2023 Tesla Model Y · symptom sheet
Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out
- 92owner reports
- 24involved a crash
Newest report Sep 21, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
92 of the 1,166 complaints on this car describe false collision warning.
Tick what matches of 92 reports
False collision warning 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: 2020, 2025.
What this problem usually is
This group is about the forward collision warning itself. Owners describe alarms with nothing ahead, a forward camera that fails or reports itself blocked, and other safety features shutting off at the same moment. A lot of them happen at highway speed, and a lot end with a dealer who couldn't reproduce it.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the forward camera (14 reports), the software (11 reports) and the radar sensor (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2023 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.
What owners wrote
“Problem: unintended acceleration On 05/30/23, the Tesla Model Y was parked in a parking spot, southbound facing a building. The car suddenly began to drive forward on its own and struck the curb, an AC unit, and a business office wall. No injuries, but the driver and people in the building (a dental clinic) panicked.”
Filed Jul 30, 2023
“While driving down I-5 South between Bay Area and LA, the vehicle applied brakes and sounded a collision warning when there was no apparent vehicle/obstruction in front of the car. Tesla's Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC) was engaged at the time and the max speed was set to 75MPH. The speed reduced to ~60MPH before I intervened and pushed on the accelerator pedal.”
Filed Jul 18, 2023
“My car keeps giving false alarm which itself causes a lot of confusion and safety hazards. This incident took place on June 13, 2023 at 6:13pm on Rte 602/Reston Highway at Reston, VA. While I was driving on the right lane slowly, Tesla fired a false alarm for the car traveling in front of me, at that time my speed was about 15mph and there was plenty space between the cars. I filed bug report with the manufacturer.”
Filed Jun 14, 2023
“My car's forward collision warning system, gave another false warning: 1. May 31, 2023 at 9:04am 2. While driving on Rte. 50 at Fairfax, VA 3. I had more then enough safe distance between my car and the car in front of me The forward collision system provided sound, and visual alarms for the unwarranted situation that I described above. This cause a great deal of confusion, shock and distracted me from the road.”
Filed Jun 1, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 24 of 92 reports involved a crash and 11 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves 259 reports
- 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
- 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