2021 Tesla Model Y: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Nov 7, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · VA

I am reporting a potential safety defect in my 2021 Tesla Model Y, currently showing 47,582 miles, involving electrical, software, and driver-assistance systems. Problems began around August 2026. By September 10, 2026, automatic high beams were malfunctioning. Diagnostic alerts dated October 15–16, 2026, indicated Autosteer unavailable and adaptive-headlight failures. Autopilot becomes unavailable, nighttime visibility is affected, and software updates repeatedly stall at approximately 50%. On October 16, 2026, Service Mode showed a CRITICAL Secondary Autopilot ECU fault. Tesla Sterling subsequently identified computer reboot-loop faults and recommended approximately $2,700 in computer replacement without conclusively establishing whether software or hardware caused the failure. Tesla Tysons also reviewed vehicle logs but reported that existing faults prevented further remote diagnosis. An independent former Tesla technician indicated that typical computer failures can involve overheating or camera malfunctions. Neither symptom is present, and cameras function while parked. I am concerned that these safety-related failures may be associated with an incomplete software update. Tesla has been notified, but the root cause remains unresolved. The vehicle is available for inspection. I request that the federal safety agency investigate potential systemic software and Autopilot computer defects, examine similar complaints, and determine whether a safety recall or manufacturer-funded corrective action is warranted.

Filed May 23, 2025 · Lights · CA

Low beams are too bright and aimed too high, constantly blinding other drivers. Automatic high beams are always turning on and will not automatically turn off when another vehicle is detected.

Filed Apr 25, 2024 · Lights · NY

We Americans need you to stop auto manufacturers from using blinding headlights on their cars. This will cause accidents and you will be liable for allowing this to begin with.

Filed Apr 5, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · 400 miles · CA · crash

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds when making a J-turn beside the contact's steep driveway, the vehicle crashed into the curb then began to roll down the steep hill, and crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle continued to roll. No air bags were deployed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was taken to the repair shop where the headlight assembly, the hood, and the full front assembly of the vehicle were replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 400.

Filed Feb 7, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · NV

I was driving to work this morning, February 7th, 2024 driving at freeway speeds. My Tesla touchscreen dropped out and went completely dark. The reset process is to press and hold for about 30 seconds and another 30 seconds for the full restart. I attempted this twice and proceeded to pull off the highway. During this period, I could not see how fast I was driving, whether my brake lights, turn signals, or headlights worked at this time to safely transit through traffic to get off the road. I put my hazard lights on, but again did not know if these worked or not. The screen finally came back online and seemed fine until I could get to work, this was an extremely scary experience and a perfect example as to why all cars should have a cluster driver screen mandatory, I will be getting rid of this car as soon as possible.

Filed Jan 20, 2024 · Lights · CA

The purpose of this missive is to complain about how blindingly bright the Tesla Model Y's headlights shine into the eyes of on-coming traffic and pedestrian. The Model 3's headlights are marginally less blinding (probably only because they are a few inches lower than the Model Y's) and there seems to be no similar problem with the Model S and Model X headlights. I have no issue with bright headlights in general, but they should not be focused into the eyes of on-coming traffic and innocent pedestrian. To be clear, I do not own this Model Y represented by this VIN. Thanks! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Nov 3, 2022 · Lights · WI

When activating the Tesla Autopilot, the lights are automatically controlled to activate the bright headlight mode. The vehicle does not permit the user to disable the automatic brights setting while the car is in Autopilot mode. While the Tesla vehicle attempts to turn off the brights when an oncoming vehicle approaches, the Tesla vehicle fails to detect the oncoming vehicle and the brights remain on. This causes the oncoming vehicle to flash their brights back at the Tesla vehicle because the driver of the oncoming vehicle is blinded by the brights of the Tesla vehicle. I have asked Tesla to fix this issue, but they refused to address it and provided a vague suggestion that a future software update will fix the issue. A recent software update has not fixed this issue.

Filed Jun 4, 2022 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA

My Model Y Tesla, while driving on the freeway using full self driving, would abruptly slow down from 70mph to 40 mph in matter of seconds without warning and luckily there was nobody around me. I did a bug report on it many times but Tesla discounted that. Also my front windshield wipers would come on for no reason even on a sunny day. Sometime on a raining day when going into a tunnel the windshield wipers would stop and would not come back on when I get out of the tunnel and that is really scarily as I was unable to see during heavy rain. I had to manually turn it on and that took a few seconds and in the meantime I could not see anything due to heavy rain. I brought this to Tesla and they told me that the windshield wiper control and the headlight use the same sensor and there is nothing I can do except to place the windshield wiper on manual mode. The rain detection wipers are on many different model cars without issues. I am not sure why Tesla could not add an additional sensor just for the windshield wipers.

Filed Apr 3, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · WA

Frequent abrupt and unsafe phantom braking while using cruise control. Mostly due to headlights from semi-trucks coming in opposite direction but occasionally from just a dark patch on the road. On a long road trip from WA to AZ, it made using the speed control feature impossible. The vehicle would lurch hard enough to physically throw you forward in your seat and rapidly slow the car (increasing potential to be rear ended). No warning messages or failure notifications. The problem was reported to Tesla (not to police, insurance, etc because no accident ensued) and the response was in a nutshell “it is working how it should “.

Filed Mar 26, 2022 · Acceleration, Lights · TN

The Tesla’s operating system on the center screen froze. I was unable to view speed. I was also unable to turn on wipers, blinkers, or switch headlight beam setting. The operating system had to be rebooted while driving. This has happened twice. The first time was 2/11/2022, on I40 W in TN. The second time, noted below, was on I65 S in AL.

Filed Feb 19, 2022 · Driver assistance, Visibility · MA

Wipers have frozen down in place. Car is garaged and the buildup was from the road and not parked accumulation. New car <7k miles. Phantom breaking on the autopilot system where it will slam on the breaks always at some points on a commute and when driving in some conditions such as oncoming opposite side of road traffic at night with headlights on. The car will momentarily and to an extreme degree sometimes slam on the breaks.

Filed Feb 2, 2022 · Driver assistance · MN

My Tesla Model Y seems to be suffering from what is called "phantom braking". My vehicle was produced shortly after the radar was removed and Tesla went to a camera only system. My car has the lasted updates installed. It is not a Full Self Driving vehicle. Since I purchased the vehicle it has had a problem during low light or sunny conditions with suddenly braking when using the cruise control. The situation has been reported to Tesla multiple times and "bug reports" were recorded and reported to the service center. During one morning drive of about 35 minutes I reported 8 occurrences. Sometimes the vehicle will sound the emergency avoidance braking. The car will suddenly slow from 60 to 30 mph. On multiple occasions the vehicle behind me had to take evasive action to avoid rear ending me. During one of my service visits the vehicle was taken on an extended over night test drive and the technician confirmed the problem. During the other visit the service center did not even take the vehicle for a drive. in both cases Tesla said the hardware was functioning normally and this was a "normal" operating condition for the vehicle. The car does better if I am following another vehicle because it seems to be able to maintain it's depth perception better if it has that reference point. I did report to the service center that the car seems to follow closer at night, even at the max following distance setting. The vehicle also struggles with the automatic high beam headlights which the computer turns on automatically if cruise control is activated. Very often the car is slow to turn the high beams off but in other cases it will turn the high beams off and then turn them back on as another car approaches. I am flashed by other drivers on a daily basis because of this. Tesla does not seem concerned with resolving these known issues. I hope the federal safety agency involvement can get their attention for these safety related items.