Car has been steering erratically, but suddenly accelerated in reverse, nearly hitting a friend’s car that was parked. Two other near misses since the last update
2026 Tesla Model Y: sudden unintended acceleration
10 of the 452 complaints about the 2026 Tesla Model Y describe sudden unintended acceleration.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- recalls
- 0
Sudden unintended acceleration by model year
What owners say
Subject: Suspected Sudden Unintended Acceleration While Reversing — Tesla Collision on October 25, 2026 On October 25, 2026, at approximately 11:00 AM Pacific Time, I experienced an unexpected acceleration incident while reversing my Tesla on my property. I was reversing slowly when the vehicle lightly contacted another car that I own. Immediately afterward, the Tesla unexpectedly accelerated backward at a much higher speed and struck my garage with considerable force. The garage impact brought the Tesla to a complete stop. The vehicle subsequently moved forward and stopped. Fortunately, nobody was in the vehicle's path. However, the incident created a serious risk of injury, particularly if children or pedestrians had been nearby. I visited a Tesla Service Center after the incident. I was instructed to obtain a Tesla privacy data report, but I have not yet received a technical explanation. My preliminary review of Tesla's vehicle data indicates that the recorded accelerator signal increased from approximately 4.4% to 100%, reverse speed reached approximately 12.4 mph, and a crash-related event and braking activity were registered. I do not remember my exact foot position during the incident. I cannot determine whether the acceleration was caused by physical pedal input, an electronic or mechanical fault, or another factor. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this incident as a potential vehicle safety concern. My primary objective is to understand what happened and help prevent similar incidents from causing serious injury or death. I can provide the original Tesla privacy report, photographs, and additional details upon request.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. While the vehicle was parked and attempting to shift into drive(D), the brake pedal was depressed, and the driver attempted to select the gear, but the gear display icon appeared semi-transparent. The driver was able to select the intended gear after several attempts; however, upon depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated at a higher speed and struck a tree. The air bags did not deploy. No injuries were reported, and a Police report was not filed. No warning light was illuminated before or after the crash. Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode was not activated during the failure. The vehicle was driven to a collision repair center to repair the damage. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and requested assistance retrieving data from the Event Data Recorder (EDR); however, no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired for the unintended acceleration. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
Vehicle: 2024 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX]) Incident Date: [Insert Date] Current Mileage: 4,094 Description: "While operating the vehicle at low speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden, uncommanded acceleration event. Despite immediate and sustained application of the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to decelerate as intended, indicating a critical failure of the braking-override system and/or the drive-by-wire acceleration logic. This represents a catastrophic safety defect that resulted in an uncontrolled trajectory. Furthermore, Tesla Inc. has formally refused to release the Event Data Recorder (EDR) data associated with this VIN and timestamp (Ref: DOT Request #xxx). This refusal obstructs a transparent safety analysis of a known 'Sudden Unintended Acceleration' (SUA) event. I am requesting a formal Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) into this specific hardware/software failure and Tesla’s data-withholding practices regarding safety-critical events." I am a XXX and the threat is to take the loaner car away my only transportation from [XXX] to [XXX] for my XXX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am writing to bring to your immediate attention a serious safety incident involving our brand‑new 2026 Tesla Model Y (Juniper), equipped with FSD version 14.2.2.5 and Software Version 2025.45.10. We purchased this vehicle as our dream car, and for nearly six months it delivered exactly what we hoped for—innovation, safety, and an exceptional driving experience. That trust was the foundation of our decision to choose Tesla. On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] in Frisco, TX, that trust was shaken by a sudden and alarming event. After coming to a stop and while making a routine right turn at under 10 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated on its own, causing an immediate loss of control. The entire incident unfolded in seconds, leaving no opportunity to react or correct the vehicle’s behavior. The incident happened at the intersection of [XXX]. The "Autopilot" feature in Tesla was on at the time of the incident. The impact was severe. The airbags deployed, the vehicle was declared a total loss by insurance, and first responders—including the Frisco Police Department—were required to clear the wreckage. My wife sustained injuries in the crash and continues to recover. Witnesses at the scene confirmed that the acceleration was abrupt and not driver‑initiated. The emotional and physical toll has been significant. More importantly, the nature of this incident raises serious concerns about a potential safety issue that could affect other Tesla owners. We feel compelled to ensure this incident is thoroughly examined. If there is a systemic issue—software‑related or otherwise—it is critical that it be identified and addressed to protect other drivers and uphold the integrity of the Tesla name. We truly miss our vehicle and the confidence we once had in it. We hope Tesla will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and provide a transparent path forward. Thank you for your time, attention, and commitment to safety. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
This is Reference my existing ODI number 11742309. On June 4, 2026, while driving slowly into a parking space, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unintended acceleration. I applied the brake, but the vehicle did not respond as commanded, resulting in a collision. The vehicle was approximately 3 months old at the time of this incident.
On XXX at approximately 9:30am, my 2026 Tesla Model Y suddenly accelerated without driver input while parking at The Center at [XXX], [XXX]. Vehicle surged forward unexpectedly. I immediately applied brakes. No warning messages appeared before or during the incident. Vehicle struck parking lot curb. Police responded and vehicle was towed. Physical evidence including tire drag marks and vehicle debris remain at scene. Requesting full EDR data log preservation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I picked up brand ne tesla 2026 model y after test drive I was trying to park the car in the garage. The car suddenly accelerated and hit cabinets in garage, the cabinets crashed and broke the entry door and the debris the the heating and AC blower unit. Extensive front damage to the car front end. No personal injury. I [xxx] was driving my wife was in the drive way. No personal injury information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
On April 11 2026, I was involved in a serious accident involving my 2026 Tesla Model Y. At the time of the incident, I was returning home from my daughter’s event in downtown and had just entered my residential driveway. As I approached the driveway, I applied the brakes and slowed the vehicle. While momentarily stationary or near-stationary, I spoke to my wife, who was seated in the front passenger seat, advising her to secure the food she was holding due to the uneven surface of the driveway. Upon removing my foot from the brake pedal, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated without any input . The vehicle proceeded forward and collided with my garage door. Notably, no collision warning alerts were issued, and no automatic emergency braking system engaged prior to or during the impact. Following the initial collision with garage door, the vehicle failed to stop and instead continued to accelerate into the garage, striking a refrigerator. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the refrigerator and caused extensive structural harm to the property, affecting the garage, adjacent living space, floors, and interior walls. The severity of the collision triggered deployment of the front airbags. At the time, my wife was seated in the front passenger seat, and my [XXX] daughter, along with her friend, was seated in the rear of the vehicle. Emergency services were called, I have forehead bruises and a burn on my hand from airbag deployment. My wife is advised physiotherapy for severe back pain and my daughter has since experienced ongoing emotional distress, nightmares.I am dealing with car and home claims issues for damages I am seeking a formal investigation into the cause of this incident, specifically addressing: 1)The unexpected and unintended acceleration of the vehicle 2)The failure of the vehicle to stop after the initial collision with the garage door 3)The absence of forward collision warnings and failure of automatic emergency braking . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO
On the day of the incident, I drove my vehicle into the charging station and activated the Tesla FSD autonomous driving and automatic parking functions. During the automatic parking attempt by the vehicle, the system exhibited the following severe loss of control behaviors: 1. The vehicle automatically collided with the vehicle in front without any human operation. 2. It paused for about 1 second after the collision. 3. Then, the vehicle suddenly accelerated in reverse at high speed, again without any driver operation. 4. It directly hit another Tesla that was charging behind my vehicle. The entire process is fully executed automatically by the vehicle system. I cannot intervene or stop the system through the steering wheel or brakes. II. Severe Security Risks When the accident happened, my friend was sitting in the passenger seat. If the vehicle had moved a few more inches, it could have caused serious injury or even a life-threatening situation. This system failure is a combination of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) and the loss of control in autonomous driving decision-making, posing a significant systemic risk to public traffic safety. I immediately contacted Tesla and sent a complaint letter to the North Carolina Consumer Center. They accepted my complaint and sent an email to Tesla, but it has been over twenty days and I have not received a response from Tesla.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2026 Tesla Model Y sudden acceleration
Is sudden unintended acceleration a common problem on the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
10 of 452 owner complaints about the 2026 Tesla Model Y (2%) mention sudden unintended acceleration. The model year with the most reports is 2023.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.
Other symptoms on the 2026 Tesla Model Y
Lane assist 29Adaptive cruise 16Collision warning 15Jerking 9Phantom braking 9Knocking 8Harsh shifting 8No deployment 7Power steering loss 7Ball joint 6Loss of power 6Grinding brakes 5
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