2021 Tesla MODEL Y
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2021 Tesla MODEL Y has 1934 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 24.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is speed control problems (29% of all complaints), specifically: this is the 2nd tesla my mom owned, she drove a model 3 without any problems for many months. she picks up this model y on november 19 2020, and drives home from the dealer without issues. next day november 20, 2020, drives to her work, pulls into a parking spot and came to a complete stop. approx 5. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.
1934
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
24.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
SPEED CONTROL
562 complaints- • THIS IS THE 2ND TESLA MY MOM OWNED, SHE DROVE A MODEL 3 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR MANY MONTHS. SHE PICKS UP THIS MODEL Y ON NOVEMBER 19 2020, AND DRIVES HOME FROM THE DEALER WITHOUT ISSUES. NEXT DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020, DRIVES TO HER WORK, PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. APPROX 5
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TESLA MODEL Y. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A VERY SLOW SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE IN A STORE PARKING LOT AND THE VEHICLES SPEED HAD INCR
- • VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN RIGHT TURN WHEN IT WAS ON AUTO PILOT AND BECAUSE OF THAT THERE ARE MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGES TO WHEEL AND TIRE. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T ACCEPT ANY FAULT WHEN IT WAS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF SUDDEN TURN.
“THIS IS THE 2ND TESLA MY MOM OWNED, SHE DROVE A MODEL 3 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR MANY MONTHS. SHE PICKS UP THIS MODEL Y ON NOVEMBER 19 2020, AND DRIVES HOME FROM THE DEALER WITHOUT ISSUES. NEXT DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020, DRIVES TO HER WORK, PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. APPROX 5”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
539 complaints- • THIS IS THE 2ND TESLA MY MOM OWNED, SHE DROVE A MODEL 3 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR MANY MONTHS. SHE PICKS UP THIS MODEL Y ON NOVEMBER 19 2020, AND DRIVES HOME FROM THE DEALER WITHOUT ISSUES. NEXT DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020, DRIVES TO HER WORK, PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. APPROX 5
- • 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
- • 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
“THIS IS THE 2ND TESLA MY MOM OWNED, SHE DROVE A MODEL 3 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR MANY MONTHS. SHE PICKS UP THIS MODEL Y ON NOVEMBER 19 2020, AND DRIVES HOME FROM THE DEALER WITHOUT ISSUES. NEXT DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020, DRIVES TO HER WORK, PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. APPROX 5”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
182 complaints- • WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 15MPH, THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING SYSTEM IS ENGAGED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THE TIRES BREAK TRACTION WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE LIKE SNOW OR ICE. THE CAR THEN GOES OUT OF CONTROL AND SLIDES IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. THE CAR HAS VARIOUS SETT
- • WENT TO STOP ON BELLFLOWER AVE IN LONG BEACH AROUND 8 AM 2/11/21 TO TURN IN TO THE LONG BEACH VA AND HAD LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE. BASICALLY STOPPED FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING. HAD TO PUSH BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO ENGAGE AT ALL. THANKFULLY DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. TESLA FOUND AN INTERNAL FAILURE O
- • TODAY, MAR. 22, 2021, IN MY BRAND NEW 2021 TESLA MODEL Y, WHICH I HAVE NOW OWNED FOR ONE MONTH, I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT AT A FAIRLY LARGE INTERSECTION ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ANNAPOLIS, MD. I HAD MY FOOT RESTING ON THE FLOOR AS THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND IN HOLD MODE. SUDDENLY, WITH THE LIGHT STILL
“WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 15MPH, THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING SYSTEM IS ENGAGED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THE TIRES BREAK TRACTION WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE LIKE SNOW OR ICE. THE CAR THEN GOES OUT OF CONTROL AND SLIDES IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. THE CAR HAS VARIOUS SETT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
137 complaints- • 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
- • HEAT DOESN'T WORK ON NEW MODEL YS. FOR COLD CLIMATES THIS SHOULD BE A HUGE ISSUE. CANNOT DEFROST WINDOWS. CAN'T GET THE CABIN HEAT ON COULD RESULT IN HYPOTHERMIA IF TIRE GOES FLAT. THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE, APPARENTLY FAULTY SENSORS, AND THEY'RE STILL PRODUCING WITH KNOWN PROBLEM.
- • WE PICKED UP OUT NEW MODEL Y ON 2/13/2021 FROM MINNEAPOLIS, DUE TO LIVING IN IOWA AND THAT BEING THE CLOSEST STORE. AFTER LEAVING MINNEAPOLIS, THE INTERIOR HEAT QUIT WORKING. WE MESSED WITH THE CONTROLS ALL WE COULD AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE NEGATIVE TEENS. AT
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
135 complaints- • MY CAR'S INTERIOR HEATING STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING FROM KADOKA, SD TO BIG SKY, MT ON A ROAD TRIP. AS TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE WERE SUBZERO, INTERIOR WINDOWS FROSTED OVER, PREVENTING VISIBILITY AND CABIN TEMP FELL TO ZERO. MY WIFE AND I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE TO NEAREST HOTEL IN GILLETTE, WY TO
- • THE CABIN HEATER DOES NOT WORK IN COLD TEMPERATURES
- • WE PICKED UP OUT NEW MODEL Y ON 2/13/2021 FROM MINNEAPOLIS, DUE TO LIVING IN IOWA AND THAT BEING THE CLOSEST STORE. AFTER LEAVING MINNEAPOLIS, THE INTERIOR HEAT QUIT WORKING. WE MESSED WITH THE CONTROLS ALL WE COULD AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE EXTERIOR TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE NEGATIVE TEENS. AT
“MY CAR'S INTERIOR HEATING STOPPED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING FROM KADOKA, SD TO BIG SKY, MT ON A ROAD TRIP. AS TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE WERE SUBZERO, INTERIOR WINDOWS FROSTED OVER, PREVENTING VISIBILITY AND CABIN TEMP FELL TO ZERO. MY WIFE AND I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE TO NEAREST HOTEL IN GILLETTE, WY TO”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 1934 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: THIS IS THE 2ND TESLA MY MOM OWNED, SHE DROVE A MODEL 3 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR MANY MONTHS. SHE PICKS UP THIS MODEL Y ON NOVEMBER 19 2020, AND DRIVES HOME FROM THE DEALER WITHOUT ISSUES. NEXT DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020, DRIVES TO HER WORK, PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. APPROX 5
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: THIS IS THE 2ND TESLA MY MOM OWNED, SHE DROVE A MODEL 3 WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS FOR MANY MONTHS. SHE PICKS UP THIS MODEL Y ON NOVEMBER 19 2020, AND DRIVES HOME FROM THE DEALER WITHOUT ISSUES. NEXT DAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020, DRIVES TO HER WORK, PULLS INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. APPROX 5
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 15MPH, THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING SYSTEM IS ENGAGED TO SUCH A DEGREE THAT THE TIRES BREAK TRACTION WHEN DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACE LIKE SNOW OR ICE. THE CAR THEN GOES OUT OF CONTROL AND SLIDES IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER. THE CAR HAS VARIOUS SETT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Tesla MODEL Y — Year Comparison
How does 2021 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 1934
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 8
- Crash reports
- 149
- Injury reports
- 47
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2021 Tesla MODEL Y