Tesla Model Y automatic emergency braking problems, 2019–2027
2,687 of the 4,200 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Tesla Model Y 2019–2027 name the automatic emergency braking (NHTSA’s “Forward Collision Avoidance” heading — forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, including phantom braking). The loudest years: 2021 (846), 2022 (696), 2023 (630). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Tesla Model Y automatic emergency braking problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the automatic emergency braking | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 146 | 38% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 58 | 57% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 in depth | 174 | 54% | — | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2023 in depth | 630 | 54% | 3k | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2022 in depth | 696 | 80% | 4k | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 846 | 78% | 4k | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 137 | 49% | 4k | 1 recall | the record → |
| 2019 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the automatic emergency braking. Nothing here is a rate.
When the automatic emergency braking complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2020: 6 · 2021: 114 · 2022: 1102 · 2023: 680 · 2024: 321 · 2025: 194 · 2026: 270
Across the model years, half of the 95 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the automatic emergency braking problem between 1,000 and 11,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the automatic emergency braking, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Since purchasing the car less than a month ago, there have been over 100 phantom braking events while using cruise control. The vehicle will suddenly SLAM on the brakes with no apparent reason, even when there are semi trucks following closely behind.
I was driving in cruise control at the posted speed limit of 80mph. The conditions were dry and sunny. Without warning the car braked hard and decelerated from 80mph to 69mph in less than a second. The braking was so violent, my head snapped forward and I almost lost control of the car.
While adaptive cruise control is engaged, the system seems to incorrectly interpret a potential head-on collision and brakes hard and usually plays the alarm sound. I've had this car around two months and have found that this usually happens on a two-lane highway while traveling at 50-60 mph and when a box truck or larger is approaching…
Sudden abrupt braking for no reason when on adaptive cruise control and autopilot very dangerous for drivers behind me
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.
What is on file about the automatic emergency braking, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 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.
- 21V846000 HighOct 29, 2021 · 11,728 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
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 Tesla Model Y
Source: the same files- electrical problems
- steering problems
- cruise control problems
- suspension problems
- brake problems
- lane-keeping problems
Every system, every model year: Tesla Model Y problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Tesla Model Y years have the most automatic emergency braking complaints?
2021, 846; 2022, 696; 2023, 630. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2022 (80%).
Is there a recall for the automatic emergency braking on the Tesla Model Y?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 23V489000 (2023), 21V846000 (2021). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do automatic emergency braking problems show up on the Tesla Model Y?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 3,700 miles across the model years; half of them between 1,000 and 11,000. 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.