2021 Tesla Model Y: screen or infotainment failure

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Driver assistance · MD

While driving my Tesla on FSD mode, my Tesla had critical error and warn me to take over. My navigation and GPS froze. I did several reboot and power cycle and nothing worked. I reach out to Tesla and they stated that I will need a new computer hardware replacement. My Tesla was working fine until they push the new FSD lite software version 14.1 to Tesla vehicle with an incomparable hardware spec.

Filed Oct 4, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · PA

COMPONENT: The car computer (Tesla HW3 / "Full Self-Driving Computer 3," which houses the Autopilot computer and GPS) failed during a scheduled overnight over-the-air software update from version XXX in early XXX. The update failed to install, and from that point all cameras were black including the backup camera, navigation was frozen, and every driver-assistance feature was unavailable: Autopilot, FSD, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping, and blind spot monitoring. The failed unit was returned to the owner and is available for inspection. SAFETY RISK: The vehicle remained drivable with crash-avoidance systems and the federally required backup camera disabled. The only indication was a camera-unavailable message; there was no clear warning that AEB and collision warning were off. The vehicle was driven about three weeks in this condition while awaiting parts. CONFIRMED BY MANUFACTURER: Yes. Tesla remote diagnosis determined the car computer required replacement. Tesla remotely cancelled and re-pushed the update on XXX; the download stalled at 0 B/s and never installed. Tesla Service in [XXX] replaced the car computer on XXX at owner expense ($2,489.48; outside basic warranty, goodwill declined). Tesla's repair notes state the loss of all camera images and Autopilot capability occurred "after a failed software update." PRIOR WARNINGS: None. No warning lamps or messages before the update; the vehicle operated normally on XXX Owner resets, power-off, and 12V disconnect did not restore function. ASSESSMENT: The Autopilot computer failed during a manufacturer-pushed software update. Owner forums and automotive press reported numerous similar HW3 computer failures in summer 2026 following Tesla software releases. No crash, fire, or injury. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 17, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · GA

On XXX, while driving southbound on XXX from [XXX] toward [XXX], my vehicle’s center display (MCU) crashed and rebooted at highway speed, leaving me with no screen for approximately 5–10 minutes. Sequence of events: 1.Earlier in the drive, while using Full Self-Driving (Supervised) v14 Lite, the vehicle exhibited phantom braking and speed oscillation (repeatedly cycling between approximately 73, 70, and 72 mph without cause). I disengaged FSD and switched to standard Autopilot. 2.During this portion of the drive, three alert codes appeared: UI_a111, APP_w207, and DI_a175 (the latter twice). 3.I stopped to Supercharge in [XXX] at 1:17 PM (33-minute session ending approximately 1:50 PM), then resumed driving on XXX [XXX]. 4.Shortly after resuming the drive, at approximately 1:53 PM, I tapped on one of the displayed alerts on the touchscreen to view details. The screen opened an in-car help/browser page, then the entire MCU crashed and went dark. 5.The display remained black for approximately 5–10 minutes while I was traveling at highway speed. During this time I had NO speedometer, NO navigation/GPS, NO touch controls, and NO visibility into vehicle alerts or state. In a Tesla Model Y, the center display is the ONLY instrument display — there is no separate gauge cluster. 6.The MCU eventually rebooted on its own and the display returned. The incident time is corroborated by a text message my wife sent me from inside the vehicle at 1:53 PM at my request, specifically to create a contemporaneous timestamped record. Safety concern: A driver-initiated tap on a safety alert — an action the interface invites — triggered a total display failure at highway speed. Loss of the sole speedometer and all vehicle status information while traveling at approximately 70+ mph is an unreasonable safety risk. This occurred on the same drive as continued phantom braking and speed oscillation events previously reported in ODI #XXX, o INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Electrical · WA

On 8/10/26, my Tesla experienced a complete low-voltage electrical failure while parked at my home. I owned the vehicle 34 days and put 1,054 miles on it after purchasing it directly from Tesla as a pre-owned vehicle. I entered the driver's seat, and closed the driver's door. The center touchscreen was completely black, the vehicle would not power on, and the Tesla mobile app could not control the vehicle. I attempted to exit the vehicle, but the electronic driver's-door release would not operate. My husband was outside the vehicle and was also unable to open the driver's door from the exterior. The outside temperature was approximately 80 degrees, and the interior of the vehicle became increasingly warmer. For several minutes, we attempted to open the driver's door, lower a window, or restore power without success. I had not been shown or instructed on the location or operation of the manual emergency door release when Tesla delivered the vehicle. I ultimately had to climb over the center console to the passenger side and push the passenger door open with both feet. Tesla Roadside Assistance was contacted and the vehicle was towed to the Tesla Service Center. Tesla's 8/12/2026 service record documents the concern as "Parked vehicle unable to power on" and states that the technician found the 12V battery inoperative. Tesla replaced the 12V lead-acid battery assembly. During the same service visit, Tesla also replaced the left-front door glass and upper trim. Tesla separately verified that the passenger-side window had come out of its track and scratched the trim and documented that the cause was a loose and improperly seated front-right door trim panel. I received no warning on the vehicle display or through the Tesla app before the low-voltage battery failed. My primary safety concern is that loss of low-voltage power disabled the normal electronic means of exiting the driver's door while I was inside the vehicle, with no advance warning.

Filed May 8, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CA

My 2021 Tesla Model Y HW3 experienced complete failure of all cameras, GPS, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Adaptive Cruise Control following the installation of software update 2026.8.6.1 — the OTA remedy update issued by Tesla for the federal safety agency Recall 26V283000. The vehicle was fully functional prior to this update. The failure was confirmed and reproduced by Tesla's authorized service center. The service advisor confirmed in writing: "During the update, the computer failed to reboot properly. We attempted to perform a 12V reset but unfortunately it is still stuck in the boot loop state." The Autopilot ECU (Primary/Turbo A) is stuck in a permanent boot loop and cannot be recovered by software means. Safety impact: All cameras including rearview camera are completely non-functional. Automatic Emergency Braking and all ADAS features are disabled. The vehicle cannot safely detect obstacles or pedestrians. GPS navigation is frozen. Tesla has confirmed the computer requires replacement but is classifying it as a customer-pay repair citing expired warranty, despite the failure occurring during Tesla's own recall remedy software deployment. This vehicle meets every technical criterion of Recall 26V283000 — HW3 hardware, 2021 Model Y, software version 2026.8.6.1, complete camera failure — but does not appear in the recall VIN database. I am requesting the federal safety agency review whether this VIN should be included in recall 26V283000 or a related investigation.

Filed Apr 18, 2026 · MI

while traveling at approximately 80 mph with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged, my vehicle experienced a simultaneous failure of the Full Self-Driving computer and the Media Control Unit (MCU) touchscreen. Without any prior warning, the touchscreen went completely black, and the vehicle immediately executed an uncommanded, sharp steering maneuver into the right lane. It was very apparent that if I didn’t take over it was going to continue crossing highway lanes and go off road. I have around 45k miles specifically on FSD and never has it failed in such an extreme manner. This sudden steering input put myself and other motorists at extreme risk of a high-speed collision or roadway departure. I was forced to physically overpower the steering wheel to maintain lane integrity and prevent a crash at highway speeds. The failure appeared to be a total loss of the vehicle’s primary visualization and automated steering systems, leaving me with no digital feedback regarding speed or surrounding traffic while the car was still in motion. Prior to this event, there were no warning lamps or symptoms such as GPS drifting or screen lag. I have since attempted a hard reset and a full power cycle, but the critical nature of this uncommanded steering at 80 mph suggests a systemic defect in how FSD manages hardware or software failures. The vehicle and its internal data logs are available for inspection upon request. This incident has been documented in the Tesla App under a service request for a full log review.

Filed Jan 12, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · IA

I parked my Tesla vehicle in a friend’s driveway. When I returned and opened the driver’s door, I entered the vehicle and attempted to put it into Drive. At that point, the vehicle display went completely blank and the vehicle became inoperable. I then attempted to open the door from inside the vehicle, but the door would not open and I was unable to exit the car. I was effectively locked inside the vehicle. I contacted Tesla customer support and remained on the call for approximately 1.5 hours before receiving assistance. Tesla customer support confirmed that the issue was caused by failure of the 12-volt battery. At the time of the incident, the outside temperature was below 0 degrees centigrade. The incident occurred in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There was no prior warning or notification from the vehicle or the Tesla mobile app indicating that the 12-volt battery was at risk of failure. The failure resulted in loss of vehicle function and inability to exit the vehicle, creating a serious safety concern.

Filed Sep 2, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · FL

The main vehicle computer (MCU) failed. The problem first appeared in May 2024 with intermittent rear camera malfunctions. It has since worsened. Most recently (08/28/25), the center display went completely black and the vehicle became inoperable — I could not start or move it. This left me stranded in a dangerous neighborhood late at night and required the car to be towed. When the display fails, I lose access to the rear camera, climate controls (including defrost), and turn signal indicators. These are safety-critical systems, and in this case the failure also disabled the ability to drive the vehicle entirely. The problem has been reported to Tesla. They inspected the vehicle but claimed the earlier camera malfunction was unrelated to the current computer failure. No independent mechanic has inspected it. The failures are ongoing and reproducible. No warning lights or alerts appeared before the system shut down. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Being that this issue originally arose back in May, 2024- it should fall under Tesla’s warranty which expired in December 2024.

Filed May 19, 2025 · Locks · NC

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The 12V battery failed unexpectedly, causing a complete shutdown of the vehicle. The car became fully inoperable—doors, windows, touchscreen, and manual override systems were unresponsive. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My young child was inside the car at the time of the failure. Due to the system lockout, I was unable to open the doors or remove them from the vehicle. Emergency responders were called and had to break windows to safely extract my child. This situation posed a serious risk of heat exposure, panic, and injury. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The failure has been documented and attributed to a dead 12V battery, though Tesla has not formally inspected the vehicle as of this writing. I am working to have it evaluated by a qualified technician to confirm the cause. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was not inspected by Tesla at the time of the incident. Emergency responders did assess the situation on site. I plan to notify my insurance provider, and will make the vehicle available for inspection. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No. There were no alerts, notifications, or warning lights indicating the 12V battery was low or nearing failure. The malfunction occurred without warning.

Filed Sep 10, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? System computer. After a Over the Air (OTA) update, most driver assistive functions are inoperative. System feedback display sometime goes black (speedometer, controls, backup camera, etc). After manufacturer serviced car to verify and resolve issue, issue was not corrected. Screen continues to error, asking for a software update. Per the manufacturer this is a computer issue with the cache, and being told to replace computer. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Since the driver feedback display and cameras are sometimes non-functional. Back up camera can be unusable, lane keeping, and cruise control are inoperative. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? By an manufacturer repair center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, they appeared after an OTA update 9-AUG-2024

Filed Dec 24, 2023 · Driver assistance · CA

After Tesla software update 2023.44.30.2, the rear back up camera no longer works. It’s just a black screen. Failure first occurred on 12/20/2023. Also, Tesla “Auto pilot” no longer works (cruise control and lane assist). Support team could not fix both issues. Have a service appointment scheduled on 12/27/2023. Thank you and happy holidays.

Filed Jun 3, 2022 · Driver assistance, Electrical · VT

We are experiencing two issues with our Tesla Y, one of which I have come to learn is common. That issue is the cruise control will suddenly "disengage" forcing the brakes on, either actively or just through the regenerative components. This has happened in several conditions from high speeds on interstates (>55 MPH) and on smaller state highways (<55MPH). The primary concern is being rear ended by cars following; effectively the Tesla is "brake checking". I am not aware of Tesla pushing updates or addressing this issue in any typeof inspection. There are no warnings, and I have noticed no pattern as to why it happens (and it happens frequently). I have notified Tesla of the issue. The second issue is that the control/infotainment screen has frozen and gone blank on at least four occasions. This as well has happened in various conditions, most recently on both legs of a long roadtrip on the highway. It effectively leaves all control of the car other than steering and velocity out of our control. It is scary. There are no warnings and I am not aware of Tesla doing anything to address the issue though I am aware that it is happening to other vehicles.