Tesla Model Y brake failure problems

Filed Oct 24, 2026 · Brakes · CA

On October 24, 2026, while washing my nearly new 2026 Tesla Model Y, I found the brake fluid reservoir cap loose in the windshield cowl area. I took delivery on October 1, 2026. The vehicle had approximately 529 miles when presented to Tesla Service Fremont that day. Tesla's repair invoice confirms that the brake fluid reservoir cap was found on the windshield cowl. It states that the technician inspected the frunk interior for other missing components, found none, performed a brake fluid test and found no moisture, and reinstalled the reservoir cap. I have retained the repair invoice. My safety concern is possible exposure of the brake fluid reservoir to moisture, wash water or debris while the cap was not installed. I do not know when the cap came off or whether it was properly installed at delivery. Contamination and any resulting internal damage have not been established. The invoice does not specify the reservoir's condition when inspected, the test method or numerical results. I am seeking clarification and a technical review of whether further action is needed. I am reporting a potential brake-system assembly or delivery-quality issue for safety review. I am not claiming that a crash or actual loss of braking occurred. The cause, exposure duration and prior warning-lamp status are UNKNOWN.

Filed Aug 16, 2026 · Acceleration, Electrical · CA · crash

COMPONENT/SYSTEM THAT FAILED: The service brakes failed to stop the vehicle. While reverse-parking at low (parking) speed, I applied the brake pedal and the vehicle did not stop as expected, resulting in contact with an object and vehicle damage. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request; it has been preserved and driven only minimally since the event. HOW SAFETY WAS PUT AT RISK: The brakes failed with no warning. Had a person been behind the vehicle, the failure to stop could have caused injury. This is the only vehicle for a family with three children who are regularly transported in it, and I no longer feel safe driving them. REPRODUCED/CONFIRMED BY A DEALER OR SERVICE CENTER: Not yet. INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER/POLICE/INSURANCE/OTHERS: The insurer opened and then denied the claim and stated that no vehicle telemetry/data was available to preserve. No independent forensic inspection has occurred yet. Police did not attend. WARNING LAMPS/MESSAGES/SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO FAILURE: NONE. There was no warning light, no alert message, and no audible signal before or during the event. The parking sensors did not beep as they normally do. No ABS or brake warning light appeared at any time before or after. ADDITIONAL RELEVANT DETAIL: Approximately one week earlier, the front lower control arms were replaced. It is UNKNOWN whether the ABS wheel-speed sensor or related wiring was affected; the vehicle displayed no related warning at any time. No injuries occurred.

Filed Mar 28, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · CA

I was entering the on-ramp to [XXX] , from [XXX] , to merge onto the freeway east bound towards [XXX] , when my Tesla suddenly lost all power, the brakes did not work and the power steering completely failed making it feel like it was locked up. I was traveling approximately 40-50 mph at the time nearing the gore point to merge onto the freeway. Fortunately I was in the inside lane and I rolled to a stop away from other vehicles. I could not steer at all. Had I been completely on the freeway, I could have been rear ended badly. I had my two young boys in the vehicle with me, both [XXX] and [XXX] . We were completely trapped in the vehicle with no power. My [XXX] old remembered to use the manual latch to get out. I opened my door manually and It broke my driver side glass window. Vehicles were passing us rapidly to enter the freeway. I called my husband who is a police officer and he came and picked us up. We called Tesla who said they could not get a read on our battery whatsoever. We called a tow company and had this vehicle towed to Tesla repair center in [XXX] , after reporting our traumatic event. They claim our warranty is expired, but our vehicle only has 37,638 miles and should be covered under the 8 year, 120,000 mile warranty that covers a major malfunction like this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 26, 2026 · Brakes, Suspension · TX

Component/System: Braking System (Caliper Bolt) and Suspension (Control Arm/Linkage Bolt). Description of Incident: While traveling on a tollway at 70 mph, I heard a faint noise followed by a severe metallic scratching sound coming from the front driver-side wheel. Upon inspection at a tire service center, it was discovered that a brake caliper bolt had fallen out, causing the caliper to displace and score the inner rim of the wheel. The vehicle was towed to a Tesla Service Center, where the caliper and wheel were replaced under warranty. Tesla could not identify a root cause but stated they performed a quality check on all remaining wheels. Subsequently, a second failure occurred on the front passenger-side wheel. A different bolt—this time related to the suspension—loosened or fell out. The vehicle produced a severe grinding noise and felt unstable, as if the wheel was about to dislodge. Safety Risk: Both incidents posed an immediate risk of catastrophic mechanical failure at high speeds. A detached brake caliper can lead to total loss of braking or wheel lock-up, while a suspension bolt failure can cause a complete loss of steering control. Either scenario could have resulted in a high-speed collision, endangering my life and the lives of my two children. Confirmation/Inspection: • Confirmed by Dealer: Yes, Tesla Service Center performed repairs on both occasions. • Available for Inspection: The vehicle has been repaired, but service records and photos of the damage/missing bolts are available. • Other Inspections: Initial driver-side failure was visually confirmed by Discount Tire. Warning Signs: There were no dashboard warning lamps or messages. The only symptoms were a brief "pop" or "click" followed immediately by loud metal-on-metal grinding and vibration.

Filed Nov 12, 2025 · Brakes · TX

On October 13th 2025, while driving, I began to hear a clunking and rattling sound from the front left wheel area when braking. Concerned for my safety, I brought the vehicle to a local independent brake specialist for inspection. Their technician found that one of the two bolts securing the brake caliper was completely missing, and the remaining bolt was approximately halfway backed out. The shop explained that this condition presented an immediate risk of caliper detachment and total brake failure, potentially leading to serious injury or death. After both bolts were replaced and properly torqued, the brake noise that Tesla had previously attributed to “pad burnishing” disappeared entirely. This indicates that the squeaking and vibration symptoms Tesla dismissed were, in fact, caused by an improperly secured caliper—a direct safety issue, not a normal wear condition. I notified Tesla legal of this problem (via certified mail) on October 13 2025 and requested a response within 14 days. I have received no such response, nor have I been contacted for further investigation into this dangerous situation with my vehicle.

Filed Nov 11, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · FL · crash

On November 10, 2025 while my 2025 Tesla Model Y was being driven, in Miami, Florida, around 2:55–3:05 PM, the brakes failed completely. Despite firm brake pedal pressure, the vehicle did not slow down or stop as expected and continued forward until a collision occurred. The brake pedal felt normal with no loss of resistance, but the car did not decelerate as expected. No forward collision warning (FCW) or automatic emergency braking (AEB) activated prior to impact. There were no audible or visual alerts displayed before or during braking. After the collision, the vehicle’s screen displayed messages stating “Airbags Deployed” and “Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable. Feature may be restored on next drive.” However, the airbags did not deploy. A burst of white particulate dust, consistent with airbag propellant or deployment powder, was released inside the cabin. None of the vehicle’s cameras recorded the incident; there is no Dashcam or Sentry Mode footage from that time. At the same time, the cell phone, which was actively linked to the vehicle through Bluetooth and the Tesla app, stopped transmitting location data through the Life360 app for a few minutes. This may indicate a coinciding electrical or data interruption affecting both the vehicle and connected devices. This incident placed my families safety and that of others at serious risk. Multiple safety systems appear to have failed simultaneously, including the braking function, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, camera recording systems, and airbag deployment.

Filed Nov 3, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · CA · crash · 1 injury

Pulled into hospital parking garage. Stopped to pull parking ticket. When the parking gate was raised, Tesla immediately took off at very high uncontrolled speed. Basically a runaway vehicle. There was no accerlation on my part. Brakes did not work. Hit parked car in the garage about 300 feet from the parking gate. I was taken to hospital with broken wrist. Car has been totaled.

Filed Oct 23, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · NJ · crash · fire · 1 injury

There was a sudden unintended acceleration and the brake did not work, causing a major accident. Car caught fire and door would not open. The car has completely engulfed. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. Vehicle has been inspected by insurance and police, but not by manufacturer.

Filed Aug 23, 2025 · VT

Brake line failed at the left rear tire. Corroded line. The line is corroded on the right rear also. These are my observations. The brakes failed when driving locally at lower speeds so the car was able to eventually stop due to the regenerative braking. Will be towed to the dealer for inspection/repair. Inspection/repair will occur on Sept.15, 2025. No warning until after the failure.

Filed Jun 10, 2025 · Airbags, Driver assistance · TX · crash · 1 injury

The primary safety restraint system, specifically the driver's side airbag, failed to deploy during a significant frontal impact collision. This severely compromised my personal safety, as my head struck the steering wheel with force, leading to injury and pain. Had the impact been more severe, the lack of airbag deployment could have led to much more serious, potentially life-threatening, injuries. Immediately after the impact, the primary braking system also malfunctioned, and the vehicle's warning and autopilot systems became compromised, posing further safety risks. The specific airbag non-deployment problem has not yet been reproduced or formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, vehicle is currently scheduled for its first post-accident inspection at a Tesla Collision Center address 6010 Richmond Ave, Houston TX 77057 on June 11, 2025, and is available for inspection. To date, the vehicle has not been formally inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives for these specific malfunctions. Police responded to the accident scene and filed a report, but no technical inspection was conducted by them. There were NO prior warning lamps, messages, or symptoms indicating a malfunction with the airbag system before the collision. However, immediately after the collision, the primary brakes failed and the warning system and autopilot system showed signs of malfunction/disruption; no specific warning lights related to these post-impact issues appeared prior to their malfunction.