Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Tesla Model Y owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH and depressing the brake pedal; however, the vehicle accelerated independently and failed to brake without warning. The contact assured there were no distractions that could have caused the crash. Due to the failure, the contact crashed into another vehicle as the air bags deployed. Despite the air bag deployment, the vehicle continued to accelerate and repeatedly hit the same vehicle. The brake pedal eventually responded after depressing multiple times to the floorboard and the vehicle finally came to a stop. The contact did not sustain any injuries and did not seek medical treatment. The driver of the other vehicle did not report any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard. …
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that his wife was driving at 5 -10 MPH and traffic ahead was slowing down, the vehicle in front stopped and the driver depressed the brake pedal however the vehicle then unintendedly accelerated. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front. No warning lights were illuminated and no air bags were deployed. No police report was filed due to no injuries being sustained and the insurance company would be handling the incident. The vehicle was towed to a body center where it was diagnosed that the front air bag sensors were fractured in half and failed to activate the air bags but did activate the seat belts during the impact. The vehicle was not repaired, and the repair decision from the insurance company was pending. A dealer was not contacted. …
The contact's sister owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while her sister was driving on the highway(speed unknown) with the autopilot engaged, an 18-wheeler drifted into her lane and hit her vehicle. Due to the impact, her sister's vehicle hit another vehicle and bounced back and forth between both vehicles. The vehicle continued to the drive despite the accident and no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The airbags also failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact's sister and her mother, the passenger in the vehicle, were taken to the emergency room where they were treated for various body aches and bruising. The whereabouts of the other drivers involved in the accident were unknown. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer have yet to be notified of the failure. …
The contact owned a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously involved in a crash, and the air bags had failed to deploy. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, in severe stormy weather, the vehicle hydroplaned, and he lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the passenger's side quarter panel of the vehicle struck a pole, and the passenger's side of the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated there were no other vehicles involved. The contact stated he did not sustain any injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was totaled. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the lane assist feature operated independently as he attempted to merge into the right lane. Due to the failure, the vehicle pulled back into the left lane which caused the vehicle to spin in a circle and crash into a median. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact was not injured as a result of the accident. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was initially towed to the dealer where he was informed that the vehicle would be towed to an independent body shop for repair. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 24,300.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the message "Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault" was displayed on the instrument panel. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,400.
**What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The vehicle experienced a critical failure immediately on the same day of purchase, rendering it not functioning or inoperable. It was deemed to be preexisting from the dealership I bought it from. The battery is malfunctioning affecting the driving capacity and range. --- **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The failure created a significant safety concern, as the vehicle was not operating reliably immediately after purchase. This placed me at risk of being stranded and potentially exposed to hazardous conditions, including loss of transportation in unsafe or uncontrolled environments. Or stopping while driving. …
Description of Safety Incident:The front passenger safety restraint system failed, displaying the warning alert: "Seats - Front passenger safety restraint system fault / Service is required." This alert disables or suppresses the front passenger airbag and seatbelt restraint system, creating a direct safety hazard for front-seat occupants.Service History & Recurring Defect:On February 26, 2025 (at 50,596 miles), Tesla Service Center diagnosed an open circuit in the front passenger seat harness/back frame. Under Service Bulletin / SRS Warranty, Tesla replaced the front seat back, seat harness assembly (PN: 1489060-03-G), occupancy sensor (PN: 1099592-00-F), and SBR sensor clip (PN: 1130363-00-B). …
On September 23, 2026, the vehicle was being driven at low speed when the driver experienced sudden and unexpected acceleration. The vehicle rapidly accelerated and a collision occurred. The driver reports that she did not intentionally accelerate the vehicle to this degree. Vehicle data and the Event Data Recorder (EDR) were subsequently obtained. The data records the vehicle accelerating from approximately 0 mph to approximately 35 mph in about four seconds, with the recorded accelerator-pedal-position signal reaching 100%. The EDR does not record brake application before the first crash trigger. Vehicle data records driver brake application shortly after the initial crash trigger, including ABS activity. The cause of the accelerator-pedal-position signal is UNKNOWN. …
"Front passenger Safety restraint system fault, service required" RCM2_a636 message keeps appearing on the screen. It happened right after I bought the car, so I took it to Tesla to fix. It went away for a few months and now it's back again. According to Tesla, this fault, " Based on the airbag system's self-diagnostic checks, a persistent fault has been detected in one or more safety restraint components. This could involve seat belts, impact sensors, occupant sensors, or related safety components. If the airbag warning indicator stays on, the vehicle should not be driven until inspected. Recurring faults require immediate Tesla service attention. Pre-tensioner or sensor damage can compromise proper seat belt functionality." This is a serious safety issue that should be addressed in a recall as it could jeopardize occupant safety of the seat belts or air bags do not work. …
Airbag complaints in other Model Y years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the air bags of the 2021 Tesla Model Y, 2% of the model year's 1,091 complaints. The component named most often is sensor › occupant classification (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Tesla Model Y airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2021 Tesla Model Y, though it has 23 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Tesla Model Y airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 57% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.