2026 Tesla Model Y Electrical System Problems

Upon delivery of the vehicle the passenger door would not open from the outside. Multiple vehicle settings were reviewed, and a repair was scheduled to fix the issue.

On March 23, 2026, my vehicle experienced a sudden and simultaneous failure of multiple critical safety systems without any prior warning. The alerts displayed included: Automatic Emergency Braking unavailable, traction control disabled, stability control disabled, and additional driver-assistance features becoming unavailable. This incident created a serious safety hazard, as the loss of these systems significantly reduces vehicle stability and braking assistance, increasing the risk of loss of control, especially at highway speeds or in adverse weather conditions. In addition, the front-facing camera exhibits fogging and reduced visibility during cloudy and rainy conditions, which further impacts the reliability of safety and driver-assistance systems. Based on my research, similar issues have been reported by other Tesla owners, suggesting this may not be an isolated incident but a potential pattern defect. I am concerned about the safety of operating this vehicle and request that this matter be investigated for potential defects affecting critical safety systems.

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the model year was advertised with a front trunk emergency release and interior lighting. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not designed with the front trunk emergency release or interior lighting, which the contact considered a safety issue and a violation of FMVSS No. 401. The Tesla Service Center was contacted and confirmed that the model year and other vehicles were no longer designed with the missing parts. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 570.

I am submitting this complaint to report a safety concern involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. On [XXX], while my vehicle was operating under FSD in Las vegas NV, the vehicle was positioned in a clearly marked left-turn-only lane. The roadway had visible pavement arrows indicating a required left turn. Despite these clear lane-direction markings, the FSD system proceeded straight instead of turning left. The maneuver occurred abruptly. I did not receive a clear or timely takeover warning prior to the deviation. The transition from a left-turn lane into a straight path happened quickly, leaving extremely limited reaction time (estimated less than one second). As a result of the system’s unexpected behavior, a collision occurred with another vehicle traveling straight. At the time of the incident: Weather conditions were clear. Road markings were visible. There were no obstructions blocking lane markings. I was attentive and looking at the road. The police report assigned fault to me as the driver; however, the vehicle was actively operating under Tesla’s FSD system when it disregarded the clearly marked left-turn-only lane. I am concerned that this behavior represents a potential safety defect involving: Lane interpretation errors Failure to follow traffic control markings Insufficient takeover warning timing If this issue is systemic, it may pose a broader safety risk to other road users. I respectfully request that NHTSA review this matter as a potential safety defect related to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 59 MPH with the Autonomous Self Driving feature activated and attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate or signal while making the turn. The contact manually made the turn and then continued driving and reengaged the Autonomous Self Driving feature. The failure had occurred twice on the same day. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure through the Mobile App. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,500.

The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. While reversing out of a parking spot using the Full Self-Driving feature, the system turned the wheel and maneuvered the vehicle into a pole, striking the left side of the front bumper. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,803.

URGENT SAFETY DEFECT – CHILD INJURY 2026 Model Y, rear right window. While a child was entering the vehicle and the door was closing, the power window trapped the child’s fingers. Pinch protection failed to reverse. The vehicle locked and the windows closed while the child’s fingers were trapped. Injury occurred. Request immediate safety investigation, preservation of vehicle logs, and written findings. Vehicle must not be altered prior to inspection.

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH with the ADAS Autonomous Self Driving Mode activated and the TESLA Navigator set to operate lane changes, the vehicle attempted to enter the EZ-PASS lanes while the gates were down, and the contact had to take corrective action. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to yield to the gates being down. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that an unknown software update had been performed on December 31, 2025, and might have caused the failure. The failure mileage was 5,900. The VIN was not available.

Tesla decided to remove the safety unlock illuminated button from its front trunk (frunk) sometime in mid 2025. This can be a safety issue which was present in earlier models and against the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 401, mandating an interior release mechanism for enclosed trunks to prevent entrapment. I contacted Tesla and they told me that my vehicle was made after Tesla decided to remove this safety feature.

Tesla removed the lighted emergency frunk (front trunk) release button and its wiring from this vehicle and other similar newer builds. The elimination of this key safety feature is a clear violation of the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 401 for Interior Trunk Release; requiring all new passenger cars with trunk compartments (rear and front) to have a way for someone trapped inside to escape. There is currently no method to open a latched front trunk cover from inside this new vehicle.

In my 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range, there is no emergency release in the frunk (front trunk). I do believe there is a law that requires this. What if the unthinkable happens and someone gets stuck inside of it? I have seen others post about not having it as well, so it is definitely not limited to a small number of vehicles. I do not even see the harness for the emergency release inside of the panel. This is a huge safety issue.

Full self driving disengage with no warning and won’t start up again. Unsafe.

The contact owned a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 55 MPH, the vehicle made a left turn independently onto oncoming traffic while on autopilot, causing her to collide with another vehicle, and the vehicle caught fire during the incident. The contact stated that air bags deployed. The contact stated his wife sustained major injuries to the spine and spleen, causing her to have surgery, a right shoulder fracture, and multiple fractures to the right side of her face, a concussion to the head, right eye laceration, and both arms, a fractured nose. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed to Owens Body Shop. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire on the scene. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact mentioned the seat belt had retracted during the impact. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed the contact about a USB drive in the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown.

Vehicle Information: 2026 Tesla Model Y Mileage: ~2,700 miles Purchased: July 2025 Complaint Description: I purchased a brand new 2026 Tesla Model Y in July 2025. At only 6 miles, the car already had an antenna issue that required a week in service. Now, at just 2,700 miles, the air conditioning has completely failed — no airflow at all. This failure occurred suddenly and without warning. The Tesla Tampa Service Center offered no immediate assistance, only an appointment in 4 days, with no loaner or alternative support. This situation creates a serious safety hazard, especially in Florida where summer temperatures routinely exceed 95°F. Driving or sitting in a vehicle without functional air conditioning in such heat places both the driver and passengers at risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration, or heat stroke, particularly for children. It is unacceptable for a brand-new vehicle at this price point to experience such a critical failure so early. The lack of timely support from Tesla’s service department further compounds the danger. Safety Concern: Loss of air conditioning in high-heat environments like Florida represents a direct safety risk to occupants and should be investigated as a potential defect. Desired Outcome: I request that NHTSA investigate whether similar failures are occurring in other Tesla Model Y vehicles and determine if this is a wider defect that warrants corrective action or a recall.

The contact owns a 2026 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in Autopilot Mode, the vehicle misread nearby road signs. The contact stated that a road sign in Illinois marked 83 and 60 was misread by the software (V12 2025.22.6E575ED98D527), while in Autopilot, with 60 being the Speed Limit, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated or decelerated to 60 MPH. While driving on a road with a slight ramp with the Speed Limit of 40 MPH or 45 MPH, once the vehicle was on the ramp, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to approximately 50 - 55 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated during the failures. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 40 - 45 MPH while driving on other roadways. The vehicle failed to maintain the desired speed during each failure without a warning light being illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 400.

Bought a brand new Model Y and I less than a week I received the below two error message warnings and the airbag light comes on. Cabin occupancy radar obstructed. Front passenger safety restraint system issue. Also to engage the FSD, I have to double tab 2-3 times in order for it to engage.

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The fan-driven cabin temperature sensor located behind the small service panel beneath the center touchscreen produces a persistent tonal hum/buzz. The vehicle and component are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The tonal noise is prominent in Tesla’s otherwise quiet cabin, especially at rest and at low speeds. It is distracting and draws attention toward the center dash area while driving, which can reduce situational awareness and contribute to fatigue on longer trips. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by Tesla service as abnormal; replacement performed, but issue still persists. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Inspected by Tesla service on Aug 5 Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps/messages. Symptom is an audible tonal hum/buzz from the panel below the screen with HVAC off. In a closed garage with HVAC off and the vehicle otherwise quiet, there is a steady tonal hum/buzz localized to the small service panel beneath the center screen.

I leased this brand new but demo car with 1850 miles, 2 months old from Tesla Seattle. This is a brand new total redesign-2026 Model Y. I was assured that they do multiple point testing before delivery and I had to trust their process. Unlike any other car dealers, I was NOT allowed to test drive this car before I sign the lease. The car was not in great condition (in addition to the expected wear and tear as a demo car). a) It's charged to only 60% battery rather than the full 80%. b) The stains all over suggest that apparently no one did any finish work as expected. I have pic proofs available upon request. The delivery manager Jill manually wiped off some stains when I pointed them out. c) There was a dent of 2-3 inches on the hood which indicates a possible past accident. After driving the car home, SERIOUS ISSUES were identified (because no test drive was allowed before I take the lease of the car). 1) The driver's car seatbelt does NOT LOCK upon a sudden pull, mimicking the situation in a crash. THIS IS A COMPLETELY RECALL ISSUE AS IT COULD CAUSE PPL TO DIE, AND MYSELF AS A MOM OF A SMALL CHILD INCLUDED. It locks about 3 out of 10 times. My previous cars- Mercedes, Toyota, Hyundai and BMW all lock on EACH sudden pull! 2) The passenger seatbelt has the same problem. 3) The backseat seatbelts are much better, and locks much more often than driver's and passenger's. It locks about 8 out of 10 times. I went to Tesla Lynnwood WA on Jun 6 and the service manager Cayla and tech said there is no issues despite that MY seatbelt performs so much worse than (1) other two 2026 Model Y, one of which is a newer demo (2) older Model Y, 2025 and prior, locks on EACH sudden pull as well! (3) ALL 3 new 2026 model Ys ALL have much less reactive seatbelts! Another issue I had which makes me needing to have this car replaced under LEMON LAW is, (A)My phone key gets disconnected randomly and I had to use card key all the time (B)My 2nd card key can't open the car at all!

I am writing to report a concerning incident involving the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature on my 2026 Tesla Model Y. The incident occurred on Saturday, [XXX], at approximately [XXX] EDT at the intersection of [XXX] . My wife and I were traveling from Safety Harbor, FL to Foxtail Coffee on [XXX] , a trip of approximately two hours. The FSD system performed well for 98% of the journey. However, at the aforementioned intersection, the vehicle was stopped at a red light in the left lane, first position, for approximately 45 seconds. Suddenly, without warning, the car accelerated and ran the red light. Thankfully, there was no cross traffic, and no collision occurred, but this was a frightening experience that significantly undermined our confidence in the FSD system. Even though we love the vehicle, we felt the need to report the incident INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)