The car spontaneously accelerated while approaching a stop sign. I was able to hit the brake to stop it.
NHTSA ODI 11705803
Home · 2024 Tesla Model Y · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
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The car spontaneously accelerated while approaching a stop sign. I was able to hit the brake to stop it.
NHTSA ODI 11705803
I’m reaching out to document and summarize an incident that occurred in Sanford, Florida, and to ask for the appropriate next steps and any documentation you may need from me. Incident summary (Sanford, FL – Appaloosa Court – Dec 2, 2025): In the early morning on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (around 5:00–5:15 a.m.), a fire occurred at a residence located on [XXX] . A Tesla located in the garage was reported as being involved, and the fire spread to the garage that totaled the house The vehicle was reportedly charging in the garage when smoke/fire was noticed. Emergency responders (Sanford Fire Department and Sanford Police) responded to the scene. The incident resulted in property damage and at least one injury reported as non-life-threatening (per local reporting). Fire forensics stated that the fire started and caused by the TESLA around the charging plug area by the rear left passenger door. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI 11705857
The heating system in my 2024 Tesla Model Y failed after only one winter season. Under normal HVAC operation, the vehicle blows cold air and does not provide cabin heat. Heat only intermittently works when defrost mode is selected. This failure affects the vehicle’s ability to safely operate in cold weather, including proper windshield defogging and defrosting. A loss of heating presents a safety risk to occupants and reduces visibility. Tesla diagnosed the issue and provided an estimated repair cost of approximately $3,235.00. The vehicle is just outside the warranty period, and this appears to be a premature failure of the heating or heat pump system, not normal wear and tear. Given the age of the vehicle and prior reports of Tesla HVAC and heat pump failures in Model Y vehicles, I believe this may indicate a design or component defect that warrants investigation.
NHTSA ODI 11704925
While exiting a parking area, the vehicle’s Autopilot/driver-assist system engaged during a tight right-hand turn. At the time of the maneuver, my hands were not actively controlling the steering wheel, as the system appeared to be managing the turn. The vehicle failed to properly account for curb proximity and steered too close to the curb, resulting in the wheel striking the curb and causing visible rim damage. The system did not provide adequate warning or disengage in time to prevent the curb impact. This raises safety concerns regarding Autopilot behavior during low-speed, tight turning scenarios such as parking lot exits, where precise steering control is critical. I contacted Tesla to request that they review vehicle logs to determine whether this was a system error. Tesla did not adequately address the issue or take responsibility for reviewing or acknowledging a potential defect in the automated driving system. This incident presents a broader safety concern, as similar behavior could result in more serious damage or injury in different circumstances (e.g., pedestrians, cyclists, or roadside objects). I am reporting this to NHTSA so the agency can evaluate whether Tesla’s automated driving technology performs safely in tight-turn, low-speed environments. I request that NHTSA review this issue as a potential defect in Tesla’s automated driving or driver-assist systems.
NHTSA ODI 11704960
Steering locked at 75 MPH on freeway. Model Y suddenly jerked left and locked, then jerked right and locked again. Loss of control and near-crash event. No road debris, no rain, no warnings on screen. Steering temporarily becomes unresponsive, requiring fight to correct. Tesla refuses repair because no alert code stored. Vehicle unsafe to drive.
NHTSA ODI 11703492
I am reporting a potential safety defect related to premature rear tire wear on my 2024 Tesla Model Y Performance At 15,482 miles, on May 2, 2025, Tesla’s Paramus, NJ Service Center confirmed an alignment issue and performed a four-wheel alignment. At the same visit, they replaced both rear tires with Michelin Pilot Sport AS 4 275/35R21 103W XL and sold me a Tire Protection Plan for those tires (Tesla invoice #XXX). tesla_invoiceXXX The vehicle now has 24,460 miles. The rear tires have worn out in less than 10,000 miles and about 7 months since the alignment and replacement. The tread wear is excessive and uneven compared with the front tires, and is inconsistent with the normal expected life (around 20,000+ miles) of these tires. This appears to indicate an ongoing alignment or suspension issue that is causing abnormal rear tire wear. Rapid rear tire wear on this vehicle could lead to loss of traction, especially in wet conditions, and therefore represents a safety risk. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint in case it reflects a broader issue with rear tire wear/alignment on Tesla Model Y Performance vehicles.
NHTSA ODI 11702699
My 2024 Tesla Model Y hit a parked vehicle on the right side of the street during FSD self driving. The car suddently slanted to the right and hit the parked vehicle. During FSD drive, it did not give any warning before the accident. My dauther was injured on her face. Clearly the new version FSD v14.1 software is very defective. I am located in San Jose, CA.
NHTSA ODI 11702107
My vehicle’s auto-high beam system does not properly recognize other traffic. It specifically fails to substantially dim the high beams when approaching oncoming vehicles or when behind other traffic on roadways. I have reported this to the manufacturer and attempted to have the dealership fix this on multiple occasions. The dealerships insist that the vehicle dims the required number of pixels in the headlights to not blind other drivers. However, this does not appear to be effective as other drivers that I have followed behind reported that they were being blinded by my highbeams while I was behind them. There is a notable difference between the highbeams and the low beams which the car fails to substantially adjust for when using this required feature to utilize the self driving/auto pilot feature.
NHTSA ODI 11701947
While the car was in operation a message popped up with flashing red light and said drive unit issue car powering down. It went into neutral. Turns out the inverter and rear drive unit had to be replaced
NHTSA ODI 11701083
I would like to report a significant incident involving the auto-corrective steering in my vehicle. While driving on the highway, the steering wheel experienced a strong jolt, which I believe was caused by the auto-corrective steering system. This resulted in the vehicle spinning three times and ultimately coming to rest on the grassy center divider. Fortunately, no damage occurred at that time, and I initially attributed the incident to road conditions. I continued driving for approximately 30 minutes in rainy weather without further incident. However, a few hours later, during my return journey, the same forceful jolt to the steering wheel recurred about 20 minutes into the drive. On this occasion, the car spun 1.5 times and subsequently collided backward with the concrete center divider. It is fortunate that no other vehicles were involved, given the heavy traffic and rainy conditions at the time. During both of the incidents, I had both hands on the steering wheel and was not able to correct steering due to the strong force from the steering wheel jolt. I did have a Police Report filed, but have to get number when I return home.
NHTSA ODI 11700505
When there is sustained rain, horn fills with water becoming inoperable. Tesla confirmed this is the normal operation of the horn.
NHTSA ODI 11700649
Vehicle appears to be giving off toxic fumes causing medical symptoms like headaches for multiple drivers over last 2 months since vehicle was purchased used, fumes have a sweet smell but source of fumes was unable to be identified by Tesla service center. Fumes appears to be coming from front vents of vehicle. Suspecting there is a coolant leak but source of leak is unknown. Tesla had indicated that coolant reservoir was slightly below expected levels. Tesla replaced cabin air filters but that did not resolve the issue, cabin air filters had already been replaced prior to tesla replacing the filters. Tesla service centers indicated they do not have the equipment needed to test what chemicals are in the fumes and have no idea what they could be.
NHTSA ODI 11700675
The driver’s seat material is deteriorating prematurely on the left bolster area. The damage affects the structural support of the seat edge, which causes the driver to shift position unexpectedly during turns, braking, and lane changes. This instability can delay reaction time and reduces secure seating posture. The deterioration is progressive, and if it continues, the driver may not remain firmly supported, which creates a safety risk under normal driving conditions. This also suggests a potential materials or manufacturing defect for this model year.
NHTSA ODI 11699613
I am writing to report critical safety issues I’ve experienced while using Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software version 14.1.3. The recent update has introduced several dangerous behaviors that were not present in previous versions. One issue occurs frequently on neighborhood roads: the vehicle performs sudden emergency braking for no valid reason. For example, during one drive, it abruptly stopped because a few leaves blew across the road. There were no pedestrians, vehicles, or real obstacles present. These false-positive braking events are alarming and could easily cause a rear-end collision. An even more concerning issue arises during highway driving. The car now repeatedly swerves partially into adjacent lanes—without signaling—and then abruptly returns to its original lane. This happens constantly, even in light traffic, and it did not occur in previous versions of the software. This erratic behavior is incredibly dangerous and could easily cause sideswipe accidents or create confusion for surrounding drivers. It is clear that version 14.1.3 is a regression from earlier versions. The system’s decisions are more erratic, less confident, and frequently unsafe. I no longer trust the FSD to operate reliably in environments where it previously performed well. I urge your agency to investigate this software update as it presents a real and growing hazard on public roads.
NHTSA ODI 11699446
While driving ~40 mph with no Autopilot or cruise control active, my 2024 Model Y suddenly braked itself from 40 → 0 mph for no reason. The road ahead was clear. I did not touch the brake. My 3-year-old was in the car. We were nearly rear-ended and could have been seriously injured. When I went to Tesla Service, the manager insisted I must pay a $270 diagnostic fee unless they “find a problem,” while also saying the incident was likely caused by “shadows.” This makes me believe they will simply say “no issue found” and charge me despite this being a severe safety malfunction. When I reached out to Tesla Customer Support, they stated it was a known issue. This poses a serious risk of rear-end collisions, injuries, or fatality, and Tesla is not addressing it.
NHTSA ODI 11699280
On November 8, my 2024 Model Y suddenly came to a complete stop from about 40 mph while I was driving with no cruise control or Autopilot active. This was extremely dangerous — my [XXX] was in the car, and we were lucky no one was behind us. It put myself, my child, and others in the absolute risk of collision and injury. When I contacted the service center they said it sometimes happened due to "shadows" or "sun". They refused to run a diagnostic on the car for free and wanted me to pay for it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI 11698990
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was making a right turn out of the parking lot in Full Self-Driving mode at approximately 2-3 MPH, it continued to turn to the right and crashed into a nearby parked vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
NHTSA ODI 11697194
I was driving the Tesla and coming up my circular drive(note I was driving uphill). The car suddenly accelerated and went out of control. I pumped the brake and took my foot off the accelerator but the car kept going and crashed into our house (sunroom) at end of the driveway at high speed > we went through the casement windows and brick foundation and would have gone through the other side window and down a hill and probably been killed if it were not for a heavy cast iron table that brought us to a stop. The airbags never opened.The car was totaled(the insurance company declared it a total lost and refused to repair and paid us a small amount , less than we paid for the car. This was the second repeat incident, the first one very similar was reported to NHTSA by my erhusband ,reported to NHTSA 0n 1/20/2025, 6.19 pm; complaint number 11637163 .after the first crash we tried to get Tesla to pick up the car . they refused. Instead they said they would check it remotely. We gave them the opportunity to inspect and repair the car between the first and second incident . They ignored us , do to their negligence we were almost killed. Please open an investigation. We have names and emails to show who we complained to.
NHTSA ODI 11697069
On [XXX] at ([XXX]]) my Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX] ) was **parked in Park/Hold mode** in the [XXX] The **GPS navigation was set to an address in the center of the park**. the address on the address log of the car navigation system. The **TESLA GPS navigation destination was set to a point marked in the middle of the park** (not a parking spot or road). **Without any driver input** (no accelerator pedal pressed, no hands on wheel), the vehicle **suddenly shifted into Drive, jumped the curb, and accelerated approximately more than 30 feet] into the park grass**. This caused **damage to wheels, and all the passenger side of the vehicle to impact with a large rock placed in the park **Zero pedal input** — confirmed by driver and will be verified in Tesla server logs. No injuries. No other vehicles involved. **Root cause**: **Full Self-Driving (FSD) software / navigation system** incorrectly engaged **Lane Keeping Assistance** while parked, triggering **unintended acceleration** via **Speed Control** logic. The car was on software update and suddenly disappeared. The car **autonomously drove itself** toward the GPS point **from a complete stop**. Police report filed to LAPD (Case #[XXX]). Tesla Vehicle Data Report requested. **Request NHTSA investigation** into **FSD navigation-induced unintended acceleration from Park**. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI 11697079
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the battery was losing charge abnormally quickly. The contact needed to charge the battery every 2-3 days instead of every 5-6 days. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA ODI 11696816
Tesla removed the speed limit offset feature in FSD version 14.1.4 and now only uses speed profiles called Sloth, Chill, Standard, Hurry, and Mad Max, and this has made my car extremely unsafe to drive. The problem is that these profiles make the car go either way too slow or way too fast and I cannot adjust it to match actual traffic conditions anymore. To make matters worse, the speed limit detection is broken and frequently shows the wrong speed limit for the road I am on. When I use Sloth, the car never goes over the detected speed limit no matter what, so if the system thinks I am in a 35 mph zone when I am actually on a 55 mph highway, my car crawls along at 35 while traffic is flying past at 60-70 mph. I have people tailgating me, honking, flashing their lights, swerving around me dangerously, and I have almost been rear-ended multiple times because my car is going so much slower than everyone else. Without the ability to set a maximum speed offset, I am stuck going whatever speed the broken detection system thinks is right. If I switch to Standard, Hurry or Mad Max to try to keep up with traffic, sometimes the car goes way too fast for the actual conditions or blows through school zones and residential areas at unsafe speeds. I cannot fine-tune the speed anymore to drive safely with the flow of traffic. I am forced to either be a rolling roadblock and risk getting hit from behind, or use an aggressive profile that might go dangerously fast. This happens every single time I use FSD now and the combination of broken speed limit detection plus no manual offset control has created a seriously unsafe situation. I feel endangered every time I drive and I am genuinely worried about causing or being in an accident.
NHTSA ODI 11696674
Recently Tesla released it's latest version of FSD, v14.1.4. One of the key features is the revamping of the driving modes: sloth, chill, standard, and mad max. Tesla also removed the ability to manually increase or decrease the speed of the car. This is a problem. Let me illustrate it with a real-life example. Yesterday I was driving of a 40 mph road and the car correctly set the speed. I was using the standard mode so the car allowed an overage of around 10% so the actual speed was 45 mph. In our area this is typical for most drivers. As we entered a village, the posted speed limit was changed to 30 mph. The panel was perfectly visible and readable. The car did not register it and continued at 45 mph. I changed to mode to "sloth" and the car decreased its speed to 40 mph but I was still 10 mph above the legal speed limit. I came across a second 30 mph panel and again the car "ignored" it. Because I did not have the ability to manually reduce the speed of the car, I had to disengage FSD and drive the car by myself. Tesla claims FSD must be supervised. Fine. But removing the ability to manually change the speed of the car should be a requirement not a design preference.
NHTSA ODI 11695980
New update to ASDS software allows the vehicle to do 15-25+ over the speed limit and no ability to control. This is unsafe and Tesla took away the ability to control speed. Either engaged or not, this is completely unacceptable and they seem set on this being the only way to go.
NHTSA ODI 11695948
There was a sudden unintended acceleration and the brake did not work, causing a major accident. Car caught fire and door would not open. The car has completely engulfed. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. Vehicle has been inspected by insurance and police, but not by manufacturer.
NHTSA ODI 11695221
I am writing to formally report a serious malfunction involving my Tesla vehicle. On my 2024 Tesla model y.I experienced an unexpected accelerator malfunction that caused the vehicle to surge forward uncontrollably. The incident occurred at approximately As I attempted to dive in slowly, the accelerator suddenly malfunctioned and my car creeped in slowly and rapidly increased power without my intention. Despite immediate attempts to brake and regain control, the vehicle continued to accelerate and subsequently collided with a gate, resulting in significant front-end damage. I firmly believe this was due to a mechanical or electronic failure in the vehicle’s accelerator or related control systems. The malfunction posed a serious safety hazard and could have resulted in injuries, and this has affected me mentally. I am requesting a full investigation into this malfunction, including an inspection of the vehicle’s electronic logs, sensors, and accelerator system to determine the cause of this unintended acceleration. I would appreciate your prompt response and guidance on the next steps to resolve this matter, including vehicle inspection, repair, and coverage options.
NHTSA ODI 11694996
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