Tesla Model Y wipers problems

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 Nov 2, 2026 · Visibility · NY

On a brand-new 2025/2026 Tesla Model Y (Juniper), etched scoring arcs appeared on the front windshield exactly along the path of the OEM wiper blades within the first 1–2 weeks of ownership. No debris, impact, or foreign object was present. The scoring is visible in certain lighting and follows the full arc of both wiper blades. The windshield is available for inspection. The issue has been reported to Tesla Service; they have scheduled a evaluation but have not confirmed warranty coverage. The scoring impairs visibility in certain light conditions and could worsen with continued use of the original blades. This appears to be a defect in the factory wiper blades and/or windshield glass rather than normal wear.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Driver assistance, Visibility · CA

My 2021 Tesla Model Y (Autopilot Hardware 3) had a malfunction of its camera system and automatic windshield wipers after an over-the-air software update. The update was version 2026.38.5.1, which included FSD (Supervised) v14.3 Lite, and it installed on Oct 17. The vehicle had no problems with these systems before the update. After the update, the rearview camera did not display when shifting into reverse, the passenger side rear camera feeds stopped working, the automatic wipers did not activate in rain. Tesla’s automatic wipers depend on the vehicle’s cameras rather than a separate rain sensor, so both failures point to the camera or Autopilot computer system. Safety risk: Without a working rearview camera, I could not reliably see pedestrians, children, or objects behind the vehicle when reversing. Without working automatic wipers, visibility in rain depended entirely on manual control. Camera-dependent safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning may also have been affected. The problem first appeared immediately after the 2026.38.5.1 update. I went to the Tesla service center and they are charging an exorbitant to even diagnose the issue ($265 per issue). Current status: On Oct 26, Tesla installed a newer update, 2026.38.5.11. However, the problem persists. The passenger side rear camera briefly worked before going dark again.

Filed Sep 23, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · 9,149 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was determined that the front lateral link assembly and full body suspension needed to be replaced. While a USB cord was connected to the USB port, the USB cord overheated and almost burned out due to a battery surcharge, and the air was leaking into the front passenger’s side door. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff and failed to turn as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the trunk door latch was rusted and the front windshield wipers activated independently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,149.

Filed Jun 20, 2026 · Driver assistance · GA · crash

The car's computer shorts out and disables all safety features including navigation, blind spot monitoring, all cameras, emergency braking, autopilot, lanekeeping, auto headlights and wipers. This is a known issue that Tesla will not repair. This resulted in a collision due to poor rear visibility, lack of cameras, and disabled emergency braking. In addition, intermittently there is loss of power steering. Despite this being a known issue, Tesla will not replace my computer, insisting I pay several thousands of dollars for the repair. I feel they must issue a recall and cover this safety defect. The car software cannot be updated, either. Please intervene. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] I do not have the claim information for the other car involved, but can get from State Farm. I do have the repair costs for my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 29, 2026 · Brakes, Suspension · FL

Service Concern — Front Suspension / Rattling Noise Vehicle is experiencing a persistent rattling/knocking noise from the front area when driving over bumps, uneven pavement, or rough roads. Noise is noticeable at low to moderate speeds and appears suspension-related. Condition seems consistent with known Tesla Model Y service concerns regarding: * front upper control arm mounts, * front damper assemblies, * and wiper bracket pencil braces. Requesting inspection and evaluation of: * front suspension components, * damper assemblies, * upper control arm mounts, * and any applicable Tesla Service Bulletins related to front-end NVH/rattling concerns. Noise has become increasingly noticeable during normal driving conditions and is affecting ride quality. Please document findings and advise whether repairs are covered under warranty. The symptoms typically include: * Rattling noise over small bumps * Knocking or clunking from the front suspension * Noise on rough pavement, speed bumps, or uneven roads * Sometimes vibration or looseness felt near the dashboard/firewall area The repair procedure mentioned is consistent with a Tesla internal service approach for addressing front-end NVH issues (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). Here’s what each item means: Front Upper Control Arm Mounts These are suspension mounting components near the top of the front wheel assembly. If worn, loose, or improperly isolated, they can create: * Metallic knocking * Clicking during suspension travel * Vibration transferred into the cabin Replacing them helps stabilize suspension movement. Front Damper Assemblies The dampers (shock absorbers/struts) control suspension rebound and compression. Faulty or noisy dampers can produce: * Hollow clunks * Rattles over expansion joints * Repetitive knocking on rough roads Replacing the assemblies usually resolves internal damper noise. Wiper Bracket “Pencil Braces” These braces sit beneath the cowl/wiper assembly area. On some vehicles they c

Filed May 26, 2026 · Suspension · FL

Service Concern — Front Suspension / Rattling Noise Vehicle is experiencing a persistent rattling/knocking noise from the front area when driving over bumps, uneven pavement, or rough roads. Noise is noticeable at low to moderate speeds and appears suspension-related. Condition seems consistent with known Tesla Model Y service concerns regarding: * front upper control arm mounts, * front damper assemblies, * and wiper bracket pencil braces. Requesting inspection and evaluation of: * front suspension components, * damper assemblies, * upper control arm mounts, * and any applicable Tesla Service Bulletins related to front-end NVH/rattling concerns. Noise has become increasingly noticeable during normal driving conditions and is affecting ride quality.

Filed May 24, 2026 · Visibility · MI

I am reporting a safety‑critical issue with the automatic windshield wiper system on my 2024 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle uses a camera‑based “Auto Wiper” system, and it consistently fails to activate fast enough during heavy rain, spray from passing trucks, or sudden visibility loss. During moderate to heavy rain, the Auto wipers often stay on a slow or intermittent setting even when the windshield becomes fully covered with water. The system does not increase wiping speed quickly enough to maintain visibility. This results in several seconds where I cannot clearly see the road ahead. This problem is made worse because the Model Y makes it difficult to quickly switch to manual wiper control while driving on the freeway. The driver must look down at the touchscreen and navigate menus to adjust wiper speed, which is unsafe at highway speeds. The delay between losing visibility and being able to manually increase the wiper speed creates a dangerous situation. This behavior has occurred multiple times at highway speeds. When passing large trucks or encountering sudden water spray, the wipers do not react, and the windshield becomes momentarily opaque. This creates a serious risk of losing lane position or failing to see vehicles in front of me. This is a safety hazard because: 1.The Auto wipers do not clear the windshield when visibility is urgently needed. 2.Manual override requires taking eyes off the road to use the touchscreen. 3.The delay in response can lead to loss of visibility for several seconds. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this issue, as it affects visibility and could lead to collisions, especially at highway speeds or during sudden heavy rain.

Filed Feb 27, 2026 · Driver assistance · FL

The vehicle's Autopilot/Full Self-Driving (HW3) computer has failed at approximately 70,000 miles. Tesla Service has diagnosed the vehicle as requiring replacement of the HW3 computer. As a result of this failure, multiple safety related systems are inoperative, including collision avoidance, lane assist, lane departure warning, automatic wipers, and other driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control. The vehicle is also unable to receive over-the-air software updates, including potential safety updates. In addition, the vehicle experiences system lag, including delay when shifting into Drive or Reverse. The center display is slow to respond, and certain media and software features are no longer functional due to inability to update. This condition increases safety risk because active safety systems designed to assist with collision prevention are disabled. The failure appears to be hardware-related and not due to normal wear. Tesla has confirmed the need for computer replacement but has declined coverage as the vehicle is outside warranty. The failed component should be available for inspection upon request.

Filed Feb 2, 2026 · Electrical, Visibility · OR

Observed intermittent center display/infotainment computer (MCU) crashes/reboots where the center display becomes blank and then restarts. In recorded events, when reverse was selected during an MCU reboot interval, the rearview camera image did not display until the reboot completed. Recorded rear camera unavailability during reverse was approximately 10–17 seconds. MCU crash/reboot behavior was observed to be repeatable, including predictable occurrence while the vehicle was in the built-in Service Mode. After a factory reset, repeated/double boot behavior was also observed. Additional observations: - With the turn signal activated, light leakage was observed in the side repeater camera image (glare/bloom present in the camera view). - With each windshield wiper sweep, the forward camera image was observed to briefly flicker to a purple/green distorted state and then return to normal. - During driving, the on-screen message “Auto Lane Change unavailable” was observed. A separate rear camera symptom has also been observed: intermittent freezing/stale frames (image appears not to update). This rear camera freeze behavior has not yet been captured on video. These conditions have been documented by video/screenshots and reported to the manufacturer/service center for inspection/diagnosis. No crash or injury occurred. The vehicle is currently located at the manufacturer’s service center and is available for inspection upon request.