2026 Tesla Model Y: airbags did not deploy in a crash

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · Driver assistance · GA · crash · 1 injury

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2026 Tesla Model Y AWD. VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 16,000 miles At approximately 8:00 a.m. XXX Monday, I was driving manually uphill in bright sunlight. Sun glare affected my visibility, and I did not notice that the vehicle ahead had stopped. I did not receive a forward-collision warning before my Tesla struck the vehicle in front at approximately 25 mph. After the first impact, I felt the steering wheel move by itself. The vehicle then moved sideways and struck a tree. The resulting damage includes the front bumper, hood, front wheel area, and left-front door. The vehicle is undrivable. The airbags did not deploy. I am requesting a formal safety investigation into the unexpected steering movement, the absence of a forward-collision warning, and the vehicle's behavior after the first impact. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 28, 2026 · Airbags · AZ · crash · 1 injury

My Tesla 2026 Y was in an accident and was totalled. I sustained a broken tibia and a broken sternum. The airbags did not deploy. There was no warning the airbags were faulty. The car was hauled away from the collision center.

Filed Aug 18, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · 2,000 miles · NY · crash

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.

Filed Jul 2, 2026 · Electrical · 3,609 miles · CA · crash

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH with the Full Self-Driving mode engaged, the vehicle suddenly swerved into the left lane, and the rear passenger’s side door struck the right side of another vehicle. The vehicle stopped after the impact. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle did not need to be towed. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the Forward Collision Avoidance feature was not activated during the failure. A Police report was filed. There was no injury reported. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,609.

Filed Feb 17, 2026 · Brakes · 6,000 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH into a parking spot, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle drove over a parking bump, struck a bench, and the automatic emergency braking system engaged, preventing the vehicle from hitting the wall. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that she had back pains, but was unsure whether they were related to the failure. There was no medical attention received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who test-drove the vehicle. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not equipped with a manual parking brake; however, the brakes were functioning normally according to the computer, and to wait for corporate's report before taking the vehicle to a collision center for front-end repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened an investigation. The contact was informed that the vehicle was safe to drive. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

Filed Dec 8, 2025 · Acceleration, Airbags · 5,000 miles · CA · crash

The contact is a police officer from the Simi police department, who called on behalf of the owner of a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated the owner was driving at 30 MPH with full autopilot mode with direction destination set, the vehicle increased in speed to make a U-turn on the opposite side of a driveway; therefore, the driver attempted to disengage the autopilot and depressed the brake pedal. The vehicle failed to stop and instead increased in speed, causing the driver to crash into a curb, a Dodge Ram truck, a light pole, and an occupied Nissan Maxima vehicle, where the vehicle came to a stop. Both vehicles that were crashed into were occupied by 1 occupant each. The contact stated the owner's air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the owner did not sustain any injuries. No medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to an auto collision center; however, the vehicle looked drivable. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.

Filed May 5, 2025 · Airbags, Brakes · SC · crash

I was driving my 2026 Tesla Model Y when another vehicle pulled out from a driveway and struck the front/side of my car. The Tesla failed to initiate Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and no airbags deployed. This raises serious concerns about the functionality of Tesla’s safety systems in real-world scenarios. The vehicle has not been modified in any way and was in standard driving mode. I have contacted Tesla Support requesting a diagnostic and explanation, but I believe this incident should also be reviewed as a potential safety defect.