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 logged 74 complaints against the 2025 Tesla Model Y. Each complaint is filed by a vehicle owner or lessee through the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline or online portal at SaferCar.gov. You can review all 2025 Tesla Model Y complaints directly on the NHTSA complaint database.
The 2025 Tesla Model Y has generated 148 NHTSA complaints and has 2 active recalls. If your 2025 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.
The 2025 Tesla Model Y has generated 14 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: “On December 16 and 17, 2025, the manufacturer (Tesla, Inc.) utilized remote telemetry to modify the software state of my 2025 Model Y while it was being operated on public roadways. The manufacturer remotely switched the vehicle profile to “Inventory Mode” (Error Code displayed: “Delivery Type: PICKUP_SERVICE_CENTER”). The Safety Failure: This unauthorized remote manipulation immediately DISABLED the electronic Child Safety Locks without driver consent or warning. My minor children were seated in the rear of the vehicle at the time. The rear doors, which had been locked for child safety, suddenly became operable from the inside while the vehicle was in motion – and my children actually opened the doors while the vehicle was in operation. (Thus my discovery of the issue) The Hazard: This defect allows the manufacturer to remotely override and deactivate critical safety retention features (Child Locks) on a moving vehicle. This created an immediate risk of accidental door opening and passenger ejection for the minor occupants. Manufacturer Response: The manufacturer admitted in writing (email dated Dec 15, 2025) that there was “No Active Financing” on the vehicle, yet persisted in accessing the vehicle’s safety computer systems to alter its status. This demonstrates a systemic defect where Tesla’s remote access tools lack safety interlocks, allowing them to degrade safety features on vehicles currently in motion/use by consumers. Status: The vehicle remains unsafe as the manufacturer retains the ability to toggle safety locks remotely without operator input.” (NHTSA Complaint #11705739)
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 2025 Tesla Model Y has 10 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “INCIDENT REPORT – TESLA Y – UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2025, APPROXIMATELY 2:40 PM On the above-referenced date and time, we were returning home with the intention of pulling the car into our garage, an activity performed over a hundred times in the one year we have owned the car. Because of the need to back in to allow the car to be charged, the following procedure is adhered to: 1.Disengage self-driving (if it was being used) in the street prior to entering the courtyard for residence. 2.Pull forward three-quarters of the way into garage (since the residence is the last on the courtyard and the car cannot be pulled beyond the garage opening to directly back in). 3.Place car in reverse and slowly perform K-turn to back into garage. On the date in question. The following anomalies occurred: 1.After placing the car in reverse (action 2), instead of starting to back out, the car lurched forward. The brake was immediately applied and the car stopped about a foot before hitting the garage wall. 2.The brake was applied again to assure self-driving was disengaged and proceed with action 3. 3.Car was placed in reverse and accelerator was lightly pressed to slowly back out of garage. Rather than slowly back out (as was done hundreds of times) the car immediately accelerated and rapidly gained speed. 4.The brake was applied to stop the car but could not overcome the acceleration (pictures of skid marks were taken). 5.In order not to directly hit the wall located across from garage, Car steering wheel was turned to minimize any direct contact ( skid marks will show turn). 6.Car came to a stop when it hit the wall causing significant damage to the car and causing damage to the wall (pictures can be forwarded).” (NHTSA Complaint #11702284)
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 2025 Tesla Model Y has generated 10 NHTSA complaints related to braking, including ABS failures, grinding, reduced stopping power, and warning lights. Owner reports include: “On November 10, 2025 while my 2025 Tesla Model Y was being driven, in Miami, Florida, around 2:55–3:05 PM, the brakes failed completely. Despite firm brake pedal pressure, the vehicle did not slow down or stop as expected and continued forward until a collision occurred. The brake pedal felt normal with no loss of resistance, but the car did not decelerate as expected. No forward collision warning (FCW) or automatic emergency braking (AEB) activated prior to impact. There were no audible or visual alerts displayed before or during braking. After the collision, the vehicle’s screen displayed messages stating “Airbags Deployed” and “Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable. Feature may be restored on next drive.” However, the airbags did not deploy. A burst of white particulate dust, consistent with airbag propellant or deployment powder, was released inside the cabin. None of the vehicle’s cameras recorded the incident; there is no Dashcam or Sentry Mode footage from that time. At the same time, the cell phone, which was actively linked to the vehicle through Bluetooth and the Tesla app, stopped transmitting location data through the Life360 app for a few minutes. This may indicate a coinciding electrical or data interruption affecting both the vehicle and connected devices. This incident placed my families safety and that of others at serious risk. Multiple safety systems appear to have failed simultaneously, including the braking function, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, camera recording systems, and airbag deployment.” (NHTSA Complaint #11698816)
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 2025 Tesla Model Y has 8 NHTSA complaints for this defect type. Owner reports include: “While on a two lane road, my car decided to go around the car in front of me into on-coming traffic while in Full Self-Driving mode. I had to jerk the car to the right to prevent a head-on collision!!!! I missed the on-coming vehicle by seconds!!! This was terrifying!” (NHTSA Complaint #11690679)
Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2025 Tesla Model Y include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 6 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “I am filing this complaint regarding recurring safety, security, and system failures in my Tesla Model Y, concerns about unauthorized access, and Tesla’s refusal to provide complete diagnostic and privacy data. These issues have directly endangered my safety and prevent me from confirming whether the vehicle has been compromised. The vehicle’s touchscreen and associated software systems repeatedly failed. An unfamiliar key fob activity was detected on July 27, 2025 and on at least two occasions prior to July 27, 2025, the touchscreen went black and could only be restored via a full hard reboot. Safety Risks: * Loss of touchscreen functionality could disable access to critical driving and emergency controls. * Potential unauthorized access poses risks of theft or malicious interference with the vehicle. * Chemical/gas odors could indicate exposure to harmful substances. Tesla service center inspected the vehicle but reported no issues; I believe the inspection may not have been fully conducted as requested. The vehicle has not been independently inspected outside of Tesla. Police and insurance representatives have not been involved. Warning Signs Prior to Failure: * The touchscreen went black twice in the two days prior to July 27, 2025. * Unfamiliar key fob activity was detected on July 27, 2025. * The charger port opened by itself multiple times. * The vehicle locked while I was inside on one occasion. Attempts to Resolve: * Tesla’s mobile service rescheduling and service center inspection did not identify or resolve the issues. * Five privacy/data requests submitted to Tesla for access and diagnostic logs returned incomplete, empty, or irrelevant files. Desired Outcome: * A complete copy of all records and data related to my vehicle, including access logs, diagnostic logs, security/camera events, and system communications. * A thorough, transparent inspection of the vehicle by Tesla, conducted in my presence, with full documentation of findings provided.” (NHTSA Complaint #11685462)
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2025 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: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Defect: See NHTSA database for details.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver’s rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Tesla will also identify any vehicles that experienced a circuit board failure, or stress that may lead to a circuit board failure, and replace the affected computers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March
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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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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