge crack due to using max defrost in 15 degrees fahrenheit weather. There was no crack whatsoever the night before and in the morning after setting the max defrost setting on, I noticed a huge crack across my windshield! I took it to their shop in lyndhurst, OH and they told me that there was signs of previous damage, and the action of using max defrost in this weather caused it to crack the way it did. So they tried charging me $1500! I looked with them and it was barely a nick! like it almost looked like the initial point of damage as nothing but a smudge on the glass that you couldn't wipe off. . . The fact that my glass is so sensitive that the heat from operating the system normally would cause it to crack in such a way baffles me. . . Thank you for your time.

52 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 01/09/2024

Tesla wipers doesn't work in “automatic settings” this is quite dangerous and warrant a recall.

53 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 01/02/2024

The "auto" setting of the windshield wipers does not work 90% of the time. It cannot sense rain properly. My grandmother's 2002 Lexus had better rain-sensing wipers than my 2023 Tesla. This is extremely hazardous in the sense that at medium speeds, when water from rain does not quickly evacuate the windshield, it causes a massive block to the view of all patrons in the car. Do you think it is important for the driver to see the road in front of them? it is also very dangerous because when this does not work, the quickest way to change the setting is to tap the end of the left stalk with your left hand, and then quickly use your right hand to select the desired wiper speed on the car's screen. This is a dangerous task to have to do quickly when you cannot see what is in front of you.

54 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 12/24/2023

The backup camera failed to display any image, even with a vehicle restart by pushing the 2 buttons on the steering wheel to force a vehicle restart. I cannot see the back of the vehicle without the camera as the rearview window is so up high that it creates blind spots that I cannot see to safely get in or out of a parking spot and this creates a huge safety risk. Warnings that displayed was emergency braking unavailable and park assist unavailable. Also, the headlights on this vehicle is too bright that other drivers are flashing their high beam at me believing that I had the high beam on when I only have the low beam on. This creates a safety risk as the lights blind other drivers on the road and the same make and model of the vehicle can also create visibility problems when traveling in the opposite direction as it can also blind me. Those matrix headlight that can dim certain areas and not blind other drivers should be standard and enabled by default on all vehicles, including this one.

55 Wiper problem of the 2021 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 12/18/2023

The automatic windshield wiper function never works properly. It does not engage even when the windshield is soaked, and often engages when windshield is dry. This reduces visibility so much, that it is sometimes extremely dangerous.

56 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 12/16/2023

The automatic windshield wipers run when it is dry, and they do not run when it is pouring rain. They cannot be disabled when using autopilot or adaptive cruise control. One must stop looking at the road and look at the screen in order to correct the wipers. If one disengages cruise control, the automatic wipers stay on, and must be manually turned off. There are no manual controls one can use while maintaining a view of the road. The problem has been confirmed by Tesla service and they are unable to repair it. They have told me to wait for it to be improved with a future software update. They are aware it is a widespread problem, and have verbally told me so.

57 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 12/11/2023

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wiper was activated; however, the windshield wiper blades to function as intended. The contact stated that the wipers were set on automatic; however, the wipers failed to activate as needed. The contact stated that due to the failure, the vehicle was almost involved in a crash. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

58 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 12/11/2023

While using adaptive cruise, Tesla requires that the beta automatic windshield wiper function be enabled. When this function is active, the windshield can quickly become smeared due to false positive detections, or even during accurate moisture detection though the driver’s vision is not impaired enough to warrant wiper usage. The driver has no ability to disable this feature in favor of their own judgment for determining when the windshield should be safely cleared. Even having put only 7000 miles on my 2023 Tesla Model Y, I have been in multiple situations where the wipers turn on unexpectedly and smear the windshield. Situations which are especially dangerous are when driving directly into sunlight, and in cold weather conditions when the wipers smear freezing moisture in my field of view. When these dangerous situations occur, my view of the roadway and surrounding vehicles is impaired for a few seconds while I manually activate the windshield fluid cleaning system. I have raised this issue with Tesla‘s service department twice and both times have been told there is no way to disable the automatic windshield wiper function while using adaptive cruise control, and that their developers are both aware of and working on the problem.

59 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 11/30/2023

Was passing a 18 wheeler truck that was on my right and behind a second 18 wheeler truck. Light rain but a lot of water spraying up from the road. Probably 1/8 inches of water streaming on front windshield. Wiper speed was set to iii, but the wipers would not turn on. Finally issued a voice command and the wipers finally started. Tacc, autosteer and fsd we’re not on. Autosteer was the mode that was enabled. A week prior I parked the vehicle in the shade headed in to a stucco building and the wipers would not turn off. No rain whatsoever. The camera system thought the bumbs on the wall were rain drops. But a window so full of water you can’t see is not water to be removed.

60 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 11/28/2023

The problem here is the cruise control or autopilot. It first appeared when I bought the car. It continues to appear when driving on cruise control or autopilot. The car brakes harsh or suddenly stops. No messages or warning. Sometimes when driving under a ramp or sometimes when nothing is there it stops. I went to the Tesla shop many time and they can’t find any issue. I can’t drive using the auto pilot or cruise control. It’s not safe and my passengers. The other issue is the wipers start working when no rain but when you have auto or autopilot on. Please fix this issue. It has become a problem for me. I have taken it many times to the shop and they can’t find issue. No messages or warning. Another issue occurred two weeks. It’s regarding tpms. A warning sign appeared on the dash state faulty. I took it to the shop 4x and they’ve tried to fix it but it continues to show up. The tech repaired tpsi, warning goes away but after some driving it comes up as right passenger side issue. I rotated the tires from left to right and vice versa. Same issue on the right side.

61 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 11/25/2023

These are observations over the past couple of months that I have owned the car. They have been consistently observed and have occurred at speed between 35-70 mph. There are four main issues I’m having with my Tesla. 1) I cannot use cruise control because it requires automatic windshield wipers. The automatic windshield wipers cannot sense when it’s raining and just turns on randomly when it’s not raining. 2). The car breaks on its own randomly on both the highway and city streets. I have almost been rear ended several times because of this. 3) the car thought another car was coming in my lane on interstate 95 and violently switched lanes without warning causing me to oversteer and almost wreck. I had my family in the car with me and it was terrifying. 4). The two times I used full self driving the car actually accelerated to make it through a yellow light. I know these are all beta features of the car but in my opinion they are all dangerous to use on the roads and should be disabled until they are ready for prime time.

62 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 11/01/2023

Auto-wiper settings does not work. They are required to be turned on, while on autopilot/cruise control, but they actively wipe the windshield, even when no rain (clear blue skies). When there is rain - they do not turn on frequently enough. It's a danger in the first scenario, because it's a huge distraction to the driver (wipers intermittently turning on when not raining). In the second scenario, it's very unsafe to not turn on when it's raining. Fussing with them in both scenarios is a huge distraction and very frustrating.

63 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 10/27/2023

When wipers are in auto mode they do not start until well after visibility is at a dangerous level.

64 Wiper problem of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 10/21/2023

Since I have been driving my car, automatic wipers always worked. On Saturday, they refused to work. I could not see while driving. I called Tesla, and they say they know this is a problem but cannot tell me when it will be fixed. I was told lots of other people have this problem.

65 Wiper problem of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 10/14/2023

We have had our Tesla back at at Tesla service center twice pertaining to the hvac system not delivering airflow needed for proper cooling and defrosting of the windshield. Tonight we were unable to drive because the front window was fogged over and the hvac system would not DE-fog the glass. There was little or no heat being applied to the glass in hi defrost mode. It was necessary to use a rag to wipe the glass so we could continue driving. We live in northeast ohio and I’m afraid that when we get snow or ice on the windshield that we will have a serious safety issue.

66 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 10/02/2023

Windshield cracked while driving on the highway the vehicle is not available for inspection as we have taken it to Tesla service center to replace the windshield the cracked appeared in the top center. If it had happened on the driver side it could have resulted in an accident. The manufacturer is denying faulty product. The warning signs were there all along. About a few weeks back we could hear the cracking sound from the windshield. Since we could not pin-point the location we didn't think it was a faulty windshield.

67 Wiper problem of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 08/25/2023

I am writing to formally submit a complaint against the Tesla service center in rockville, maryland. My concerns relate both to a potential safety issue and the subsequent handling of repairs to my vehicle. 1. **safety concern:** on 08/25/2023, the driver-side window of my Tesla vehicle shattered spontaneously without any evident external cause. This sudden malfunction while the car was in use is alarming, representing a significant safety concern for passengers and other road users. I believe that such a defect warrants immediate attention, especially if this is a recurring issue among other Tesla vehicles. 2. **unsatisfactory service post-incident:** after bringing my vehicle to the service above center for repairs, I was relieved that the window issue would be addressed under warranty. However, when my car was under Tesla’s care, another Tesla customer hit and damaged it within their premises. What is profoundly distressing is how the service center addressed this matter. Instead of accepting responsibility for an accident that happened in their domain, they deflected responsibility, advising me to coordinate with the other car owner for repairs. This has not only added to my inconvenience, but it has also cost me additional time off from work to address damages that were not my fault. Moreover, now I am faced with being without my vehicle for an extended period, given that the body shop estimates a 4-5 day repair timeline. In total, I have been without my car for nearly two weeks due to the initial window concern and the subsequent collision. This situation has raised concerns about the structural safety of Tesla vehicles and the integrity and responsibility of their service centers. Such a dismissive approach to customer care is unexpected from a brand of Tesla's stature. I strongly believe that no customer should face such challenges and inconvenience, especially when entrusting their vehicle to a service center.

68 Wiper problem of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 08/14/2023

Driver seats heat up on its own. Windows go up and down on its own. Front collision sensor beeps with no cars nearby. Wipers issues. Back up camera issues.

69 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 08/04/2023

1. Wireless charging extremely slow. , connected charging is also slow. 2. Safety issue (camera): driving side left camera and blind spot monitoring camera specially sometimes stopped working automatically during driving in the highway or city, it’s pretty dangerous specially in the highway driving. During my long drive over July 4th weekend between 3-7 July happened several times, it caused auto steer mode forced disengage 3 times. Occurrence 8/8 between 12-3 am it happened about 6 times. It happens on and off almost everyday in some part of drive. 3. Safety issue phantom braking, in auto steer, brakes are suddenly getting applied when even are no objects in the front of car for no reason. Aug 4, it happened about 4 times between 7-9 am. (around 7:30-7:40)due to this big accident in the highway could have happened with truck, as truck was in normal speed 65 mph and due to sudden brake, vehicle speed came down to 35-40 mph, took control and move car out of road avoiding accident. This happened earlier instances as well during driving in the highways. But this time, I avoided death but got injuries. I need this car fixed for good or a replacement new car (preferably)or a refund. Enough, I’m scared of driving this car afterwards, as I’m concerned about security and life risk all the time. Aug 12 braking issues happened on around 6:40 and 7:30 pst. Aug 15 braking issue happened on the highway around 7:45 and 8:15 am pst hard to get a hold of customer service. They try to avoid physical service by service center by telling I need to provide exact timestamp and other nonsense remote debug and worst experience with the servicing. I asked for refund, no customer support no way to reach to discuss. 4. Range: promised range for Model Y is 330 m, get only 150-200 max, numbers are bloated and wrong. They tells it’s based on driving pattern and this range is based on 60-65 m/hr drive on a flat surface, which was not told or advertised in website or during purchas.

70 Wiper problem of the 2023 Tesla Model Y

Failure Date: 07/03/2023

Steering got locked and stiffened in middle of the road in traffic. Had to call 911 to help me to move my car. This was scary as it could have lead to crash or accident. Some time front wiper is automatically wiping in dry summer days which is sometimes blocks the view while driving. Had to switch off the auto mode for wiper.


Other Common Visibility related problems of Tesla Model Y


Model Y Service Bulletins
Model Y Defect Investigations