Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
The 2026 Tesla Model Y has 406 owner complaints, the most for collision warning and automatic braking at 122. Its fuel economy is 105 to 138 MPGe combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $3,340 to $4,390 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall. It has 8 recall campaigns covering suspension, air bags, body and structure, and others, which may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
105–138 MPGecombined; city 111–148, highway 100–129; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$3,340–$4,390U.S. average; Ohio $3,560–$4,680 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA electricity prices for Jul 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2026 Model Y, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 406 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Model Y. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or other
124
27
0
11
Forward collision avoidance
122
37
0
10
Electrical system
57
10
1
7
Steering
49
10
0
3
Lane departure
48
9
0
4
Vehicle speed control
33
9
0
3
Structure
31
5
0
4
Suspension
30
1
0
0
Back over prevention
27
18
0
1
Service brakes
26
7
0
4
Exterior lighting
21
3
0
0
Wheels
11
3
0
0
12 more parts
Air bags
9
8
0
2
Power train
9
2
0
1
Seat belts
9
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
9
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
7
0
0
0
Seats
7
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
4
0
0
0
Engine
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Equipment
1
1
0
0
Service brakes, air
1
1
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
1
0
1
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2026 Model Y over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: 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.
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."
Risk: 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 are expected to be mailed September 5, 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.
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."
Risk: 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
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."
Risk: 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
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."
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 9 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2026 Model Y, the latest on Aug 15, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: seats (3), suspension (2), electrical system (1), structure (1), unknown or other (1).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA26002 FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive
228 and 243 kW ACPM
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 357 miles of range
144 / 123 / 134 MPGe
Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive
90 and 200 kW ACPM
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 327 miles of range
130 / 115 / 123 MPGe
Model Y Performance All-Wheel Drive
91 and 200 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 306 miles of range
111 / 100 / 105 MPGe
Model Y Standard All-Wheel Drive
91 and 200 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 294 miles of range
133 / 120 / 127 MPGe
Model Y Standard (18in Wheels) Rear-Wheel Drive
228 and 243 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 321 miles of range
148 / 129 / 138 MPGe
Model Y Standard (19in Wheels) Rear-Wheel Drive
228 and 243 kW ACPM 3-Phase
Automatic (A1)
Electricity 303 miles of range
142 / 120 / 131 MPGe
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data