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Exterior lightingPart report

2026 Tesla Model Y Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
21about this part
Share
5%of 434 total for the year
Median mileage
3,000miles
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2026 Tesla Model Y, 5% of the 434 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

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

“Tesla decided to remove the safety unlock illuminated button from its front trunk (frunk) sometime in mid 2025. This can be a safety issue which was present in earlier models and against the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 401, mandating an interior release mechanism for enclosed trunks to prevent entrapment. I contacted Tesla and they told me that my vehicle was made after Tesla decided to remove this safety feature.”

NHTSA complaint #11718882, filed 2026-02

“In my 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range, there is no emergency release in the frunk (front trunk). I do believe there is a law that requires this. What if the unthinkable happens and someone gets stuck inside of it? I have seen others post about not having it as well, so it is definitely not limited to a small number of vehicles. I do not even see the harness for the emergency release inside of the panel. This is a huge safety issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11701889, filed 2025-11

“Ever since our 2026 Tesla Model Y was purchased in June 2026, we routinely receive a Center Brake Light Condition Detected error message. We have brought the vehicle in for service, and have been advised that the issue is not hardware-related and will be fixed through a future software update . We have been waiting nearly 3 months for a remedy but Tesla Service has been unable to provide a status report on the remedy. A number of other Tesla owners have commented on Reddit that they have the same issue with their vehicles.”

NHTSA complaint #11761904, filed 2026-09

“Water entusion in the tail light bar. After time causes corrosion of the circuit board on the turn rear turn signal making it inoperable. tesla doesn't have an open document nor a recall. Was quoted over $1300 to replace the assembly. I did a teardown of the root cause. Glue sealing the through hole for the clip that holds the badge of the car on the rear didn't adhere. Water entered the assembly and dripped onto the circuit board, over time corrosion occurred. My rear left turn signal went out on a car that just turned a year. I have documented the location of the fault with pictures”

NHTSA complaint #11764041, filed 2026-09

“This is a proactive step to report that the headlights on Model Y Juniper 2026 are not projecting seamlessly onto the road. The low beam shows patchy lights and also has a blocked-out grey patch on the right-hand side of the car. This patch is not due to any wreckage of the headlights. The high beam is also not precise and feels as if it is a column of light, which is not very clear to drive in. I took my car to Tesla's dealership, and according to them, that is how the lights project, even on their demo car. I think the headlights should project a clear light onto the road, and these are not. …”

NHTSA complaint #11664691, filed 2025-06

Exterior lighting: other model years

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

Other parts of the 2026 Tesla Model Y

Other or unknown
139 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
130 complaints
Electrical system
61 complaints
Steering
54 complaints
Lane departure
52 complaints
Vehicle speed control
35 complaints
Body and structure
32 complaints
Suspension
31 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
29 complaints
Brakes
29 complaints
Wheels
12 complaints
Air bags
10 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2026 Tesla Model Y

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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