2021 Tesla Model Y Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 181about this part
- Share
- 17%of 1,093 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 2,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 181 complaints about the brakes of the 2021 Tesla Model Y, 17% of the 1,093 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 2,500 miles. 18 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I talk to specialist they said I have cooling system failure, and guy from Tesla fitzgerald who remotely connected to my car before my appointment with you , also said I had cooling system failure not rodent problem... Tesla rodent damage excuse is scam and fraud not to use my warranty but profit by making me to pay directly for damages that its not my fault and thats illegal and unfair”
NHTSA complaint #11416580, filed 2021-05, 2,500 miles“Went to stop on bellflower ave in long beach around 8 am 2/11/21 to turn in to the long beach va and had loss of brake pressure. Basically stopped from regenerative braking. Had to push brake pedal to the floor to engage at all. Thankfully did not have an accident. Tesla found an internal failure of a brake caliper with a leak. This is unacceptable quality control for a brand new car. Thankfully I was not on the freeway when this happened or god forbid, with my kids in the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11395858, filed 2021-02, 1,200 miles“Today, mar. 22, 2021, in my brand new 2021 Tesla Model Y, which I have now owned for one month, I was sitting at a red light at a fairly large intersection on the outskirts of annapolis, md. I had my foot resting on the floor as the car was stopped and in hold mode. Suddenly, with the light still red and on its own, my car accelerated through the red light into the intersection at top speed. (I was the first car in line at the red light.) I slammed my foot on the brake but nothing happened, it kept going right through. …”
NHTSA complaint #11404368, filed 2021-03, 795 miles“When the gas pedal is released at speeds greater than 15mph, the regenerative breaking system is engaged to such a degree that the tires break traction when driving on slippery surface like snow or ice. The car then goes out of control and slides in an uncontrolled manner. The car has various setting for breaking, but even the setting that offers the least breaking (called roll ), results in significant braking action when the gas peddle is released at speeds above 15mph' enough force that driver and passengers fall forward against seat belts. …”
NHTSA complaint #11389612, filed 2021-01, 640 miles“Driving Down freeway at 70 mph when my car stopped immediately ! No one or nothing in front of me . 6 cars behind me and everyone swerved to avoid me or they would have hit me. I was terrified. I called Tesla and they said it was “phantom breaking”. It happens to model 3/Y from 2021 and 2022. It happened 2x in an 8 hr period. July 22, 2023”
NHTSA complaint #11537255, filed 2023-08Related recalls
- 21V387000May 25, 2021Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to…Covers: Tesla Model Y 2020–2021, Model 3 2019–2021
Related service bulletins
- 10214118Apr 29, 2022Some Model Y vehicles were built without a hydraulic control unit (HCU) wake-up wire, and in rare circumstances, braking and stability control related alerts may appear on the…
- 10214117Apr 29, 2022Some Model Y vehicles were built without a hydraulic control unit (HCU) wake-up wire, and in rare circumstances, braking and stability control related alerts may appear on the…
Brakes: other model years
Other parts of the 2021 Tesla Model Y
582 complaintsVehicle speed control
162 complaintsElectrical system
152 complaintsOther or unknown
143 complaintsSteering
95 complaintsSuspension
80 complaintsLane departure
77 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
52 complaintsBody and structure
34 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
33 complaintsSeat belts
27 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Tesla Model Y
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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