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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2020 Tesla Model Y Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
2%of 283 total for the year
Median mileage
2,150miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Tesla Model Y, 2% of the 283 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 2,150 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Incident: car shutdown and power failure with little warning. Time/date/place of incident: 9/7/2020, approximately 5:20pm in livermore, ca. While driving at a speed of approximately 45 MPH eastbound on w jack london blvd (past wolf house drive), the car's computer displayed an unable to drive message (error code di_a137) and instructed us to pull over. Since we were on a 2-lane road with no shoulder we proceeded to the nearest driveway (turning left to a driveway at ~1105 w jack london blvd). The car vibrated violently then shutdown. …”

NHTSA complaint #11354647, filed 2020-09, 1,300 miles

“Autopilot/cruise control disengage function should not be on activated by selecting up/reverse on the gear selector. Car inadvertently went into r reverse when disengage was commanded. Narrative: car was on interstate at highway speed with navigate on autopilot and adaptive cruise control on. An accident occurred on the expressway and the state police began to shut down the road. The car successfully and safely automatically stopped behind traffic in front. Police began directing stopped traffic to move off roadway. …”

NHTSA complaint #11385619, filed 2020-12, 3,000 miles

“On June 17, 2026, I experienced a severe and life-threatening entrapment inside my 2020 Tesla Model Y. The incident occurred immediately after I finished charging the vehicle for approximately two hours at a charging station under direct sunlight, which left the car extremely hot. After charging, I drove a short distance, parked, and left the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes. Upon my return, my card key failed to unlock the vehicle. After contacting my wife for assistance, I was briefly able to open the door, but I became securely locked inside the cabin as soon as the door closed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11764144, filed 2026-09

“Without any warning, the display on my car froze up when my car came to a stop, and I could not accelerate. It seemed to say I was going 15 mph, when in fact I was stopped, and the display was completely unresponsive. Stepping on the accelerator did nothing. I could not use my turn signals, activate my 4-way flashers. No one was injured, since this happened on a quiet residential street, and I was able to wave to other motorists to go around me. After about 3 minutes, my car seemed to have reset, and I was able to drive it normally. …”

NHTSA complaint #11451780, filed 2022-02

“While driving at highway speeds, the car unintentionally went into neutral. The setup: The driver was on the highway with cruise control on. Upon turning cruise control off to prepare for entering an exit ramp, the car also went neutral. We lost power and the regenerative braking that you expect in this car. The center console stated something like “Please shift into drive or reverse”. The cause is that Tesla uses an up movement on the right hand gear stalk to cancel auto pilot, cancel cruise control, and to put the car into neutral. …”

NHTSA complaint #11528060, filed 2023-06

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026102%
202511%
202462%
2023292%
2022172%
2021333%
202062%

Other parts of the 2020 Tesla Model Y

Forward collision avoidance
108 complaints
Other or unknown
58 complaints
Brakes
37 complaints
Vehicle speed control
37 complaints
Lane departure
32 complaints
Suspension
31 complaints
Electrical system
28 complaints
Steering
26 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaints
Air bags
17 complaints
Body and structure
14 complaints
Seat belts
12 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Tesla Model Y

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology