2023 Tesla Model Y automatic emergency braking problems
630 of the 1,167 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Tesla Model Y name the automatic emergency braking (NHTSA’s “Forward Collision Avoidance” heading — forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall, 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 automatic emergency braking
Source: NHTSA complaint database80 of the 630 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 35 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2022: 6 · 2023: 405 · 2024: 131 · 2025: 37 · 2026: 51
Half of the 22 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the automatic emergency braking problem between 1,000 and 4,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,167 complaints in all about the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 51 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 “Forward Collision Avoidance” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model Y automatic emergency braking problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the automatic emergency braking. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Brand new 2023 Tesla Model Y LR phantom breaks on shadows. Issue happens with just auto speed Adaptive cruise control and the more advanced lane departure "Autopilot" feature on. Happens on 45mph roads and on highways at 65-75mph.
On the freeway with auto steer and adaptive cruise control on. I experienced 3 phantom breaking incidents over the last two weeks. The car suddenly drops in speed about 10-20 mph before I can catch it and turn off cruise control and accelerate back to the right speed. It’s super dangerous.
On January 13th, 2023 we were waiting for green light on an intersection, 2nd in place. The car in front of us started moving on green light for a left turn, and suddenly it slowed down as a result of another car coming in the opposite direction. Our Tesla Model Y didn't recognized the situation and crashed into it.
The car advertising having USS when place the pre-order. But when pick up the vehicle, USS is not there
I purchased the vehicle on Dec 14 th and so far had two episodes of Phantom breaking leading to near rear end collision. Car is applying breaks for no reason even when there is nothing in front
What is on file about the automatic emergency braking
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 23V489000 ModerateJul 14, 2023 · 1,337 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles. The forward-facing camera may be misaligned, causing some of the active safety features such as emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane assist to become unavailable without alerting the driver.
NHTSA investigation
- PE22002 Unexpected Brake Activationopened Feb 16, 2022 · closed Jun 29, 2026
- On February 16, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22002) to investigate reports of unexpected deceleration while driving with the adaptive cruise control system engaged in Model Year (MY) 2021 – 2022 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla. The subject systems include Autopilot (all versions), Full Self-Driving (FSD) and Traffic Aware Cru…
Other systems with a record on the 2023 Tesla Model Y
Source: the same files- steering problems 212 complaints
- cruise control problems 167 complaints
- suspension problems 127 complaints
- electrical problems 122 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre automatic emergency braking problems common on the 2023 Tesla Model Y?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 630 owner complaints naming the automatic emergency braking on this model year (54% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation are 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 automatic emergency braking on the 2023 Tesla Model Y?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 23V489000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do automatic emergency braking problems show up on the 2023 Tesla Model Y?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 3,000 miles; half of them between 1,000 and 4,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Forward Collision Avoidance" heading cover?
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.