Diagsheet

2020 Tesla Model Y · symptom sheet

Suspension noise, struts or alignment

  • 30owner reports
  • 6,000median miles
  • 4involved a crash

Newest report Aug 18, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

30 of the 275 complaints on this car describe suspension.

Tick what matches of 30 reports

4
1
1
1
11

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the control arm (7 reports) and the ball joint (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

3 recalls on the suspension system cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

21V-912Nov 21, 2021
Suspension

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The front and rear suspension knuckles may fracture, causing the suspension links to separate.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-004.
21V-835Oct 25, 2021
Suspension:Critical Fasteners

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Model Y and 2019-2021 Model 3 vehicles. The front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the lateral link fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-003.
20V-709Nov 17, 2020
Suspension:Front:Control Arm

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020 Model Y vehicles. The bolts connecting the front upper control arm and steering knuckle may have not been properly tightened, allowing the upper control arm to detach from the steering knuckle.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A detached upper control arm can cause the wheels to lean in or out, decreasing the driver's ability to steer and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and as necessary, tighten the bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-20-31-012.

NHTSA investigations into the suspension system on the Model Y

PE26-006opened Jul 29, 2026
Suspension · model years 2021 to 2023

Lower lateral link detachment. Open.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 156 complaints alleging a suspension failure in model year (MY) 2018-2020 Model 3 and MY 2021-2023 Model Y vehicles. The suspension failure involves the detachment of the front lower lateral link, which potentially causes a loss of vehicle directional control. In most cases, there was no advance warning or indication that the suspension failure would occur. Some cases cite noises occurring prior to failure, but note that the vehicle provides no visual warnings. Once the failure occurs, the vehicle may not be drivable, thus requiring a tow. Tesla has previously recalled vehicles for lateral link detachments through two recalls. Recall 21V-835 addressed 2,791 MY2019-2021 Tesla Model 3 vehicles due to a production issue. Recall 23V-235 addressed 422 2018-2019 Tesla Model 3 vehicles that had experienced similar failures to those recalled under 21V-835. The subject failures for this investigation exceed the scope of these recalls and do not appear to be related to the production issue that prompted those recalls. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to determine the underlying cause, scope, and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 1,000 and 15,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.

920
321
222
423
624
325
326

What owners wrote

“While my wife was driving on a flat straight road, she heard a loud bang noise from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle made a loud grinding noise. Upon inspection, it was found the bolt securing the front right damper to the suspension had snapped and come loose. The nut fastening the bolt was lost on the roadside.”

Filed Aug 18, 2026

“Steering became difficult to turn to the right with the wheel sticking to the right when trying to turn or drive the vehicle. Tesla claims we had some kind of a large impact. Maybe a pothole. Tesla claims well this is a heavy vehicle. Out of no where we had to replace the entire steering rack. I've never had to replace an entire steering rack for a pothole. Seems ridiculous.”

Filed May 13, 2025

“Front suspension issues with lots of creaking and noise when accelerating and decelerating as well as turning. Tesla had previously greased my upper control arms but this issue is now back, worse than ever”

Filed May 11, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 4 of 30 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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