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Exterior lightingPart report

2022 Tesla Model Y Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
16about this part
Share
2%of 874 total for the year
Median mileage
440miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2022 Tesla Model Y, 2% of the 874 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 440 miles. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.

Example complaints

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

“I believe that all Tesla have an issue where the brake lights do not turn on soon enough when the vehicle is slowing down especially at slower speeds and I feel this makes them get in a lot of rear end accidents at lower speeds. I've seen many videos online of people getting hit and the car in front of them is braking and the Tesla slows down with no brake lights then the vehicle behind them hits them.”

NHTSA complaint #11636582, filed 2025-01

“My driver side headlight assembly stopped working. The headlight assembly includes the driving lights, high beams, and turn signals. I am open to having this product inspected upon request. This impacts the safety of me and others due to decreased visibility and the inability to appropriately indicate when I am turning. The dealer has not reviewed this yet, but I have a scheduled appointment on Friday, April 24. Vehicle has not been inspected by any third-party, improving manufacturer, police, insurance, or other representatives. …”

NHTSA complaint #11732040, filed 2026-04

“Here is what happened. I was traveling on a narrow winding two-lane road at night when, desiring to see the information on the current drive, I reached down to the lower left corner of the touchscreen to change the small sub-panel located there. It was on the music panel so I swiped to the left to change to the trip information panel. As soon as I swiped to the left my lights went out and I'm driving in total darkness! In complete fear of running off the road I managed to stop and switch on the 4-way flashers. …”

NHTSA complaint #11604720, filed 2024-07

“The high-beam headlights are randomly turning on while city driving. The auto high-beam function is turned off, so high beams should not turn on. This affects the safety of the other cars around me. I typically drive in the city and using the high beams is not necessary because of dense traffic and available overhead street lights. This issue has not been confirmed by a dealer, service center, manufacturer, police, etc. There is no warning before the high-beams turn on. When they turn on, the blue high-beam indicator on the driver display does illuminate.”

NHTSA complaint #11505948, filed 2023-02

“Turn signal does not always activate. If I hit the turn signal stalk so it goes past the first detent (for three blinks) but not hard enough to get to the second detent (on until cancelled or turn completed), it does not come on at all, either the three blinks or constant blinking. This is dangerous because the turn signal does not activate predictably, especially when changing lanes on the highway. I should be able to tap the turn signal to get the 3 blinks to come on and then switch lanes, but when used this way it does not always come on. …”

NHTSA complaint #11471304, filed 2022-06

Related recalls

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026215%
202511%
2024134%
2023222%
2022162%
202191%
202093%

Other parts of the 2022 Tesla Model Y

Forward collision avoidance
497 complaints
Vehicle speed control
140 complaints
Brakes
132 complaints
Other or unknown
121 complaints
Electrical system
120 complaints
Lane departure
72 complaints
Steering
61 complaints
Suspension
39 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
35 complaints
Body and structure
32 complaints
Seat belts
24 complaints
Air bags
19 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2022 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