2021 Tesla Model Y problems
The 2021 Tesla Model Y has 2,051 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (42%) concerns forward collision avoidance. After that come brakes (9%) and cruise control (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,051 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Forward collision avoidance 42% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 177 and 14
- Injuries and deaths
- 51 and 7
- Typical mileage
- 3,000 miles 167 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 120 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 20 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 11 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 11 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 167 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 3,000 miles. For forward collision avoidance specifically, the median reported mileage is about 4,000 miles (27 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 177 complaints mention a crash; 14 complaints mention a fire; 51 injuries reported; 7 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2021 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Tesla Model Y with enough data (2,051 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 23 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact's client owned a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed under 60 MPH, the vehicle caught fire in an unknown location. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact stated that his client attempted to unlock the vehicle doors, but the driver's handle did not work as intended, trapping the contact's client in the burning vehicle.
This 2021 Tesla Model Y struck and killed a motorist who was outside of his disabled vehicle with the hazard flashers functioning on the motorist's vehicle. I represent the wife of the deceased. You are already investigating this accident as part of a larger investigation. See article below. The wife of the deceased, [XXX] , was on the phone with him when he was struck and killed and is a witness who you would likely want to interview as part of your investigation.
I am reaching out to say that I saw the model s and x recall for touchscreen glitches. I have a model y 2021 and I'm experiencing many of the same concerns and issues with loss of safety features like back up camera, proximity censors, land change, and more. This tends to happen when I enter the car and start moving. It won't resolve itself till I leave the car, walk away, and reenter the car.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 20–45 MPH on a six-lane highway, the contact attempted a hard acceleration, and there was an abnormal banging sound heard. The battery was disconnected. The pyrotechnic fuse went into failure mode. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle slowed down, pulsated, and then shut down. The hazard lights, steering, and brake system became inoperable. The brake pedal was depressed to stop the vehicle from rolling.