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World Of EVEditorial

2021 Tesla Model Y problems & recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Tesla Model Y and owners have filed 1,079 complaints. The most-reported area is forward collision avoidance (578 complaints). 6 complaints describe a fire and 87 complaints describe a crash.

Other model years:202620252024202320222020
Recalls
0
Complaints
1,079
Crash reports
87
Fire reports
6
Injuries
25

Recalls (0)

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2021 Model Y.

Owner complaints (1,079)

What owners reported to NHTSA, by component. One complaint can name several components.

  • Forward collision avoidance578
  • Service brakes182
  • Vehicle speed control161
  • Electrical system148
  • Unknown or other136
  • Steering93
  • Lane departure75
  • Suspension75
  • Visibility/wiper43
  • Structure32
  • Power train30
  • Seat belts27

Complaints over time

Nov 2020: 2 complaintsDec 2020: 4 complaintsJan 2021: 6 complaintsFeb 2021: 11 complaintsMar 2021: 6 complaintsApr 2021: 11 complaintsMay 2021: 4 complaintsJun 2021: 8 complaintsJul 2021: 8 complaintsAug 2021: 6 complaintsSep 2021: 8 complaintsOct 2021: 6 complaintsNov 2021: 31 complaintsDec 2021: 26 complaintsJan 2022: 26 complaintsFeb 2022: 216 complaintsMar 2022: 39 complaintsApr 2022: 19 complaintsMay 2022: 16 complaintsJun 2022: 58 complaintsJul 2022: 15 complaintsAug 2022: 23 complaintsSep 2022: 16 complaintsOct 2022: 22 complaintsNov 2022: 20 complaintsDec 2022: 18 complaintsJan 2023: 18 complaintsFeb 2023: 15 complaintsMar 2023: 21 complaintsApr 2023: 17 complaintsMay 2023: 13 complaintsJun 2023: 13 complaintsJul 2023: 13 complaintsAug 2023: 20 complaintsSep 2023: 9 complaintsOct 2023: 8 complaintsNov 2023: 13 complaintsDec 2023: 10 complaintsJan 2024: 10 complaintsFeb 2024: 9 complaintsMar 2024: 3 complaintsApr 2024: 9 complaintsMay 2024: 11 complaintsJun 2024: 9 complaintsJul 2024: 4 complaintsAug 2024: 7 complaintsSep 2024: 5 complaintsOct 2024: 13 complaintsNov 2024: 9 complaintsDec 2024: 4 complaintsJan 2025: 7 complaintsFeb 2025: 5 complaintsMar 2025: 6 complaintsApr 2025: 5 complaintsMay 2025: 7 complaintsJun 2025: 8 complaintsJul 2025: 7 complaintsAug 2025: 7 complaintsSep 2025: 14 complaintsOct 2025: 8 complaintsNov 2025: 10 complaintsDec 2025: 7 complaintsJan 2026: 11 complaintsFeb 2026: 9 complaintsMar 2026: 3 complaintsApr 2026: 9 complaintsMay 2026: 8 complaintsJun 2026: 12 complaintsJul 2026: 10 complaintsAug 2026: 23 complaintsSep 2026: 15 complaints202120222023202420252026
Complaints filed per month. Peak: 216 in Feb 2022. Hover a bar for its count.
Complaints filed per month
MonthComplaints
Nov 20202
Dec 20204
Jan 20216
Feb 202111
Mar 20216
Apr 202111
May 20214
Jun 20218
Jul 20218
Aug 20216
Sep 20218
Oct 20216
Nov 202131
Dec 202126
Jan 202226
Feb 2022216
Mar 202239
Apr 202219
May 202216
Jun 202258
Jul 202215
Aug 202223
Sep 202216
Oct 202222
Nov 202220
Dec 202218
Jan 202318
Feb 202315
Mar 202321
Apr 202317
May 202313
Jun 202313
Jul 202313
Aug 202320
Sep 20239
Oct 20238
Nov 202313
Dec 202310
Jan 202410
Feb 20249
Mar 20243
Apr 20249
May 202411
Jun 20249
Jul 20244
Aug 20247
Sep 20245
Oct 202413
Nov 20249
Dec 20244
Jan 20257
Feb 20255
Mar 20256
Apr 20255
May 20257
Jun 20258
Jul 20257
Aug 20257
Sep 202514
Oct 20258
Nov 202510
Dec 20257
Jan 202611
Feb 20269
Mar 20263
Apr 20269
May 20268
Jun 202612
Jul 202610
Aug 202623
Sep 202615

Recent owner reports

Sep 29, 2026Visibility/wiper

In Sep 2026, the driver’s side door window malfunctioned while the car was stopped and the door was opened. The malfunction caused the window to roll all the way up while the door was open, where the window should have “indexed” and stayed rolled down about an inch. When the door was closed, the window, being all the way up, contacted the door frame, shattering the window and badly scratching the door frame. Key facts: A.The incident occurred while the car was stopped and stationary. B.No other vehicles or occupants were involved in the incident. C.The vehicle was “stock” with no aftermarke…

Sep 28, 2026Electrical system

I would like to report a serious safety incident involving Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in a 2021 Tesla Model Y. Vehicle Safety Complaint – Tesla FSD Wrong-Way Entry / Near Head-On Collision Vehicle: 2021 Tesla Model Y VIN: [XXX] Date: XXX Time: Approximately 7:30 PM Location: [XXX] I was leaving a public parking area near the Crystal Gateway Marriott in [XXX], traveling toward [XXX]. Navigation was set to avoid tolls, and Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) was engaged. At the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX], the vehicle should have proceeded toward the appropriate XXX entrance/on-ramp…

Sep 26, 2026Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Lane departure

Shortly after I purchased and activated Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised), my vehicle's driver-assistance system stopped functioning. Autopilot and FSD became unavailable, the vehicle cameras stopped functioning properly, GPS/navigation positioning stopped functioning properly, and the vehicle could no longer communicate normally with the Driver Assistance System (DAS). Service Mode testing showed DAS Ethernet communication failure. I attempted multiple troubleshooting procedures, including vehicle reboots and resets. The low-voltage battery was also replaced, but the driver-assistance fai…

Sep 24, 2026Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system⚠ Crash

On September 23, 2026, the vehicle was being driven at low speed when the driver experienced sudden and unexpected acceleration. The vehicle rapidly accelerated and a collision occurred. The driver reports that she did not intentionally accelerate the vehicle to this degree. Vehicle data and the Event Data Recorder (EDR) were subsequently obtained. The data records the vehicle accelerating from approximately 0 mph to approximately 35 mph in about four seconds, with the recorded accelerator-pedal-position signal reaching 100%. The EDR does not record brake application before the first crash tr…

Sep 23, 2026Steering, Suspension

My vehicle falls within the 2021–2023 Model Y population identified in NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE26-006. The vehicle is a 2021 Model Y and current mileage is 73,350 miles. I am experiencing progressively worsening front suspension squeaking/creaking when turning the steering wheel in either direction, which can now be heard both inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle also feels noticeably bouncier than normal. I first noticed a faint creaking sound in July and it has gotten worse over time. So I have concerns regarding the lower lateral-link/control-arm suspension failure. Additi…

Sep 16, 2026Forward collision avoidance

The Tesla will randomly when the Adaptive Cruise Control is engaged brake from highway speeds down to 30mph. This happens when you go by off ramps and at some intersections on the highway. 1) At the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] in [XXX] it happens sometimes especially if there is a vehicle next to you 2) At the intersection of [XXX] and [XXX] 3) Off ramp on [XXX] and [XXX]. these are the places that it happens the most. It does very randomly do it at other locations. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Sep 16, 2026Unknown or other

I was using my cars FSD program and it nearly turned me in front of an oncoming Semi truck. This was after it hesitated to turn the car when it had a safer opportunity. I thought it would wait but then it started to turn and I had to stop it, which left me slightly out of my lane which was scary too, with a giant truck coming head on.

Sep 15, 2026Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance

On or about XXX my Tesla Model Y downloaded FSD version 14 Lite. One day after downloading the software, I used FSD and the new software caused the computer to overheat. This killed the car computer and made FSD, adaptive, cruise control, lane keep assist, reverse camera, and many other functions, including GPS and navigation inoperable. My car’s warranty expired in January of this year and Tesla will not cover the replacement car computer. There are hundreds of other complaints of this issue reported online on [XXX], Reddit, Facebook, etc. In the 2nd quarter Tesla Earnings Call, [XXX] d…

Tesla Model Y news

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall and complaint records, updated Oct 1, 2026. Complaints are owner reports and are not verified by NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.