Electric cars · model years 2021 to 2023
Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Tesla Model Y: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Mustang Mach-E looks better on 6 and the Model Y on 0, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2021 to 2023 | Mustang Mach-E | Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 6.1% | 11% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.0% | 3.6% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 20,000 | 17,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 6.0 | 10.7 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 4 | 17 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Mustang Mach-E owners complain about most is electrical; for the Model Y it is collision avoidance. Complaints citing electrical make up 46% of all Mustang Mach-E complaints, against 12% on the Model Y. The Model Y leans the other way on collision avoidance: 50% of its complaints, against 25% for the Mustang Mach-E.
Ford Mustang Mach-ETesla Model Y
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Mustang Mach-E is dead battery (20% of its complaints). On the Model Y it is driver assist problems (29% of its complaints), against 16% on the Mustang Mach-E.
| Problem | Mustang Mach-E | Model Y |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 16% 99most in 2021 | 29% 887most in 2021 · 5k mi |
| Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) | 5.6% 34 | 26% 813most in 2021 · 4k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 20% 118most in 2021 · 20k mi | 9.0% 279most in 2023 · 25k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 12% 71most in 2021 · 22k mi | 15% 467most in 2021 · 8k mi |
| Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out | 16% 96most in 2021 | 8.7% 271most in 2021 |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 20% 121most in 2021 · 21k mi | 3.1% 96most in 2021 · 46k mi |
| Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power | 15% 91most in 2021 · 15k mi | 1.6% 51most in 2023 |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 12% 71most in 2021 · 24k mi | 1.8% 5728k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Model Y owners report problems earlier. Half the Model Y complaints that give a mileage come before 17,000 miles; for the Mustang Mach-E the halfway point is 20,000. 90% of Mustang Mach-E reports and 81% of Model Y reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Ford Mustang Mach-ETesla Model Y
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 99 for the Mustang Mach-E and 384 for the Model Y.
Worst and best years
The 2021 Mustang Mach-E draws 2.0 times the complaints of a typical Mustang Mach-E year for its age. The 2023 Model Y draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Model Y year for its age.
Ford Mustang Mach-ETesla Model Y
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Model Y draws more recalls: 10.7 campaigns per model year against 6.0 for the Mustang Mach-E. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
18 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (6), visibility (3) and service brakes, hydraulic (2).
- 25V-315 (backup camera) covers 3 model years
- 25V-404 (electrical) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- EA25001: Collisions involving ford bluecruise (open)
- PE24012: Collisions involving ford bluecruise (closed)
- RQ23004: High voltage battery contactor failure (closed, led to a recall)
Tesla Model Y
32 recall campaigns and 17 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (8), collision avoidance (4) and backup camera (4).
- 22V-844 (exterior lighting) covers 3 model years
- 23V-085 (steering) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE26006: Lower lateral link detachment (open)
- EA26002: Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions (open)
- PE25012: Traffic safety violations while full self driving ("fsd") is engaged (open)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Model Y complaints report a crash: 11%, against 6.1% for the Mustang Mach-E. Fire reports: 2 for the Mustang Mach-E and 18 for the Model Y. Complaints on file report 0 deaths in the Mustang Mach-E and 108 in the Model Y for these model years.
Ford Mustang Mach-ETesla Model Y
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Ford Mustang Mach-E or the Tesla Model Y more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Mustang Mach-E looks better on 6 and the Model Y on 0, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Mustang Mach-E has 604 complaints and the Model Y 3,102 for model years 2021 to 2023, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Mustang Mach-E or the Model Y?
The Mustang Mach-E has 18 recall campaigns and the Model Y 32 across model years 2021 to 2023. The Model Y draws more recalls: 10.7 campaigns per model year against 6.0 for the Mustang Mach-E.
What are the most common problems on the Mustang Mach-E and the Model Y?
The most reported problem on the Mustang Mach-E is dead battery (20% of its complaints). On the Model Y it is driver assist problems (29% of its complaints), against 16% on the Mustang Mach-E.
More comparisons
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