2023 Tesla Model Y · symptom sheet
Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves
- 259owner reports
- 5,000median miles
- 10involved a crash
Newest report Sep 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
572 of the 1,166 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 259 of those describe driver assist, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2023 Model Y.
Tick what matches of 259 reports
Driver assist 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
These reports come from drivers whose assistance systems did something they didn't ask for. Adaptive cruise switches itself off, or brakes for a car that isn't there. Lane keeping tugs the wheel toward the line, or a "sensor blocked" message appears on a clear day. Because both systems can brake or steer, owners tend to file them as safety complaints, and NHTSA files them under speed control, lane departure or forward collision.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (43 reports), the camera (23 reports) and the radar (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on collision avoidance covers the 2023 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The forward-facing camera may be misaligned, causing some of the active safety features such as emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist to become unavailable without alerting the driver.
All 17 recalls on the 2023 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.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,000 and 22,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Car braked aggressively and unexpectedly on highway in full traffic with autopilot (lane keeping cruise control) for no reason. Car in front was over 10 car lengths away and not slowing. Almost caused collision with car behind me but I took control immediately and hit accelerator. Night time driving - approximately 530pm on route 64/1 headed west in Raleigh nc. My car is âvision onlyâ. Extremely unsafe.”
Filed Feb 12, 2023
“When driving in Traffic aware cruise control in Highway where the speed was around 70 mph, vehicles system auto applied brake and significantly slowed down speed for a few seconds. Had there been a vehicle following us closely, there would have been an accident. There were no close objects or vehicle in front while this incident happened.”
Filed Feb 11, 2023
“When returning from the holidays during the last week of December I was using the Tesla AutoPilot for it's cruise control on the open highway. I experienced the "Phantom Braking" twice during the three and a half hour trip. I reached out to Tesla but only received a canned response explaining how AutoPilot is engaged and disengaged.”
Filed Jan 23, 2023
“While using âAutopilotâ and âTraffic Aware Cruise Controlâ the vehicle will heavily apply the brakes when there are no forward obstructions or incidents. This causes issues for vehicles behind me and is very unsettling, as there never appears to be a reason for the dramatic reduction in speed.”
Filed Jan 11, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 10 of 259 reports involved a crash and 4 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
- Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) 229 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 154 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 126 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 106 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 92 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 77 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 58 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 45 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 42 reports
- Full Self-Driving (FSD) does something unsafe 41 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 40 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 32 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 27 reports