Diagsheet

2026 Tesla Model Y · symptom sheet

Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)

  • 29owner reports
  • 8involved a crash

Newest report Aug 23, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

128 of the 343 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 29 of those describe phantom braking. Only driver assist is reported more often on this car.

Tick what matches of 29 reports

2
7
11
4
3

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the software (8 reports) and the radar or camera sensor (7 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on collision avoidance covers the 2026 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Model Y

DP23-002opened Jun 29, 2023
Speed control · model years 2019 to 2023

Sudden unintended acceleration. Open.

NHTSA summary
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by ODI in DP20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the DP20-001 denial. The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number: 11528471.
PE22-002opened Feb 16, 2022
Collision avoidance · model years 2021 to 2024

Unexpected brake activation. Closed jun 29, 2026.

NHTSA summary
On February 16, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22002) to investigate reports of unexpected deceleration while driving with the adaptive cruise control system engaged in Model Year (MY) 2021 – 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla. The subject systems include Autopilot (all versions), Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Traffic Aware Cruise Control (TACC). These complaints have been colloquially referred to as “phantom braking”. ODI opened PE22002 to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to assess any resulting safety issues in the subject vehicles. The alleged defect is an unexpected and unrequested vehicle deceleration triggered by the subject system during subject system engagement. The alleged defect does not occur when the subject system is not in use and is separate and distinct from Automated Emergency Braking (AEB). During vehicle operation, AEB is actively monitoring in the subject vehicles regardless of subject system and its intervention is accompanied by audible and visual collision warnings. A Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ) trend originating in November 2021 prompted ODI to open PE22002. VOQ narratives reported unexpected brake activation while using TACC, Autopilot or FSD. The trend grew from 99 by the end of 2021 to 314 by February 16, 2022, when PE22002 was opened. ODI sent Information Request (IR) Letters to Tesla on May 4, 2022, and July 11, 2024, to request salien

None of these investigations covers the 2026 model year.

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

1325
1626

What owners wrote

“While returning the Tesla during a demo drive, the car suddenly braked extremely hard in the middle of the road for no reason. It was bright and sunny, and we were coming up to a green light. It caused me to slam my head back into the seat. There was seemingly no reason for the emergency braking, and if someone were behind me, it would have caused a collision.”

Filed Aug 9, 2026

“I was using the full self driving feature of the vehicle. At an unusual intersection, there was a flashing do not turn right light because of a train. The car turned right ignoring the do not turn sign And headed for the railroad tracks. I had to slam on the brakes because the car was not going to stop. If a driver is not paying attention they will die. I have video of the whole thing.”

Filed Oct 11, 2025

“We just took delivery of our 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper yesterday. Today, my wife was driving to work at around 40 mph when the car suddenly performed a hard brake (phantom braking), coming to a complete stop for no apparent reason. The driver behind her nearly rear-ended her. Importantly, she was not using Autopilot or Full Self-Driving at the time of the incident.”

Filed Jun 27, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 8 of 29 reports involved a crash and 5 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.

Other problems on this car