NHTSA Complaints · Active Recalls · California Lemon Law Data
The NHTSA tracks consumer complaints, manufacturer recalls, and safety investigations for every vehicle sold in the United States. These publicly available records are a critical resource for California lemon law cases because they establish patterns of recurring defects.
As of June 2026, the NHTSA has not yet received complaints specific to the 2023 Tesla Model Y. However, this does not mean the vehicle is free from defects. Complaint data often lags behind real-world issues, and many vehicle owners experience problems before they are widely reported. If you are experiencing recurring issues with your 2023 Tesla Model Y, you may still have a valid lemon law claim. You can file your own complaint at SaferCar.gov and check for updates on the NHTSA database.
The 2023 Tesla Model Y has generated 1016 NHTSA complaints and has 15 active recalls. If your 2023 Tesla Model Y has experienced a defect that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple visits, you may qualify for a full repurchase or replacement under California lemon law. Tesla pays all attorney fees when we prevail. You pay nothing.
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2023 Tesla Model Y has 179 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “I was driving with the car in Autopilot in the center lane of the highway. I could see a white vehicle move close on my right, and I confirmed that it…”
Steering defects can create unpredictable vehicle behavior and qualify as safety-related under California lemon law. Reported issues on the 2023 Tesla Model Y include pulling, vibration, loss of power steering, and electronic steering warnings. 96 NHTSA complaints have been filed in this category. Owner reports include: “The front lower lateral links or control arm that is used to steer the wheels has bolts that dropped on the ground causing loss of steering to the car…”
Advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) defects — including malfunctioning forward collision warnings, lane keep assist failures, and erratic automatic emergency braking — can create dangerous driving conditions. The 2023 Tesla Model Y has 64 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “When using the adaptive cruise control or “autopilot” feature on my Model Y, the vehicle will brake extremely hard without warning. This sudden, unnec…”
The 2023 Tesla Model Y has generated 58 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “This is my 9th report about my defective Tesla. When I wrote last month (Complaint Number: XXX, submitted electronically to NHTSA on 2/27/2026, 8:06:…”
Brake defects affecting safety may qualify for California’s two-repair threshold under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, which applies to defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury. The 2023 Tesla Model Y has generated 53 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “I am reporting two severe 'phantom braking' incidents involving my Tesla vehicle while driving without autopilot. In both instances, the vehicle ini…”
The following 15 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Tesla Model Y by the NHTSA or Tesla. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A taillight that fails to illuminate may reduce the visibility of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-22-00-016.
Component: SUSPENSION:SUBFRAME/MOUNTING BRACKET
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A loose fastener can allow the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame, causing instability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will tighten or replace the fasteners as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 7, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-22-31-002.
Component: STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Component: SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A loose seat frame bolt may reduce the seat belt system’s performance, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service Centers will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-13-001.
Component: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A loose fastener may allow the steering wheel to disconnect from the steering column, which can cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and replace the fastener as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were be mailed July 28, 2023. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-32-001.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A defective battery disconnect may not isolate the vehicle’s high voltage battery after a crash or fault detection, increasing the risk of electrical shock and injury.
Remedy: Tesla Service will replace the pyrotechnic battery disconnect, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-16-005.
Component: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Safety features that are unavailable without any warning to the driver may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and adjust the pitch angle, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 12, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-17-006.
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2023 Tesla Model Y:
Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Tesla to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Tesla must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your 2023 Tesla Model Y qualifies as a lemon under California law, Tesla may be legally required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Tesla a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Tesla dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.
Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Tesla pays your fees if you win.
Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Tesla a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.
Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Tesla is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.
Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.
California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
If your 2023 Tesla Model Y has a recurring defect, California’s Lemon Law may entitle you to a full refund, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement — at no cost to you.
Our attorneys answer the questions we hear most from California vehicle owners — fully updated for 2026.
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