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TESLA · vehicle model

TESLA MODEL Y

6,492 NHTSA complaints and 40 safety recalls across model years 2020–2026.

Complaints
6,492
Recalls
40
Model years
7

The TESLAMODEL Y appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 6,492 consumer safety complaints and 40 recall campaigns across 7 model years (2020–2026). That averages roughly 927 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model, with 1 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
2026291
2025148
2024487
20231752
20221474
20211870
2020470

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 372 in 2017-2021 to 6,120 in 2022-2026, a rise of 1545.2%. That is the 98th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

54
’20
318
’21
1912
’22
1734
’23
1199
’24
1065
’25
210
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare TESLAMODEL Y to Similar Vehicles

TESLAMODEL Y vs FORDF-350 → TESLAMODEL Y vs CHEVROLETCAVALIER → TESLAMODEL Y vs CHRYSLER300 → TESLAMODEL Y vs KIASPORTAGE →

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

PE25010Preliminary EvaluationOpen2025-09-15

Electronic door handles become inoperative

PE23003Preliminary EvaluationClosed2023-03-04

Steering Wheel Detachment

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the TESLA MODEL Y?▼
The TESLA MODEL Y has received 6,492 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2020 to 2026, with 40 recalls. That averages about 927 complaints per model year.
What years of TESLA MODEL Y are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the TESLA MODEL Y from 2020 to 2026 (7 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the TESLA MODEL Y have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many TESLA MODEL Y model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common TESLA MODEL Y complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the TESLA MODEL Y are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my TESLA MODEL Y has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. TESLA MODEL Y totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.