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2021 Tesla Model Y 5-seat
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
1,035 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 16, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why caution?
93 complaints involve a crash, fire, injury, or death. Read them before deciding.
Driver assistance problems dominate (55% of complaints, typically reported near 5k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Tesla Model Y 5-Seat SUV RWD Later Release
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 8%
14 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Tesla Model Y 5-seat, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Lane Departure (74)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Driver assistance
55%568 complaints · typically near 5k mi · 35 in the last 2 years
“Tesla model y is experiencing a front passenger airbag sensor failure (OCS) covered by factory bulletin SB-23-20-002 alongside TMPS and EAEB alerts. Tesla corporate re…”
Brakes
17%180 complaints · typically near 16k mi · 14 in the last 2 years
“Phantom brake incident today,5/26/26. Traveling 35mph, brakes slammed on for no apparent reason. Seatbelt tightened and my head launched forward. Neck is very strained.”
Speed control
15%158 complaints · typically near 6k mi · 10 in the last 2 years
“Incident Date: April 11, 2026 Approximate Time: 6:30 PM Component(s): Unknown (Suspected: Electronic Stability Control, Steering, ADAS) Description of Incident: On Apr…”
Electrical system
13%136 complaints · typically near 38k mi · 46 in the last 2 years
“The vehicle’s secondary Autopilot Processor / car computer is internally faulted and stuck in a continuous wake/shutdown loop. This causes severe standby battery drain…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Tesla MODEL Y 5-SEAT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Model Y 5-seat model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Tesla Model Y 5-seat against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.