2021-2022 Tesla Model Y Suspension Recall (21V912)
Tesla, Inc. · 826 vehicles · Reported November 21, 2021
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 826 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The front and rear suspension knuckles may fracture, causing the suspension links to separate. Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V912 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V912000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-21-31-004 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 21, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 826 |
| Component | Suspension |
| Safety risk | Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y in recall 21V912?
The front and rear suspension knuckles may fracture, causing the suspension links to separate.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The front and rear suspension knuckles may fracture, causing the suspension links to separate.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Model Y with recall 21V912?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model Y shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the suspension, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V912?
Recall 21V912 covers 826 vehicles: 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 826 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model Y suspension recall?
Yes. Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge.
Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-004.
When was recall 21V912 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 21V912 to NHTSA on November 21, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 18, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 21, 2021 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V912000. |
| January 18, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your Model Y was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model Y is part of recall 21V912?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V912 is open on your Model Y, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V912000 is open on your Model Y, it will be listed there, along with Tesla recall number SB-21-31-004. You can also ask any Tesla dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Model Y owners do about recall 21V912?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V912000 applies to your Model Y.
- Call a Tesla dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the suspension happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Model Y owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,944 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 146 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.
Since recall 21V912 was reported on November 21, 2021, owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 9 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the suspension, wheels and tires and were received on or after November 21, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related suspension, wheels and tires issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,944 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 146 of them involve the suspension, wheels and tires. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Tesla Model Y: 1,079 complaints in total, 91 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2022 Tesla Model Y: 865 complaints in total, 55 about the suspension, wheels and tires
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Alerts regarding vehicle steering, stability, emergency braking, lane control traction, received all at once and the Tesla AI advisor indicated others were reporting the same. No other vehicles in lanes around us showed up on the vehicle LCD screen as normally they do too.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11643673, filed February 19, 2025
My steering is making loud noises and so is the suspension. It’s so loud it’s embarrassing to drive. The steering wheel also came apart because it wasn’t glued down properly and had air bubbles. I see recalls for cars but not my specific vin.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11646740, filed March 6, 2025
Upper and lower control arms failed, and front suspensions bushings became torn. The car did not present any warning lamps or warning messages. The issue became apparent when a loud creaking/squeaking sound started coming from the front of the vehicle, and could be reproduced by turning the steering wheel, or by accelerating or braking.
2021 Tesla Model Y owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11665380, filed June 6, 2025
Can recall 21V912 make my Model Y a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Suspension, wheel and tire defects can affect handling and control. Clunks, pulling and vibration that return after a repair point to a defect that has not been fixed.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2022 Tesla Model Y has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Model Y been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model Y recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V912
Did the recall 21V912 fix work?
Since recall 21V912 was reported on November 21, 2021, owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 9 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed January 18, 2022.
Is the 21V912000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model Y is part of recall 21V912000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V912000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Tesla. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.