Tesla
Tesla Model Y years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2023. Best years: 2020 and 2024.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y draws the most owner complaints for its age: 1,166, or 292 for each year on the road, against a median of 173 a year across the 5 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2023 is driver assist (259 reports).
- 4,198complaints
- 43recall campaigns
- 7model years with a page
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2023
Most reported: driver assist (259 reports, median 5,000 miles) and phantom braking (229 reports, median 4,000 miles).
Best years
2020
Most reported: driver assist (51 reports, median 3,500 miles) and phantom braking (47 reports).
2024
Most reported: infotainment (96 reports, median 1,500 miles) and driver assist (62 reports, median 1,400 miles).
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025 and 2026.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2023 has the most complaints of any Tesla Model Y year here: 1,166 of 4,198 (28%).
- Problem across the years
- The top problem changes over time: driver assist from 2020 to 2023; infotainment from 2024 to 2025; FSD problems in 2026. Pooled across the years, half of the 95 owners who gave a mileage for driver assist were under about 4,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 15% of Tesla Model Y complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2025, 34 of its 101 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- None of the 7 model years where owners report driver assist has a recall on the same system.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2022 at 982 and have dropped every year since, to 620 in 2025. So far in 2026, 773 more have come in.
Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
_front_view_NHTSA.jpg){kind=link}
First generation
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 best | 280 | 40 | 24 | Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves (51) | 10,000 |
| 2021 | 1,079 | 180 | 23 | Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves (363) | 25,000 |
| 2022 | 865 | 173 | 20 | Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves (265) | 13,488 |
| 2023 avoid | 1,166 | 292 | 17 | Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves (259) | 14,300 |
| 2024 best | 325 | 108 | 5 | Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (96) | 8,790 |
Photo: HJUdall, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Year by year
2026 Tesla Model Y
382 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: FSD problems (101 reports), driver assist (34 reports) and false collision warning (34 reports). 79 reports involved a crash and 31 people were hurt. 8 recalls, including 26V-558 on the suspension system and 26V-445 on the structure.
2025 Tesla Model Y
101 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: infotainment (26 reports), FSD problems (22 reports) and brake wear (15 reports). 31 reports involved a crash and 13 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-002 on the backup camera and 26V-315 on the equipment.
2024 Tesla Model Y best
325 owner complaints, 108 for each year on the road (0.6 times the model median). Most reported: infotainment (96 reports, median 1,500 miles), driver assist (62 reports, median 1,400 miles) and false collision warning (37 reports). 72 reports involved a crash and 58 people were hurt. 5 recalls, including 25V-002 on the backup camera and 24V-051 on the electrical system.
2023 Tesla Model Y avoid
1,166 owner complaints, 292 for each year on the road (1.7 times the model median). Most reported: driver assist (259 reports, median 5,000 miles), phantom braking (229 reports, median 4,000 miles) and brake wear (154 reports, median 8,613 miles). 152 reports involved a crash and 87 people were hurt. 17 recalls, including 23V-489 on collision avoidance and 26V-507 on the exterior lighting.
2022 Tesla Model Y
865 owner complaints, 173 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: driver assist (265 reports, median 3,700 miles), phantom braking (254 reports, median 5,000 miles) and brake wear (132 reports, median 10,444 miles). 90 reports involved a crash and 152 people were hurt. 20 recalls, including 24V-153 on collision avoidance and 26V-507 on the exterior lighting.
2021 Tesla Model Y
1,079 owner complaints, 180 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: driver assist (363 reports, median 10,000 miles), phantom braking (330 reports, median 5,000 miles) and brake wear (181 reports, median 5,436 miles). 87 reports involved a crash and 25 people were hurt. 23 recalls, including 24V-153 on collision avoidance and 22V-317 on collision avoidance.
2020 Tesla Model Y best
280 owner complaints, 40 for each year on the road (0.2 times the model median). Most reported: driver assist (51 reports, median 3,500 miles), phantom braking (47 reports) and brake wear (36 reports). 47 reports involved a crash and 25 people were hurt. 24 recalls, including 24V-153 on collision avoidance and 21V-846 on collision avoidance.
Recalls that cover several model years
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure.
An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights.
The hood latch assembly may fail to detect an unlatched hood condition after the hood has been opened.
The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The headlight low beams may be too bright and exceed the maximum light output.
In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended.
Compare the Model Y with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- Model Y vs Tesla Model 32020 to 2026
- Model Y vs Tesla Model X2020 to 2023
- Model Y vs Hyundai Ioniq 52022 to 2026
- Model Y vs Ford Mustang Mach-E2021 to 2023
- Model Y vs Volkswagen ID.42021 to 2023
Questions
What Tesla Model Y years should you avoid?
The 2023 Tesla Model Y draws the most owner complaints for its age: 1,166, or 292 for each year on the road, against a median of 173 a year across the 5 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2023 is driver assist (259 reports).
What are the best years for the Tesla Model Y?
The 2020 and 2024 draw the fewest complaints for their age: 2020 has 280 (40 a year) and 2024 has 325 (108 a year).
What is the most common problem on the Tesla Model Y?
Driver assist, with 1,047 reports across the 7 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
How many recalls does the Tesla Model Y have?
43 recall campaigns cover the Tesla Model Y model years 2020 to 2026 on this site. The widest, 24V-935 on the tires, covers 6 model years.
How many Tesla Model Y complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
15% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2025 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for driver assist on the Tesla Model Y?
No. None of the 7 model years where owners report it has one on the same system.