2021 Tesla Model Y cruise control problems
161 of the 1,080 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Tesla Model Y name the cruise control (NHTSA’s “Vehicle Speed Control” heading — cruise control, adaptive cruise and unintended-acceleration reports). Filed under the same heading: 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the cruise control
Source: NHTSA complaint database19 of the 161 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 7 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2021: 22 · 2022: 88 · 2023: 28 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 7
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
1,080 complaints in all about the 2021 Tesla Model Y, 7 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Vehicle Speed Control” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model Y cruise control problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the cruise control. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 50-70 MPH on cruise control, the vehicle would inadvertently decelerate, almost causing other vehicles to crash into the rear of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated.
Our 2021 Model Y features the new vision based cruise control system, both traffic aware cruise control and autopilot utilize this camera only system. At the time of ordering we were under the impression we were getting a much safer and mature radar based system.
While driving on well marked highways, the adaptive cruise control would initiate rapid and unsafe braking while using the vehicles “AutoPilot”. The braking is equivalent to a user putting full pressure on a brake pedal, losing 10-20mph by the time I am able to intervene, even if I’m ready to take over.
At random times, without warning, cruise control changes from set speed (e.g. 70mph) to 45mph and vehicle immediately begins hard braking to achieve new set speed. Any cars following may not be able to react quickly enough to avoid a collision if the driver doesn't react quickly enough to command acceleration back to freeway speed.
Phantom braking is a known problem with the Tesla Model Y. My adaptive cruise control has malfunctioned 2 times in 1 week. It's a very dangerous situation. Apply panic braking when the road has very little traffic and no curves. No warning signs at all. I reported the 2 incidents to Tesla.
What is on file about the cruise control
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP23002 Sudden Unintended Accelerationopened Jun 29, 2023 · open
- The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP20-001 on the basis that intermittent high electrical current demands on the vehicles' 12VDC systems may have caused some or all of the incidents examined by ODI in DP20-001. The petitioner bases this information on a review of open-source research and the DP20-001 denial. The petiti…
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Tesla Model Y
Source: the same files- automatic emergency braking problems 846 complaints
- brake problems 182 complaints
- electrical problems 149 complaints
- steering problems 93 complaints
- lane-keeping problems 93 complaints
- suspension problems 77 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre cruise control problems common on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 161 owner complaints naming the cruise control on this model year (15% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 NHTSA investigation is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the cruise control on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 23 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do cruise control problems show up on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Vehicle Speed Control" heading cover?
Cruise control, adaptive cruise and unintended-acceleration reports. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.