2026 Tesla Model Y: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 382 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is forward collision avoidance (26% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 96 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Aug 2026
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 382 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I am writing to raise a serious safety concern regarding my Tesla Model Y Premium AWD 7-seater which was involved in a significant rear-end collision The vehicle sustained substantial impact and has been determined to be a total loss. Given the severity of the collision, I am concerned that none of the airbags deployed. This is a serious safety concern, and I would appreciate a detailed technical explanation rather than a general statement about airbag deployment criteria. Please let me know what information, photographs, police reports, or other documentation you need from me to conduct the investigation”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2026
“Tesla Supervised Full Self Driving sped Southbound into a school speed zone. Flashing speed zone yellow lights required speed of 20 mph. Tesla continued at 49-50 mph. Driver intervention was required to slow down to 20 mph. There has been one other incident reported for this Tesla in the same school zone operating Northbound last week.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Sep 2026
“Lane assist and warnings are horrible and can't be permanently disabled because of your asinine regulations. I have had it try to force me into high way on ramp merge lanes and on unmarked backroads absolutely lose it's mind and force me over to oncoming traffic because it doesn't know where the shoulder is. In addition it is over sensitive and likes to blare annoying alarms and jerk my steering wheel when I am not even departing my lane. Thanks for over regulating yet another thing.”Owner report · Lane Departure · Sep 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“When using FSD in a tesla, they are forcing you to take your eyes off the road to engage with their quationaire on WHY I disengaged with FSD. Its always because I WANT TO. I am being forced to look at the screen which also it is blocking important information. I am not a slave and won't be forced to answer a questionaire several times a day while driving. It makes users angry having to do that and I truly believe it is a safety hazzard. There needs to be an option to either not participate or scroll down so it goes away.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
“Full self driving (FSD) has taken away my ability to set a maximum speed. Car is frequently wrong about the speed limit, especially in constructions zones where the speed limit changes more often. Car goes way too fast, then thinks the speed limit dropped and slows way down and then speeds up again. In addition, the 4 speed profiles they gave us instead of a simple max speed setting are useless. Standard mode usually works best but will sometimes do more than 15 mph over what it thinks the speed limit is.”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Sep 2026
“Lane departure pulls the car unsafely when two lanes merge or one lane splits. It has caused us to swerve a few times leading to major safety concerns. It's locked by software we are forced to turn off manually every time we drive. Even when off it seems to pull me around on certain roads”Owner report · Lane Departure · Sep 2026
“Lane departure pulls the car unsafely when two lanes merge or one lane splits. It has caused us to swerve a few times leading to major safety concerns. It's locked by software we are forced to turn off manually every time we drive. Even when off it seems to pull me around on certain roads”Owner report · Lane Departure · Sep 2026
“I was using FSD today and was driving along highway 24 in Orinda and the car almost hit the highway island at speed of 64 mph. I attached the bideo”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Sep 2026
“Vehicle disengages my turning signal after I enter the turning lane, leading me to have to turn it on again or risk unsafe turning situations. No fix or work around offered”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2026
“This is an issue with Tesla's Full Self Driving (Supervised). The categories above don't match this capability. Sunday, XXX, about 6:05 PM. FSD (Supervised) version 14.3.9. Leaving In-N-Out Burger, [XXX], FSD chose to exit westbound onto [XXX]. A vehicle coming from the east had gone around the queue on my right and was westbound on [XXX]. FSD pulled forward so the nose entered that westbound lane in front of that car. I intervened with throttle and steering. No contact. Since I didn't honk there was no saved dashcam clip. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Lane Departure · Sep 2026
When filing, owners marked a crash in 79 of these complaints and injuries in 31 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Tesla Service will replace the battery pack contactors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-16-005.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The reverse lights may fail to illuminate while the vehicle is in reverse, due to a defect in the wiring. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Remedy: Tesla Service will replace the reverse lights and reverse facia harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 26, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-17-011.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Model Y vehicles. The certification label may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification."
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and install a certification label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-19-002.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The hose connector may block the windshield washer nozzles, preventing washer fluid from reaching the windshield. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Remedy: Tesla service will inspect and replace the wiper arm elbow connector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The fasteners attaching the seat back to the seat bottom may have been improperly tightened.
Remedy: Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten or replace the seat assembly fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-13-003.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
Remedy: Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 5, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The ring terminal of the horn ground wire may be improperly secured, allowing the circuit to open and preventing the horn from sounding.
Remedy: Tesla service will replace the steering wheel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were be mailed September 23, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-17-009.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. One or more front suspension lateral link fasteners may not have been properly tightened, allowing the lateral link to loosen or separate from the sub-frame.
Remedy: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the fasteners and check wheel the alignment, free of charge. In addition, Tesla Service will replace any related parts that may have been damaged as necessary. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 30, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-31-004.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Model Y years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Model Y by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2026 Tesla Model Y reliable?
NHTSA has 382 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 2026 Tesla Model Y. The most complained-about area is forward collision avoidance (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2026 Tesla Model Y problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 6,000 miles or less.
Does the 2026 Tesla Model Y have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.