Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Tesla Model Y
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Tesla Model Y has 23 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,096 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 8 NHTSA-tested trims.
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 #22V317000 Fisheye and Narrow Camera Views Swapped 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
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 583 complaints
- Service Brakes 177 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 162 complaints
- Electrical System 153 complaints
- Unknown or Other 141 complaints
- Steering 97 complaints
Of the 1,096 complaints on file, 90 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 1,096 complaints, owners report 26 injuries and 4 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$20,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Tesla Model Y shows a below-average reliability outlook due to 23 recalls and a high number of owner complaints (1,089) across various systems, notably forward collision avoidance and service brakes. The recall campaign focuses significantly on software and electrical systems, while complaints highlight issues like vehicle speed control and electrical system malfunctions.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward collision | Unknown | $500–$2,000 | very common |
| Service brakes | Unknown | $400–$1,500 | common |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $600–$2,500 | common |
| Vehicle speed control | Unknown | $700–$2,200 | occasional |
| Suspension | Unknown | $300–$1,400 | 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.
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Annual tire rotation and alignment
- Coolant system inspection
- Cabin air filter replacement
- Biannual wiper blade replacement
- High-voltage battery service if needed
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Delayed rearview camera image
- Unresponsive speed control
- Brake warning light
- Steering issues
- Electrical malfunctions
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Tesla Model Y at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.