2021 TESLA MODEL Y — Owner-Reported Problems
Verdict & Safety Summary
- Crashes 85
- Fires 6
- Injuries 25
- Deaths 4
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Component Problem Distribution
Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 511 | 48.6% | 19 crashes · 2 fires |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 71 | 6.8% | 9 crashes · 1 fires |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 54 | 5.1% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
| SUSPENSION | 52 | 4.9% | 4 crashes · 1 fires |
| STEERING | 49 | 4.7% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| VISIBILITY | 33 | 3.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 28 | 2.7% | 5 crashes · 0 fires |
| SEAT BELTS | 23 | 2.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 21 | 2.0% | 8 crashes · 0 fires |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 749 | 71.2% | 52 crashes · 2 fires |
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Problem & Recall Timeline
Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time
- Campaign 21V387000 was reported 122 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V835000 was reported 334 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V846000 was reported 336 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V045000 was reported 263 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V050000 was reported 264 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V063000 was reported 266 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V235000 was reported 333 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V317000 was reported 360 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V702000 was reported 647 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 22V844000 was reported 385 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V085000 was reported 342 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 23V838000 was reported 942 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V051000 was reported 991 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V153000 was reported 1,019 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V376000 was reported 427 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V554000 was reported 1,167 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 24V935000 was reported 847 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V283000 was reported 1,775 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 26V507000 was reported 1,744 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 23 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 21 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 63 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 281 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 93 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 54 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 60 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 53 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 43 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 42 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 31 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 22 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 15 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 18 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 19 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 28 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 25 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 23 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 29 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 26 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V387000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V388000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V389000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V835000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V846000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V912000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V037000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V045000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V050000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V063000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V235000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V317000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V702000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 22V844000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V085000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 23V838000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V051000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V153000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V376000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V554000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 24V935000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V283000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 26V507000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE21020 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE21023 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE22002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA22002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP22005 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP23001 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | DP23002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | RQ24009 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE24031 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE24033 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | AQ25002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE25010 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE25012 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA26002 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | PE26006 |
Safety Recalls (23)
Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V387000
- Report date
- Component:
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Consequence:
- Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V388000
- Report date
- Component:
- SEAT BELTS
- Consequence:
- Improperly attached fasteners may prevent the seat belt retention system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will inspect and replace both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-002.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V389000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- An improperly attached fastener may prevent the seat belt system from performing as designed, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will inspect and repair both fasteners if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-001.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V835000
- Report date
- Component:
- SUSPENSION
- Consequence:
- A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V846000
- Report date
- Component:
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Consequence:
- Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V912000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-004.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V037000
- Report date
- Component:
- STEERING
- Consequence:
- Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V045000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- The driver may be unaware that their seat belt is not fastened, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-002.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V050000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V063000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V235000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V317000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- Swapped camera views can prevent the vehicle's cameras from detecting crossing objects and high-curvature lane lines, impairing the Autosteer and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) performance, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla Service will correct the swapped terminals and recalibrate the cameras, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-17-007.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V702000
- Report date
- Component:
- VISIBILITY
- Consequence:
- A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 22V844000
- Report date
- Component:
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Consequence:
- A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-016.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 23V085000
- Report date
- Component:
- STEERING
- Consequence:
- FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 23V838000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 24V051000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 24V153000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 24V376000
- Report date
- Component:
- SEAT BELTS
- Consequence:
- A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 24V554000
- Report date
- Component:
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Consequence:
- An unlatched hood can fully open, obstructing the driver's view and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-012.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 24V935000
- Report date
- Component:
- TIRES
- Consequence:
- Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 26V283000
- Report date
- Component:
- BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Consequence:
- A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 26V507000
- Report date
- Component:
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Consequence:
- Headlight low beams that are too bright can reduce visibility for oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 15, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-17-003.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Complaint Narrative Explorer
Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.