What 86 owners told NHTSA about the 2025 Tesla Model Y

am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2025 Tesla Model Y, VIN [XXX] . On [XXX], the vehicle was being driven on [XXX] in Columbus, Ohio while the driver was traveling to Columbus Preparatory Academy. During the trip, the steering reportedly stopped responding properly, and the driver struggled to control the vehicle. Witnesses at the scene reported that the driver appeared to be fighting with the steering and trying to stop the vehicle or prevent it from drifting. The vehicle then lost control, accelerated or continued moving uncontrollably, flipped/rolled over, and sustained major damage. A police report was created by the Columbus Police Department under report number [XXX]. The vehicle involved is a 2025 Tesla Model Y. This was a serious crash involving a possible steering malfunction, loss of control, and rollover. The vehicle is currently located at Pro-Cars, 400 Stimmel Rd, Columbus, OH 43223. Tesla was contacted after the incident, and the representative advised that the vehicle should be taken to a collision center. I am filing this complaint because the incident appears to involve a potential safety defect affecting steering control and vehicle control. I request that NHTSA review this matter as a possible vehicle safety defect. The vehicle has not yet been repaired, and I am attempting to preserve it for inspection. I have supporting materials including the police report, photos/videos, witness information if needed, towing/storage documentation, and communications regarding the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11741715

I am reporting a safety incident involving my 2025 Tesla Model Y and Full Self-Driving. While driving with Full Self-Driving engaged… latest update, the vehicle steered into an express-lane barrier/bar structure. The impact caused severe windshield damage and apparent body damage near the passenger-side A-pillar / windshield frame / roof rail area. The windshield is heavily cracked across the driver’s side and center area, and the vehicle is not safe to drive. I was able to get home safely and filed an insurance claim. I preserved TeslaCam footage and photos of the damage. The in-vehicle Tesla playback shows Full Self-Driving engaged during the incident. I also copied the TeslaCam files from the vehicle’s USB drive. The exported video file does not appear to show the same Full Self-Driving overlay that appears in the in-vehicle playback. I am reporting this as a potential safety issue involving Tesla Full Self-Driving steering behavior and impact with a fixed roadway/express-lane structure. No injuries occurred, but the vehicle sustained significant windshield damage and possible body/frame-area damage.

NHTSA ODI 11741689

MY FINGER WAS AMPUTATED BY THE DOOR.

NHTSA ODI 11738365

Using Tesla FSD (full self-driving supervised) I drove home, approximately 120 miles, from a family visit. From previous experience with Tesla FSD, I knew that the navigation system would navigate into the incorrect of 2 driveways (left, instead of the correct driveway, right) leading to my parking space. Therefore, upon arriving at the building address I endeavored to take over full control by tapping break and manually turning to the right driveway, whereupon the steering wheel locked up completely and the car lurched forward crashing through the security gate and into a parked car directly in line with how the locked steering directed it. To the best of my knowledge, the car was removed to a salvage location where it was considered a total loss.

NHTSA ODI 11736264

I was at full stop on [XXX] facing [XXX] at a red traffic signal at intersection. Then while still at light which was red the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated toward [XXX] on its even with feet on brake, I attempted to maneuver to avoid colliding with vehicles traveling on [XXX] , then made a sharp right turn on sidewalk of [XXX] drove striking a "Bee Line Bus" sign located in front of [XXX] . I was able to maneuver not hitting any pedestrians and crashing vehicle out a brush on sidewalk without putting passengers/family in car at risk of injury INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11729802

Car was in FSD mode, backing out of a parking place very slowly when it accelerated and crashed into a post and wall. No other cars or people were involved, but no alarms, beeps, or warnings were sounded and the screen/monitor/camera systems went blank simultaneously. This caused over $5000 worth of damage per the estimate provided by the only body shop in the area allowed to fix Teslas. There is also a gap in saved data per our retrieval from the USB and camera installed in the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11729393

Full self driving (supervised) was active and functioning properly on interstate 70. The self-driving feature decided to move one lane over to the furthermost lane to the left. That lane was half covered with snow. The speed was approximately 65MPH When the front left wheel hit the snow the the car swerved to the right and hit the snow bank against the rail. I immediately steered to the right and could limit the damage Damage was not severe and I could drive the car to destination

NHTSA ODI 11725762

On January 28, 2026, the vehicle (a Tesla Model Y) was operating with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system actively engaged in normal highway traffic conditions. Without any prior warning messages, chimes, or system alerts, the FSD system abruptly disengaged approximately 1 second before the vehicle steered into a concrete road divider. Component failed: The Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and underlying perception/control systems failed to maintain the lane and abruptly handed over control with insufficient time to react. The vehicle and its data are available for inspection. Safety risk: The sudden, sub-second disengagement provided the driver with zero time to react, take manual control, or perform an evasive maneuver. This system failure directly resulted in a high-speed collision with a road divider, causing significant vehicle damage and physical injuries to the driver that required medical treatment. Inspection/Confirmation: The vehicle is currently subject to an open insurance claim and has been evaluated for repair. Warnings: There were no warning lamps, messages, or requests for the driver to take over prior to the immediate 1-second window before the crash. Evidence: I have downloaded and preserved the complete Event Data Record (EDR) and the multi-angle dashcam video files. The EDR data mathematically documents the sub-second disengagement, and the video files confirm normal traffic flow with no external hazards forcing the collision. I can provide the EDR PDF and video files to NHTSA investigators immediately upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11718949

On February 11, 2026, the 2025 Tesla Model Y "Vision AutoPark" system initiated an uncommanded high-speed reverse acceleration into a stationary yellow concrete bollard in a parking lot. The vehicle's vision-only parking assist hardware failed to detect a clearly visible, fixed obstruction and displayed a clear path on the system interface immediately before impact. No warning lamps, chimes, messages, or other alerts preceded the failure. The system provided zero indication of the imminent collision. The vehicle closed the distance to the bollard in under one second, exceeding human reaction time and making manual braking intervention impossible before impact. This failure mode — autonomous acceleration toward a stationary object without detection or warning — creates a severe crush hazard for pedestrians and property. The vehicle and its onboard data logs are available for inspection upon request. High-definition video evidence of the failure has been preserved showing the system ignoring the visible obstacle. The problem has not been confirmed by a dealer. The manufacturer's service center refused to inspect the vehicle or review data logs on the date of the incident despite an immediate in-person request. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by insurance, police, or the manufacturer. The failed component is the Tesla Vision-only AutoPark system, including its camera-based object detection and autonomous vehicle control software.

NHTSA ODI 11717443

On January 17, 2026 the vehicle self-accelerated when put in reverse and crashed into a parked truck. This was the second time this occurred. The prior incident occurred on November 29, 2025 when backing out of the garage at our home. The new incident occurred the FIRST time we put the car in reverse after receiving it back after repair from the prior accident (we received it on January 15. 2026 and this was the first time we drove it since then). We had driven the car forward with the full self driving feature turned on and engaged (part of the time and part manually) without incident. However when placed in reverse with the full delf driving turned on but not enagaged the car "took off." It is only through good fortune no one was seriously injured or killed. Self acceleration in reverse only occurred after the vehicle was serviced by Tesla to repair the full self driving system which, at that time, would only engage intermittently.

NHTSA ODI 11713398

Passenger side airbag did not deploy. Emergency auto brake did not seem to work. The passenger side of the vehicle was struck by other car at high speed and sustained significant damage

NHTSA ODI 11711221

I am writing to formally report a serious safety incident involving a Tesla vehicle and to document multiple critical system failures that occurred during an accident, resulting in physical injuries to me. On the 12/24/2025, while operating Tesla under rainy conditions, I experienced a sudden and dangerous malfunction of the vehicle. During the event, the steering system became unresponsive and appeared to lock, preventing me from maintaining control of the vehicle. Simultaneously, the braking system failed to respond as expected despite my attempt to apply the brakes. These failures significantly impaired my ability to avoid or mitigate the collision. Most concerning, the vehicle’s airbag system did not deploy during the impact. Given the severity of the collision and the resulting injuries, the lack of airbag deployment represents a serious failure of a critical safety system designed to protect occupants in such events. As a direct result of this incident and the apparent malfunction of multiple safety systems, I sustained physical injuries that required medical evaluation and treatment. Beyond the physical harm, the incident caused significant emotional distress and raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the vehicle. I am submitting this complaint to formally document these safety failures and to request a thorough investigation into the performance of the steering, braking, and airbag systems involved in this incident. I believe this matter presents a significant safety concern not only for myself but also for other drivers and passengers who rely on these systems to function properly in emergency situations. Please confirm receipt of this complaint and advise me of the next steps in your investigation process. I am prepared to provide additional documentation, including medical records, photographs, vehicle data, and incident details, upon request. Thank you for your attention to this serious matter

NHTSA ODI 11707046

The contact owned a 2025 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in a school zone area, and while engaging the brake pedal, the vehicle unexpectedly lunged forward with no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after lifting their foot from the brake pedal, they heard a hissing sound and the vehicle accelerated. The contact attempted to avoid a collision by making a left turn; however, the vehicle traveled into a bushy area and rolled down a hill. The contact sustained injuries, including head, neck, and back injuries, and received medical attention at a local emergency room. The contact stated that the air bags deployed during the incident. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 7,213.

NHTSA ODI 11705090

The vehicle was in supervised full self driving on the turnpike, when all of a sudden it darted out of the lane into th grass hitting a guard rail.

NHTSA ODI 11704831

ON 11/29/2025 AT 1635 HOURS, OUR TESLA MODEL Y - AWD WAS PARKED ON OUR DRIVEWAY WITH A LESS THAN 1% INCLINE AFTER IT WAS SNOW BLOWED, CLEARED OF SNOW. THE TESLA WAS PLUGGED IN TO ITS CHARGER. THE VEHICLE THEN UNEXPECTEDLY, UNCONTROLLED BEGAN MOVING FORWARD, STRIKING THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT SHORTLY AFTER I WALKED IN FRONT OF THESE TESLA. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY INJURED MYSELF OR ONE OF MY CHILDREN. TESLA SAID CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND WAS DUE TO COLD TEMPS, SNOW AND SLIGHT GRADE OF DRIVEWAY. VIDEO IS AVAILABLE FROM SECURITY CAMERAS ON HOUSE WHICH CAN BE SUPPLIED UPON REQUEST AS YOU SYSTEM DOESN'T SUPPORT THE VIDEO UPLOAD.

NHTSA ODI 11702810

INCIDENT REPORT – TESLA Y – UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2025, APPROXIMATELY 2:40 PM On the above-referenced date and time, we were returning home with the intention of pulling the car into our garage, an activity performed over a hundred times in the one year we have owned the car. Because of the need to back in to allow the car to be charged, the following procedure is adhered to: 1.Disengage self-driving (if it was being used) in the street prior to entering the courtyard for residence. 2.Pull forward three-quarters of the way into garage (since the residence is the last on the courtyard and the car cannot be pulled beyond the garage opening to directly back in). 3.Place car in reverse and slowly perform K-turn to back into garage. On the date in question. The following anomalies occurred: 1.After placing the car in reverse (action 2), instead of starting to back out, the car lurched forward. The brake was immediately applied and the car stopped about a foot before hitting the garage wall. 2.The brake was applied again to assure self-driving was disengaged and proceed with action 3. 3.Car was placed in reverse and accelerator was lightly pressed to slowly back out of garage. Rather than slowly back out (as was done hundreds of times) the car immediately accelerated and rapidly gained speed. 4.The brake was applied to stop the car but could not overcome the acceleration (pictures of skid marks were taken). 5.In order not to directly hit the wall located across from garage, Car steering wheel was turned to minimize any direct contact ( skid marks will show turn). 6.Car came to a stop when it hit the wall causing significant damage to the car and causing damage to the wall (pictures can be forwarded).

NHTSA ODI 11702284

My vehicle experienced multiple safety system malfunctions before a minor collision occurred. While driving, the car displayed warnings indicating that traction control had been disabled, followed immediately by a warning that the automatic vehicle hold/brake hold was disabled. These failures happened before any impact. At the same time, the vehicle’s cameras were not functioning correctly, and the vehicle did not provide any forward collision warning. The automatic emergency braking system also did not activate. Because these systems failed, the vehicle did not warn, slow down, or brake to avoid a collision. After the collision, the vehicle showed several additional safety system failures. These included automatic emergency braking unavailable, and repeated safety restraint system faults affecting both the front left and front right restraint systems. The airbags did not deploy even though conditions suggested they should have, and afterwards the vehicle displayed persistent airbag and seatbelt system error icons. The restraint system appears to have gone offline. The vehicle is currently unsafe to drive due to failures in braking, traction control, perception/camera systems, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and the airbag/restraint systems. These failures occurred before the collision, contributed to the collision, and continued afterward. The manufacturer’s service center has declined to provide towing or a loaner or rental vehicle while the safety defects are being investigated, which will take about 30 days.

NHTSA ODI 11700754

Self driving was maintaining vehicle. Looked at roadway before reaching down to passengers side for water bottle. The weight shift in the seat turned the self driving off immediately while turning sharp left. The Tesla Model Y crossed the left interstate lane barely missing an 18-wheeler. Drove 80mph in the central ditch, branches, and rocks. Car was still in drive, and rolled up to roadside which was covered in dust. The two eighteen-wheelers that I cut off then Drove away, and drove tesla to next exit to see damage.(dashcam footage available.)

NHTSA ODI 11699999

On November 10, 2025 while my 2025 Tesla Model Y was being driven, in Miami, Florida, around 2:55–3:05 PM, the brakes failed completely. Despite firm brake pedal pressure, the vehicle did not slow down or stop as expected and continued forward until a collision occurred. The brake pedal felt normal with no loss of resistance, but the car did not decelerate as expected. No forward collision warning (FCW) or automatic emergency braking (AEB) activated prior to impact. There were no audible or visual alerts displayed before or during braking. After the collision, the vehicle’s screen displayed messages stating “Airbags Deployed” and “Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable. Feature may be restored on next drive.” However, the airbags did not deploy. A burst of white particulate dust, consistent with airbag propellant or deployment powder, was released inside the cabin. None of the vehicle’s cameras recorded the incident; there is no Dashcam or Sentry Mode footage from that time. At the same time, the cell phone, which was actively linked to the vehicle through Bluetooth and the Tesla app, stopped transmitting location data through the Life360 app for a few minutes. This may indicate a coinciding electrical or data interruption affecting both the vehicle and connected devices. This incident placed my families safety and that of others at serious risk. Multiple safety systems appear to have failed simultaneously, including the braking function, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, camera recording systems, and airbag deployment.

NHTSA ODI 11698816

My model Y tesla deployed the emergency brake system while I was driving the vehicle. There wasn’t any vehicle or anything in the way for my tesla to do the emergency brake. I did get whiplash from the incident and been experiencing neck and shoulder pain. Lucky I was able to get an appointment to service my Tesla the next morning but at this moment they haven’t given me any diagnostic. My Tesla did have a message related to the camera that showed up like 5-10 minutes prior to the incident but the warning message disappeared after a few seconds.

NHTSA ODI 11692470

We were T-boned in a serious accident that totaled the car, but none of the airbags deployed and the seat belts did not lock.

NHTSA ODI 11692302

Smoke began coming out of the vents while driving. Battery was at 2%. Driver pulled over, exited vehicle and within 2 minutes flames could be seen (on video) coming from the center, dash area of the vehicle. Fire developed rapidly. Lt. Copley Detroit Fire Department, Fire investigation section 313-237-0466

NHTSA ODI 11669250

Shortly after purchasing the vehicle in late 2024, I began experiencing multiple safety-related malfunctions. These issues include: Full Self-Driving (FSD) malfunction: On the third use of FSD, the vehicle attempted to enter a left-turn lane but failed to fully move into the lane, resulting in the right front panel of the vehicle colliding with the bumper of a truck in the adjacent lane. There were no warnings from the system prior to the collision. The incident occurred at low speed. The truck sustained no visible damage, and the rubber from the truck's bumper transferred to the car, which was removed by hand later. This event raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of the FSD system. No police report was filed, and the manufacturer was not present at the scene. Backup alert system failure: On several occasions while reversing, the car failed to issue audible or visual alerts despite vehicles being within 10–15 feet. In one instance, the screen finally showed a red zone when a car was within 10 feet, but still provided no audible warning. This issue has been intermittently reproducible but not consistent. It poses a significant risk to pedestrians and other drivers, particularly in low-visibility or driveway situations. Manufacturer's Response: The vehicle was inspected by Tesla. After one in-person service visit and extended discussions, Tesla service representatives stated there was “nothing more they could do” and that a buyback was the only next step. A buyback request was submitted by a Tesla representative but has not been acknowledged or resolved more than 45 days later.

NHTSA ODI 11668644

My Model Y reversed twice in a month while in 'D' drive mode. In one incident, I was pulling my car out of the parking lot in a garage and shifted the gear stalk down multiple times to engage 'D' drive mode. Instead of moving forward, the car reversed and collided with the garage wall.

NHTSA ODI 11663073

on 2/15/2025, while backing out of a driveway at about 7:30PM, the vehicle backed into a parked car directly behind it parked in street. There was no warning signal emitted that an object was behind the car. There was no safety alert on the display. Essentially the vehicle's sensors did not see the vehicle directly behind it.

NHTSA ODI 11650751