Tesla Model Y Years to Avoid
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 3,600 NHTSA complaints, the Tesla Model Y years to avoid are 2021, 2022 and 2023 — the worst logged up to 3.2× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by brakes failures. Updated August 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of August 2026 · How we rate model years
No year rated caution
No standout best year
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 3 | N/A |
| 2020 | 271 | 105 | 23 | SOLID |
| 2021 | 1,035 | 342 | 22 | AVOID |
| 2022 | 825 | 261 | 19 | AVOID |
| 2023 | 1,089 | 457 | 16 | AVOID |
| 2024 | 293 | 99 | 5 | SOLID |
| 2025 | 87 | 37 | 3 | SOLID |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Tesla Model Y. Full methodology.
Common Tesla Model Y problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Tesla Model Y are brakes, steering, suspension. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Phantom braking during autopilot operation
· Tesla Model Y 2020–2025Corroborated by 17 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 50 brakes complaints across 2020–2025.
Steering lockup during FSD disengagement
· Tesla Model Y 2020–2025Corroborated by 3 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 33 steering complaints across 2020–2025.
Front suspension damage and premature wear
· Tesla Model Y 2020Corroborated by 4 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 29 suspension complaints across 2020, typically 23,000–55,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $3,670.
Why these years stand out
2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,035 owner complaints on federal record, 342 of them severe, plus 22 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Tesla Model Y.
2022 Tesla Model Y: 825 owner complaints on federal record, 261 of them severe, plus 19 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Tesla Model Y.
2023 Tesla Model Y: 1,089 owner complaints on federal record, 457 of them severe, plus 16 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Tesla Model Y.
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FAQ
What years of the Tesla Model Y should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Tesla Model Y years to avoid are 2021, 2022 and 2023 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by brakes issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Tesla Model Y?
No single Tesla Model Y year stands out as a clear "best" in the federal data yet; the year-by-year table shows the full spread of verdicts.
How is the Tesla Model Y verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Tesla Model Y's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Tesla Model Y before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Tesla Model Y reliable?
The Tesla Model Y's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 3,600 NHTSA owner complaints, 2021, 2022 and 2023 rate "avoid" — see the year-by-year verdicts above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Tesla Model Y?
The most-reported problem area for the Tesla Model Y is brakes, followed by steering and suspension. Confirmed failures include phantom braking during autopilot operation, steering lockup during fsd disengagement, front suspension damage and premature wear. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Tesla Model Y across every model year on record. Retrieved August 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Tesla Model Y, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.