Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Tesla Model Y
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Tesla Model Y has 24 NHTSA recall campaigns and 283 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Newest 20 recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V507000 Low Beam Headlights May Be Too Bright/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V283000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V935000 TPMS Light May Not Remain Illuminated/FMVSS 138 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V554000 Software May Fail to Detect Unlatched Hood NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V153000 Muted Pedestrian Warning Sound/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V085000 Full Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V844000 Taillight May Fail to Illuminate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V702000 Power Windows May Pinch/FMVSS 118 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V235000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V063000 Pedestrian Warning Sound May Be Obscured/FMVSS 141 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V050000 Windshield May Not Defrost Properly/FMVSS 103 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V045000 Seat Belt Chime May Not Activate/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V037000 Vehicle May Fail to Stop at Stop Sign NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V912000 Suspension Knuckles May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V846000 Unexpected Activation of Automatic Emergency Brake NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V835000 Front Suspension Lateral Link May Separate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V387000 Loose Brake Caliper Bolts NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 108 complaints
- Unknown or Other 57 complaints
- Service Brakes 37 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 37 complaints
- Lane Departure 32 complaints
- Suspension 31 complaints
Of the 283 complaints on file, 48 report a crash; across all 283 complaints, owners report 26 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Tesla Model Y has a high number of recalls (24) and complaints (283), notably in collision avoidance and speed control systems. However, many issues relate to software, offering non-costly fixes. Limited evidence about mechanical failures necessitates caution, but does not conclusively signify poor reliability.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collision Avoidance | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | common |
| Speed Control | Unknown | $400–$2,000 | occasional |
| Suspension | Unknown | $500–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Tire rotation and balance
- Brake inspection
- Cooling system check
- Battery condition check
- Air filter replacement
- Software updates
- Suspension inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Forward collision issues
- Illuminated warning lights
- Irregular braking response
- Unusual suspension noises
- Steering wheel vibrations
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Tesla Model Y at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.