Tesla Model Y headlights problems

Filed Nov 4, 2026 · Visibility · CA

Dear Tesla Customer Resolution Department, We are submitting this formal manufacturer-level complaint and request for complete, Tesla-funded replacement of the original windshield on our 2022 Model Y Long Range. Our request concerns persistent optical distortion in the factory installed windshield, observed during the original warranty period and now significantly interfering with forward visibility. Given the vehicle's repeated quality and corrective service issues since delivery, Tesla's own published glass inspection criteria, federal vehicle-glazing requirements, and documented similar consumer complaints, we expect this matter to receive a substantive manufacturer level review and full replacement authorization. Our requested resolution is a complete OEM windshield replacement at Tesla's expense, with $0 customer responsibility. WINDSHIELD CONDITION, TIMELINE, AND SAFETY The windshield is original factory installed glass and has never been replaced. We first noticed horizontal, wavy distortions extending across the windshield after August 2025, while the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty remained active. We initially believed the appearance resulted from dirt or residue. Thorough cleaning of both the interior and exterior glass did not eliminate the irregularities, which remain visible under certain lighting conditions even while the vehicle is stationary. I am the primary driver and approximately five feet tall. The distortion falls directly within my normal forward field of vision. Sunlight shining directly ahead produces intense glare that interferes with my view of the roadway. At night, approaching headlights appear enlarged with pronounced starburst effects, further complicating visibility and depth perception. I also have established medical conditions affecting my vision and depth perception, making additional interference especially concerning. The issue is not simply cosmetic, it affects my ability to see clearly through the windshield under ordinary

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · AZ

I am writing to formally escalate the recurring and increasingly serious technical and safety issues with my Tesla Model Y. Since July 2026, my vehicle has experienced multiple system malfunctions despite three service appointments, including the replacement of the vehicle computer during the most recent service. The frequency, severity, and nature of these failures have raised serious concerns regarding the vehicle’s reliability, roadworthiness, and overall safety. What initially appeared to be intermittent system alerts has now escalated to situations involving reduced propulsion, loss of critical vehicle functionality, and the vehicle becoming completely immobile while driving. I am extremely disappointed that these issues continue to occur even after multiple service interventions. I no longer have confidence in the vehicle’s ability to operate safely and reliably. he above incidents, combined with the repeated failures since July 2026, demonstrate a pattern of unresolved and potentially serious vehicle malfunctions. My concerns include: Repeated Park Assist and Adaptive Headlights malfunctions. Camera failures and abnormal vehicle visualizations. Vehicle computer replacement without lasting resolution. Electrical system power reduction and potential vehicle shutdown. Front motor disabling and reduced propulsion. Sudden reduction in acceleration and maximum speed. Windshield wiper failure during rainy weather. Automatic Vehicle Hold becoming unavailable. Automatic Emergency Braking becoming unavailable. Lane Departure Avoidance becoming unavailable. Vehicle becoming completely immobile while driving. Potential inability to restart the vehicle. Failure of driver-side door and trunk access. Unpredictable vehicle behavior and loss of confidence in its safety. These are not merely inconvenience-related issues. They involve fundamental vehicle operating systems and safety-related functions.

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

Following a software update (2026.38.3.2), without any prior warning messages or symptoms, the vehicle's onboard computer failed on 10/26/26, which resulted in the loss of critical driver-assistance and safety systems. The affected systems included the backup and side-view cameras, blind-spot monitoring, emergency braking, collision warning, lane departure warning/assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, GPS, and adaptive headlights. The loss of the cameras and blind-spot monitoring reduced my ability to identify surrounding vehicles and pedestrians, while the loss of automatic emergency braking, collision warnings, and lane-assistance features eliminated important safety functions designed to help prevent accidents. The problem was confirmed by a Tesla Service Center. According to Tesla's diagnostic findings: "In this instance, your vehicle's computer consists of both a primary and a secondary component. Our diagnostic findings indicate that both parts failed, not due to an internal short, but because of a complete loss of communication between the primary and secondary units." Tesla inspected the vehicle and determined that the computer required complete replacement. The vehicle is currently at the Tesla Service Center awaiting repair and will be unavailable for inspection. A previous recall (25V‑002) addressed a similar computer failure and relied on a software update as a remedy, however the recurrence of a related failure raises concerns about whether that remedy was sufficient. I am concerned that the automatic software update on 10/26/26 may have contributed to the failure of the car computer. The fact that the failure occurred after the update, without any prior warning, and resulted in the loss of multiple critical safety systems presents a serious safety concern. A software update should not leave a vehicle without essential safety equipment or render multiple driver-assistance systems inoperable.

Filed Oct 14, 2026 · Electrical · 42,550 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH with full self-driving mode activated, an 18-wheeler with flashing headlights was travelling behind the contact's vehicle, which then unexpectedly veered to the shoulder of the road. The contact believed that the vehicle mistook the 18-wheeler for an emergency vehicle. The manufacturer was notified directly through the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 42,550.

Filed Sep 17, 2026 · Driver assistance · NJ

On XXX at about 6:14 AM, my 2026 Tesla Model Y drove into a flooded railroad underpass on [XXX] near [XXX], with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged and a navigation route active. It was raining heavily (Newark Airport measured 1.25 in from 5:51 to 6:51 AM), the light was poor around sunrise, and the underpass was dark. The water depth was not apparent to me. At 6:12 AM the National Weather Service had issued a Flash Flood Warning naming [XXX] and listing underpasses. Tesla's data log (my privacy export) records FSD active from 6:12:02, my third FSD session that morning. With FSD active, speed rose from 7 to 27.4 mph between 6:14:04 and 6:14:31, with no accelerator input recorded. Speed then fell sharply (up to about 0.3 g), which I believe is when the car hit the water. FSD stayed active about 8 seconds (200 ft) more; the state changed to ABORTING at 6:14:39, at about 6 mph. I saw no warning, and the export shows none during the approach. We could not drive out. Water rose to about window level and entered the cabin. From 6:17 the log shows restraint system, AEB, ABS, stability and traction control alerts. I lowered a window at about 6:19. At 6:25 the log shows both front door releases activated repeatedly; neither door opened. We climbed out the window onto the roof. Our videos show us there at 6:31 with the front of the hood and headlights under water, and the Elizabeth Fire Department rescued us by boat at about 6:51. The car is a total loss. UNKNOWN: exact water-entry speed, what FSD perceived, and why it disengaged. I ask the federal safety agency to investigate whether FSD detects and responds to flooded roads in heavy rain and poor light, to obtain Tesla's data for this event, and to review escape from a flooded vehicle whose doors did not open. A report with the data timeline is attached. The full Tesla data export and videos are available on request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MD

2023 Tesla Model Y – HW3 Autopilot computer/camera system failure My 2023 Tesla Model Y has approximately 54,000 miles and is equipped with the Tesla Hardware 3 (HW3) Autopilot computer. After receiving Tesla's FSD v14 Lite software, the vehicle began intermittently losing camera-based driver-assistance functionality. I observed an APP_w141 ECU Thermal Issue alert. The vehicle subsequently experienced APS_w134_appMia and APS_w135_appCritical alerts indicating that the Autopilot Processor Secondary was losing communication with and detecting a malfunction of the Autopilot Processor Primary. When the problem occurs, camera/vision functions and driving visualization become unavailable or degraded, and the vehicle has reported Self-Driving Features Limited, Cruise Control Unavailable, Adaptive Headlight Features Unavailable, and other driver-assistance limitations. In Tesla Service Mode I have documented the primary Autopilot processor repeatedly changing between INIT, CRITICAL and COREBOOT while the secondary processor remains NOMINAL. A DAS reset can temporarily restore communication, but the failure returns. Tesla has proposed replacing the entire HW3 car computer at a cost of approximately $3,120. I am concerned that this may represent a safety-related HW3 computer failure, particularly because I observed an ECU thermal alert and because the failure removes multiple camera-based driver-assistance and safety functions. I have photographs documenting the alerts and processor states and have an open Tesla service case.

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

My 2024 Tesla Model Y (VIN [XXX]) has lost all forward camera-based safety and driver assistance functions. The vehicle displays alerts that Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable, Park Assist is unavailable, adaptive headlight features are unavailable, and that self-driving is degrading and the vehicle may stop. Autopilot and Full Self-Driving will not engage. The side repeater cameras and the rearview camera still display images normally on the touchscreen, so the failure is not a loss of video display. The loss of Automatic Emergency Braking and forward collision warning means the vehicle has no automated protection against a frontal collision, and the loss of adaptive headlights and auto high beam means the high beams no longer dim for oncoming traffic. I performed a touchscreen reboot and a full power-off reset, and the condition returned. The vehicle is equipped with HW4 hardware and falls within the model years covered by the federal safety agency campaign 25V002000 (Tesla SB-25-00-001) concerning a computer circuit board short, though my VIN was not included in that recall population. I am reporting this because a vehicle sold with these active safety systems is now operating without them, and I believe other owners of vehicles in this build range may be experiencing the same failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Lights · NJ

I am filing a complaint regarding the low-beam headlights on my Tesla. The headlights emit an excessively bright glare that impairs the visibility of oncoming traffic and surrounding motorists, creating a hazardous driving condition. This issue corresponds to federal safety non-compliance under FMVSS No. 108 and the federal safety agency Recall Campaign No. 26V507, where the low beams were found to output up to 230.1 candela, nearly doubling the legal federal limit of 125 candela. The excessive illumination creates a 'veiling glare' that threatens highway safety, particularly during inclement weather conditions such as rain, snow, or fog. I request that my vehicle be physically inspected and serviced with compliant hardware components as outlined by federal regulators.

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Driver assistance, Steering · CA · crash

On 7/22/2026 between 6pm and 7pm PST, I was driving my Tesla Model Y on I-405 southbound in Orange County, CA, between the Westminster Blvd exit and Exit 73, with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. The incident occurred at an express lane ingress/egress transition zone where a physical barrier separates the express and general-purpose lanes. While in FSD mode, the vehicle initiated a lane change on its own. During the lane change, the FSD system misjudged the lane boundary and steered the vehicle into the lane divider/barrier. The vehicle struck the divider on the front right side. The failed system is the FSD/automated steering and lane change function. No forward collision warning sounded and no automatic emergency braking activated before impact with the fixed barrier. There were no warning lamps, alerts, or symptoms prior to the failure; the system initiated and executed the lane change without indicating any problem. The impact damaged the front right body panel, front right bumper area, and the right headlight. My safety and the safety of vehicles in adjacent lanes was put at risk, as the collision occurred at roadway speed during an automated maneuver I did not initiate. Had the divider been a vehicle or a pedestrian work zone, the outcome could have been far more severe. All FSD telemetry, camera footage, and vehicle data from the incident should be available from the manufacturer, and I have requested the vehicle data report from Tesla. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and is being taken to a Tesla-certified collision center for repair. An insurance claim is being filed with my carrier. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or police.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · Body, Driver assistance · NV · crash

On XXX I retrieved my 2023 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX]) from Tesla Motors NV, Inc. ([XXX]) after their third attempt to correct a severe panel and component misalignment following a collision repair (Invoice #XXX). The facility replaced major front-end structural components, including the Front Bumper Beam (1687601-00-E), Front Subframe Crush Can (1109193-00-C), and Cast Front Underbody Left Hand Crush Can (1608453-00-D).Tesla's official guidelines require a mandatory 3D structural measurement test whenever these specific cast aluminum underbody and subframe parts are replaced. The repair facility verbally claimed the damage was minor/cosmetic and that only a manual tram measurement was performed. However, a manual tram gauge cannot detect 3D frame twists or height deviations in cast aluminum components, making it wholly insufficient.As a direct result of this unverified structural alignment, the vehicle's front end remains warped. After the first repair, the headlamp shifted and protruded on the right side. After subsequent attempts to fix it, the left headlamp is again protruding outward. Because the structural frame is misaligned, the forward-facing cameras are out of calibration. Under Autopilot, the vehicle exhibits dangerous behavior, including misidentifying a standard bike lane as an extended vehicle lane. Furthermore, the repair facility has since removed or hidden the conversation logs regarding these complaints, and I can no longer find the messages in the Tesla app. Operating a vehicle with unverified structural alignment and compromised driver-assist vision systems poses an immediate, severe safety risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)