2021 Tesla Model Y · symptom sheet
Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)
- 330owner reports
- 5,000median miles
- $2,497median quote
- 7involved a crash
Newest report Sep 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
654 of the 1,079 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 330 of those describe phantom braking. Only driver assist is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 330 reports
Phantom braking on other Model Y years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2025.
What this problem usually is
Phantom braking is a car that brakes hard on its own, often at highway speed, with nothing in the road ahead. About one owner in five mentions a near miss with the car behind.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (48 reports), the radar or camera sensor (35 reports) and the windshield (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
4 recalls on collision avoidance cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds.
The fisheye and narrow camera cable terminals were incorrectly installed in the cable harness connector, resulting in swapped camera views.
A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
All 23 recalls on the 2021 Tesla Model Y, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Model Y
Sudden unintended acceleration. Open.
Unexpected brake activation. Closed jun 29, 2026.
What owners paid
5 of the 330 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,600 to $2,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 1,500 and 18,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“75 MPH on interstate with FSD 10.9. 6 separate phantom braking events over 350 miles. Very dangerous in traffic.”
Filed Jan 22, 2022
“When using cruise control or autopilot the vehicle will suddenly slam on the brake which almost caused an accident on multiple occasions. The lack of lasers has caused the cruise control and autopilot to become very dangerous to myself and others in road as the phantom braking it does for no reason is very powerful.”
Filed Jan 21, 2022
“Vehicle constantly experience phantom braking. Will randomly brake for shadows, vehicles in the opposing lane, and when it feels like it. Chance for rear collision is higher due to autopilot.”
Filed Jan 20, 2022
“Every time I drive on a two lane undivided highway with traffic aware cruise control or AutoPilot engaged, the car will slam on its brakes when a large vehicle is passing in the oncoming lane, even if the passing vehicle is safely passing. Phantom braking with vision only.”
Filed Dec 6, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 7 of 330 reports involved a crash and 3 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 363 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 181 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 104 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 103 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 75 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 52 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 43 reports
- Full Self-Driving (FSD) does something unsafe 35 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 30 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 26 reports