The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 188 of 445 complaints (42%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 110 in 2025 to 445 in 2026.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 445
- Recall campaigns
- 8
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $550–$700
- Combined MPG
- 105–138
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 650–700 | 600–750 | 550–700 | 550–700 | |
| Combined MPGe | 105–120 | 104–125 | 105–138 | 105–136 | |
| City / Highway MPGe | 111–128 / 98–112 | 110–134 / 97–117 | 111–148 / 100–129 | 111–146 / 100–127 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Complaints filed | 337 | 110 | 445 | 4 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 3 | 8 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 75 | 34 | 97 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 61 | 16 | 35 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2026 Tesla Model Y have?
8 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2026 Tesla Model Y?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 188 of 445 NHTSA complaints (42%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Tesla Model Y get?
EPA rates it 105–138 MPGe combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 Tesla Model Y?
EPA estimates $550–$700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 144 MPGe | 123 MPGe | 134 MPGe | $550 (low) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 130 MPGe | 115 MPGe | 123 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 148 MPGe (high) | 129 MPGe (high) | 138 MPGe (high) | $550 (low) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Rear-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 142 MPGe | 120 MPGe | 131 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 111 MPGe (low) | 100 MPGe (low) | 105 MPGe (low) | $700 (high) | 0 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | All-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 133 MPGe | 120 MPGe | 127 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 63 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Brakes | 29 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 54 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 39 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 20 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 188 | 59 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 48 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 146 | 35 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (8)
SUSPENSION:FRONT; SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. One or more front suspension lateral link fasteners may not have been properly tightened, allowing the lateral link to loosen or separate from the sub-frame.
- Consequence
- A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will tighten or replace the fasteners and check wheel the alignment, free of charge. In addition, Tesla Service will replace any related parts that may have been damaged as necessary. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 30, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-31-004.
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER; STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not have been tested for bumper impact resistance procedures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers, 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," 201, "Occupant Protection in Interior Impact," and Part 581, "Bumper Standards."
- Consequence
- A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla will repurchase noncompliant vehicles currently registered in the United States, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752 or resolutions@tesla.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-004.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Model Y vehicles. The certification label may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification."
- Consequence
- Missing weight information provided by the label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will inspect and install a certification label as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-19-002.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:FUSES, RELAYS, CONTACTS, AND SHUNTS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025 Model 3 and 2026 Model Y vehicles. The battery pack contactors may fail, causing a loss of drive power.
- Consequence
- A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will replace the battery pack contactors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-16-005.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The reverse lights may fail to illuminate while the vehicle is in reverse, due to a defect in the wiring. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- Reverse lights that fail to illuminate reduce visibility and may not alert pedestrians or other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will replace the reverse lights and reverse facia harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 26, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-17-011.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The ring terminal of the horn ground wire may be improperly secured, allowing the circuit to open and preventing the horn from sounding.
- Consequence
- An inoperable horn may prevent the driver from alerting other drivers as needed, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla service will replace the steering wheel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were be mailed September 23, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-17-009.
SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The fasteners attaching the seat back to the seat bottom may have been improperly tightened.
- Consequence
- The seat may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten or replace the seat assembly fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 16, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-13-003.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
- Defect
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The hose connector may block the windshield washer nozzles, preventing washer fluid from reaching the windshield. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
- Consequence
- The inability to clean the windshield reduces the driver’s visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla service will inspect and replace the wiper arm elbow connector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-20-001.