On March 23, 2026, my vehicle experienced a sudden and simultaneous failure of multiple critical safety systems without any prior warning. The alerts displayed included: Automatic Emergency Braking unavailable, traction control disabled, stability control disabled, and additional driver-assistance features becoming unavailable. This incident created a serious safety hazard, as the loss of these systems significantly reduces vehicle stability and braking assistance, increasing the risk of loss of control, especially at highway speeds or in adverse weather conditions. In addition, the front-facing camera exhibits fogging and reduced visibility during cloudy and rainy conditions, which further impacts the reliability of safety and driver-assistance systems. Based on my research, similar issues have been reported by other Tesla owners, suggesting this may not be an isolated incident but a potential pattern defect. I am concerned about the safety of operating this vehicle and request that this matter be investigated for potential defects affecting critical safety systems.
2026 Tesla Model Y electrical complaints
Page 3 of 3: complaints 41 to 65 of 65, newest first, as owners wrote them.
On [XXX] I pick up my New Tesla Y. On [XXX], while traveling at highway speeds on [XXX] with Autopilot "FSD" engaged, my 2026 Tesla Model Y experienced a sudden vehicle shutdown and start giving multiple alerts without warning. The vehicle displayed multiple critical alerts: "Vehicle Shutdown", "Pull Over Safely", "Stability Control Disabled." Upon the failure, Autopilot FSD disengaged, and the power steering immediately became extremely heavy ("hard"), making the vehicle difficult to steer. The car lost all propulsion. I had to manually maneuver the heavy, unpowered vehicle through active highway traffic to reach the shoulder, which created an immediate and severe safety risk. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center in Fort Lauderdale with only 130 miles on the odometer. Technicians confirmed a "major motor failure" of the rear drive unit requiring a full replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am submitting this complaint to report a safety concern involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. On [XXX], while my vehicle was operating under FSD in Las vegas NV, the vehicle was positioned in a clearly marked left-turn-only lane. The roadway had visible pavement arrows indicating a required left turn. Despite these clear lane-direction markings, the FSD system proceeded straight instead of turning left. The maneuver occurred abruptly. I did not receive a clear or timely takeover warning prior to the deviation. The transition from a left-turn lane into a straight path happened quickly, leaving extremely limited reaction time (estimated less than one second). As a result of the system’s unexpected behavior, a collision occurred with another vehicle traveling straight. At the time of the incident: Weather conditions were clear. Road markings were visible. There were no obstructions blocking lane markings. I was attentive and looking at the road. The police report assigned fault to me as the driver; however, the vehicle was actively operating under Tesla’s FSD system when it disregarded the clearly marked left-turn-only lane. I am concerned that this behavior represents a potential safety defect involving: Lane interpretation errors Failure to follow traffic control markings Insufficient takeover warning timing If this issue is systemic, it may pose a broader safety risk to other road users. I respectfully request that the federal safety agency review this matter as a potential safety defect related to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tesla decided to remove the safety unlock illuminated button from its front trunk (frunk) sometime in mid 2025. This can be a safety issue which was present in earlier models and against the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 401, mandating an interior release mechanism for enclosed trunks to prevent entrapment. I contacted Tesla and they told me that my vehicle was made after Tesla decided to remove this safety feature.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the model year was advertised with a front trunk emergency release and interior lighting. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not designed with the front trunk emergency release or interior lighting, which the contact considered a safety issue and a violation of FMVSS No. 401. The Tesla Service Center was contacted and confirmed that the model year and other vehicles were no longer designed with the missing parts. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 570.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 59 MPH with the Autonomous Self Driving feature activated and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate or signal while making the turn. The contact manually made the turn and then continued driving and reengaged the Autonomous Self Driving feature. The failure had occurred twice on the same day. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure through the Mobile App. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.
The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. While reversing out of a parking spot using the Full Self-Driving feature, the system turned the wheel and maneuvered the vehicle into a pole, striking the left side of the front bumper. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,803.
Tesla removed the lighted emergency frunk (front trunk) release button and its wiring from this vehicle and other similar newer builds. The elimination of this key safety feature is a clear violation of the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 401 for Interior Trunk Release; requiring all new passenger cars with trunk compartments (rear and front) to have a way for someone trapped inside to escape. There is currently no method to open a latched front trunk cover from inside this new vehicle.
URGENT SAFETY DEFECT – CHILD INJURY 2026 Model Y, rear right window. While a child was entering the vehicle and the door was closing, the power window trapped the child’s fingers. Pinch protection failed to reverse. The vehicle locked and the windows closed while the child’s fingers were trapped. Injury occurred. Request immediate safety investigation, preservation of vehicle logs, and written findings. Vehicle must not be altered prior to inspection.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH with the ADAS Autonomous Self Driving Mode activated and the TESLA Navigator set to operate lane changes, the vehicle attempted to enter the EZ-PASS lanes while the gates were down, and the contact had to take corrective action. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to yield to the gates being down. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that an unknown software update had been performed on December 31, 2025, and might have caused the failure. The failure mileage was 5,900. The VIN was not available.
Date of Incident: December 8, 2025 Mileage at Failure: Approx. 580 miles Vehicle Status: At Tesla Service Center since December 9, 2025 (no repairs started; status shows “Preparing”) Failure Summary While driving 40–45 mph on a busy three-lane road in California, approaching a signalized intersection, the vehicle suddenly displayed multiple red warnings, a “Reduced Speed” alert, and numerous fault messages. Within 3–5 seconds, propulsion was completely lost. Incident Details Using residual momentum, I steered across two lanes into a nearby retail parking lot. The vehicle stopped at an angle, partially obstructing traffic. Towing Delay & Safety Risk The vehicle remained stranded for ~4 hours. A flatbed tow arrived ~2 hours later but could not load the vehicle due to inoperative Tow Mode. A second dolly-equipped tow truck was required, adding ~90 minutes. During this time, the vehicle continued to block traffic and posed a safety hazard. Component/System Failure Complete propulsion loss and failure of major electrical/control systems, including doors, frunk, trunk, Tow Mode, and non-responsive key card and phone key. Vehicle remains inoperable. Safety Hazard Sudden shutdown in a center lane near a major intersection left almost no opportunity to maneuver safely. Extended roadside immobilization and inoperative Tow Mode further increased risk. Warning Prior to Failure None, except 3–5 seconds of simultaneous red warnings and fault messages. Problem Status Ongoing and unresolved. Tesla has not diagnosed or repaired the vehicle and continues to delay the estimated repair date. Inspections Vehicle is under evaluation at Tesla Service Center. No repairs, police, or insurance inspections have been conducted.
Approximately one month after purchasing a new vehicle, the steering system suddenly failed without any warning. While the car was parked at home and started normally, the steering wheel became extremely heavy, hot, and then completely locked. The vehicle could not be steered at all and became entirely non-drivable. Multiple warning messages appeared, including warnings related to reduced steering assist effectiveness and lane departure avoidance being unavailable. This occurred at approximately 1,000 miles. The failure happened suddenly with no prior symptoms. This defect created a serious safety risk. If this had occurred while driving, it could have resulted in loss of vehicle control and a potential crash. The vehicle was not drivable and had to be towed to a Tesla service center. The issue has been reported to Tesla and is currently under inspection. The exact cause of the failure is UNKNOWN at this time. A sudden and complete loss of steering control on a nearly new vehicle is extremely dangerous and indicates a potential defect in the steering system or related electrical components.
In my 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range, there is no emergency release in the frunk (front trunk). I do believe there is a law that requires this. What if the unthinkable happens and someone gets stuck inside of it? I have seen others post about not having it as well, so it is definitely not limited to a small number of vehicles. I do not even see the harness for the emergency release inside of the panel. This is a huge safety issue.
Full self driving disengage with no warning and won’t start up again. Unsafe.
The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle made a left turn independently onto oncoming traffic while on autopilot, causing her to collide with another vehicle, and the vehicle caught fire during the incident. The contact stated that air bags deployed. The contact stated his wife sustained major injuries to the spine and spleen, causing her to have surgery, a right shoulder fracture, and multiple fractures to the right side of her face, a concussion to the head, right eye laceration, and both arms, a fractured nose. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to Owens Body Shop. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire on the scene. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact mentioned the seat belt had retracted during the impact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact about a USB drive in the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in Autopilot Mode, the vehicle misread nearby road signs. The contact stated that a road sign in Illinois marked 83 and 60 was misread by the software (V12 2025.22.6E575ED98D527), while in Autopilot, with 60 being the Speed Limit, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated or decelerated to 60 MPH. While driving on a road with a slight ramp with the Speed Limit of 40 MPH or 45 MPH, once the vehicle was on the ramp, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to approximately 50 - 55 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated during the failures. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 40 - 45 MPH while driving on other roadways. The vehicle failed to maintain the desired speed during each failure without a warning light being illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 400.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact observed a 2026 Tesla Model Y Robotaxi that had unexpectedly stopped in active traffic. The contact stated that while driving in the right lane, the contact became aware that the vehicle in the left lane remained stopped at a green light. The contact expressed concern that the issue posed a serious safety hazard and could have resulted in a more severe situation with ongoing traffic. The contact was concerned that the issue could be especially dangerous in a School Zone with children nearby. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Vehicle Information: 2026 Tesla Model Y Mileage: ~2,700 miles Purchased: July 2025 Complaint Description: I purchased a brand new 2026 Tesla Model Y in July 2025. At only 6 miles, the car already had an antenna issue that required a week in service. Now, at just 2,700 miles, the air conditioning has completely failed — no airflow at all. This failure occurred suddenly and without warning. The Tesla Tampa Service Center offered no immediate assistance, only an appointment in 4 days, with no loaner or alternative support. This situation creates a serious safety hazard, especially in Florida where summer temperatures routinely exceed 95°F. Driving or sitting in a vehicle without functional air conditioning in such heat places both the driver and passengers at risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration, or heat stroke, particularly for children. It is unacceptable for a brand-new vehicle at this price point to experience such a critical failure so early. The lack of timely support from Tesla’s service department further compounds the danger. Safety Concern: Loss of air conditioning in high-heat environments like Florida represents a direct safety risk to occupants and should be investigated as a potential defect. Desired Outcome: I request that the federal safety agency investigate whether similar failures are occurring in other Tesla Model Y vehicles and determine if this is a wider defect that warrants corrective action or a recall.
Our new Model Y with only 302 miles lost driving power, reported a high voltage problem, and shutdown in the middle of the street. Within an hour Tesla towed it to the repair center. The next day we picked up a loaner. Throughout the ordeal the Tesla staff have been very friendly. They only needed two days to make the repair. Here is what the technician wrote in the Tesla app. With the vehicle on site found it unresponsive and unable to drive. Towed the vehicle in and pulled vehicle data. Found numerous alerts for contactor power supply being undervoltage. Performed and exhaustive inspection of the right main harness. Found the contactor power supply wire to have a short to ground in the harness. Continued inspection and found the harness to have rubbed through the harness at the right rear c pillar area. Removed the wires and rerouted to prevent damage. Rewrapped the harness and added foam to prevent the issues from returning. Performed a test drive and verified the vehicle is back to working order with no alerts or issues.
Bought a brand new Model Y and I less than a week I received the below two error message warnings and the airbag light comes on. Cabin occupancy radar obstructed. Front passenger safety restraint system issue. Also to engage the FSD, I have to double tab 2-3 times in order for it to engage.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The fan-driven cabin temperature sensor located behind the small service panel beneath the center touchscreen produces a persistent tonal hum/buzz. The vehicle and component are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The tonal noise is prominent in Tesla’s otherwise quiet cabin, especially at rest and at low speeds. It is distracting and draws attention toward the center dash area while driving, which can reduce situational awareness and contribute to fatigue on longer trips. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by Tesla service as abnormal; replacement performed, but issue still persists. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Inspected by Tesla service on Aug 5 Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps/messages. Symptom is an audible tonal hum/buzz from the panel below the screen with HVAC off. In a closed garage with HVAC off and the vehicle otherwise quiet, there is a steady tonal hum/buzz localized to the small service panel beneath the center screen.
Subject: Formal Safety Complaint – Tesla Robotaxi Operation in Austin, TX on [XXX] ODI Team, I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern involving a Tesla Robotaxi operating in Austin, Texas on [XXX]. The vehicle was documented drifting into the wrong lane, crossing a double‑yellow line before realigning in the correct lane—posing a definite risk to oncoming traffic The same or a related Robotaxi was recorded exceeding posted speed limits, with speeds reaching approximately 39 mph in a 30 mph zone Visible in these clips were no adverse weather conditions or challenging intersections, contradicting claims that such factors influenced the mishaps Why this matters: The deployment is an early paid, driverless Robotaxi service—yet the performance demonstrated in these incidents raises immediate concerns about the system’s readiness for real‑world, public‑road operations The vehicles appear to be violating traffic laws, compromising the safety of passengers, other road users, and pedestrians. the federal safety agency’s own inquiry into these behaviors, and Tesla’s desire to keep responses confidential, underscore the importance of fully transparent oversight What I respectfully request: Confirm whether Tesla submitted its full responses by the deadline Ensure that all communications are reviewed under applicable standards, not withheld as proprietary. Promptly assess and address the potential defect in Tesla’s Robotaxi control software or hardware. Require Tesla to provide crash data, performance logs, and operational protocols for these and future incidents. Publish a full report on the safety of robotaxis INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I leased this brand new but demo car with 1850 miles, 2 months old from Tesla Seattle. This is a brand new total redesign-2026 Model Y. I was assured that they do multiple point testing before delivery and I had to trust their process. Unlike any other car dealers, I was NOT allowed to test drive this car before I sign the lease. The car was not in great condition (in addition to the expected wear and tear as a demo car). a) It's charged to only 60% battery rather than the full 80%. b) The stains all over suggest that apparently no one did any finish work as expected. I have pic proofs available upon request. The delivery manager Jill manually wiped off some stains when I pointed them out. c) There was a dent of 2-3 inches on the hood which indicates a possible past accident. After driving the car home, SERIOUS ISSUES were identified (because no test drive was allowed before I take the lease of the car). 1) The driver's car seatbelt does NOT LOCK upon a sudden pull, mimicking the situation in a crash. THIS IS A COMPLETELY RECALL ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE PPL TO DIE, AND MYSELF AS A MOM OF A SMALL CHILD INCLUDED. It locks about 3 out of 10 times. My previous cars- Mercedes, Toyota, Hyundai and BMW all lock on EACH sudden pull! 2) The passenger seatbelt has the same problem. 3) The backseat seatbelts are much better, and locks much more often than driver's and passenger's. It locks about 8 out of 10 times. I went to Tesla Lynnwood WA on Jun 6 and the service manager Cayla and tech said there is no issues despite that MY seatbelt performs so much worse than (1) other two 2026 Model Y, one of which is a newer demo (2) older Model Y, 2025 and prior, locks on EACH sudden pull as well! (3) ALL 3 new 2026 model Ys ALL have much less reactive seatbelts! Another issue I had which makes me needing to have this car replaced under LEMON LAW is, (A)My phone key gets disconnected randomly and I had to use card key all the time (B)My 2nd card key can't open the car at all!
My 2026 model Y won't stop on the road when I released the gas paddle and even i felt it speeded up a little bit at 35 miles.it put me, my [XXX] daughter and other's safety at risk. I hit on the brake and feel need to hit harder abnormally to slow the car not even mention to stop the car. It took me long way to stop the car. At Once I stopped the car, it tried to speed up and I hit the paddle again. right after, then it tried to rocking back and forth and vibrated finally stopped. I tried serval time to repeat the issue it still exits. and I called Tesla customer service. they haven't look at it yet. but I in the service mode here is the some components are malfunctioned. 1. Rgenerative braking backfill, braking pedal torque is unavailable. 2. Traction control setting is unavailable. 3. DI_Brake torque is invalid. DI is Drive interface. 4. HOLD stopping mode is unavailable. there is no any warning showed in the console before and after the issue happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am writing to report a concerning incident involving the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature on my 2026 Tesla Model Y. The incident occurred on Saturday, [XXX], at approximately [XXX] EDT at the intersection of [XXX] . My wife and I were traveling from Safety Harbor, FL to Foxtail Coffee on [XXX] , a trip of approximately two hours. The FSD system performed well for 98% of the journey. However, at the aforementioned intersection, the vehicle was stopped at a red light in the left lane, first position, for approximately 45 seconds. Suddenly, without warning, the car accelerated and ran the red light. Thankfully, there was no cross traffic, and no collision occurred, but this was a frightening experience that significantly undermined our confidence in the FSD system. Even though we love the vehicle, we felt the need to report the incident INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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