Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
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).
Heard loud clicking noises upfront when turning hard out of parking spot.Immediately I Checked front wheels manually on looseness, but could not detect any movement. Decided to drive home (20miles).I was very careful not to steer to hard through curves. Upon turn into my driveway ( hard right turn which I took very slow) ,left front wheel suspension came unhooked and an approx 3" long x 1/2" galvanized bolt fell onto driveway. My 2020Tesla Model Y was stuck at the bottom of driveway. My company mechanic came about an hour later ,jacked up the left side,removed front left wheel : the bolt as pictured below had loosened entirely from its nut and galled off releasing the wheel suspension and allowing the wheel to come loose . We temporarily fixed the bolt and drove the ModelY into our garage ( flat surface) 500 feet further uphill. …
On June, 4th, 2021 in the morning I went to Markham Park with my 13 year old daughter for the covid vaccine. We arrived and right after the shot on her we stopped our Tesla in a line where we should wait for about 15/20 minutes to see if everything was fine with my daughter. While the car was stopped in the line, I was talking to my daughter and the car started moving in the direction of the car in front of us and it hit the car many time till I turned the steering wheel to go away from there. Everything was very fast and confusing. I`m still trying to understand what happened with the car. The car was out of control and the car never tried to break or stop. I think it has stopped because I pressed the P button. I am so frightened and scared about what happened. My daughter and I, the passengers in the car in front of us and the people in the park could have been seriously injured. …
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y equipped with Continental Pro Contact RX tires, Tire Size 5255/4R/19XL(N/A). While driving at approximately 60 MPH, the contact stated that the front driver side tire popped as the low air pressure warning light appeared on the instrument panel. The contact pulled the vehicle over and had the vehicle towed to an independent tire mechanic. The mechanic could not determine the cause of the tire failure and did not have the proper tire size to replace the defective tire. The tire mechanic was finally able to order the tire from another city and repaired the tire nearly a week after the initial failure. The vehicle manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had been repaired. The tire failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Pro Contact, Tire Size: 255/45/R19, DOT Number: IVY0FBJJL. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 65 MPH, the TPMS warning illuminated and the contact was advised to pull off the road. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side tire had disintegrated and the entire tread had separated from the side wall. The contact had the vehicle towed to a tire dealer and had the rear passenger's side tire replaced; however, the failure reoccurred without warning light. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the tire was not inspected. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,926.
The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the TPMS warning light illuminated, with the "TPMS Fault" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with TMPS failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with an undisclosed recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
A little background information, on Dec 2023 I installed 4 new Hankook Ion Evo AS (255/45R19) for my Tesla model Y at the Correa Tire shop in Dorado Puerto Rico and the manufacture date on those tires was 4422 and at the time the car had close to 30k miles. On April 2025 one of the tires broke and I replaced it at the same place with the same tire model. Less than a month after the new tire was installed, while riding on the highway at close to 65mph the recently replaced tire completely broke off leaving only the sides and the rest of the tire flew off the car (see pictures attached). This happened suddenly with no previous indication or car notification of any issue with the tire. Fortunately, I was able to stop the car without losing control and apparently the tire did not hit other oncoming cars. …
The vehicle lost steering at 10 mph as a bolt from the front suspension's upper control arm and lateral link fasteners became loose and detached rom the vehicle. The wheel was completely misaligned, and the vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle could not be moved to the side of the road, putting my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. I fear that this could have been a fatal accident had I been on the highway. This issue has been confirmed by Tesla Service Center, and they acknowledged that this is a known issue. There were no warning indicators or recall notices sent to warn of this known issue. My vehicle should have been recalled. Tesla is making me pay $3,000 for repairs despite knowing this is a manufacturer defect, and they are continuing to put lives at risk by not issuing a wider recall.
I was backing up from the parking lot and heard a clank. I immediately got out to check what happened and saw that the suspension had completely detached itself from the wheel (see pictures). The wheel immediately started to go sideways. If I was on the highway or on the road this would have 100% caused an accident and quite possibly my life. Tesla says there is no recall and is blaming the problem on me. If this isn't recalled and fixed on other Tesla models, this will cause a crash and serious injury or even death to the driver/passengers and other drivers. This is a major safety issue and needs to be addressed as soon as possible. I am lucky, but others may not be. I don't know why there was not a recall. Tesla needs to take responsibility.
An independent tire shop and Tesla both told me my rear passenger wheel is bent. The tire on that wheel has been slowly bleeding air for the last month or so. This vehicle has 9500 miles and is not driven recklessly whatsoever. The wheel is available for inspection - I have swapped it off for another. The vehicle now shakes when driven at highway speeds and is a problem that Tesla and an independent tire store have both been unable to remedy. No warning lamps/lights/signals appear. This shaking suddenly started on 7/5, 2-3 weeks after the tire started bleeding air.
I was driving into a parking lot and heard a loud bang. I get out of my car and see that the metal that connects the tire to the car came down and screws came out. It is not drivable. I know this is not something normal and shouldn't happen. This is very dangerous and I am grateful I wasn't on the freeway when it happened. I was not involved in any collision and i did not hit anything. This simply happened on its own
Related recalls
Tires › Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Model Y years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2021 Tesla Model Y, 2% of the model year's 1,091 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Tesla Model Y wheel & tire problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-935 (pressure monitoring and regulating systems, Dec 17, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2021 Tesla Model Y wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles, and 60% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries and 1 death to wheels & tires 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.