Tesla Model Y cruise control problems, 2019–2027
583 of the 4,200 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Tesla Model Y 2019–2027 name the cruise control (NHTSA’s “Vehicle Speed Control” heading — cruise control, adaptive cruise and unintended-acceleration reports). The loudest years: 2023 (167), 2021 (161), 2022 (140). Filed under the same heading across these years: 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 cruise control 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 cruise control | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 31 | 8% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 10 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 37 | 11% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 in depth | 167 | 14% | — | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2022 in depth | 140 | 16% | — | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 161 | 15% | — | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2020 | 37 | 13% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2019 | 0 | — | — | 1 investigation | 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 cruise control. Nothing here is a rate.
When the cruise control complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2020: 7 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 197 · 2023: 172 · 2024: 70 · 2025: 49 · 2026: 60
Across the model years, half of the 41 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the cruise control problem between 1,000 and 13,000 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 cruise control, 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.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while at a stop with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that she rear-ended the vehicle in front as she turned the steering wheel to the left and landed in a ditch.
Vehicle brakes suddenly while driving even when there are no cars or obstacles of any kind in front or even in the distance. This has led to several events where I was almost rear-ended because of how strongly and violently the car was breaking on the highway. Last example was on March 5th 2023 at 1:19 p.m.
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.
I do not have full self driving on my car. However, the cameras installed are active when I use just normal cruise control. Trying to drive between the Minneapolis area to Pipestone, MN on Christmas day the car several times hit the brakes for me unexpectedly while in cruise control.
What is on file about the cruise control, across the years
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 Tesla Model Y
Source: the same files- electrical problems
- automatic emergency braking problems
- steering 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 cruise control complaints?
2023, 167; 2021, 161; 2022, 140. 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 (16%).
Is there a recall for the cruise control on the Tesla Model Y?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading on any of these model years. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do cruise control problems show up on the Tesla Model Y?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 5,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 1,000 and 13,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
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.