2023 Tesla Model Y Engine Problems

Mileage when the problem started

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2023 Tesla Model Y owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

On Saturday 16th Oct 2026 around 10 AM EST, while driving down the ramp from Parking Floor 2 to Parking Floor 1 in the JFK Terminal 4 Short Term Parking garage (John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York), the Tesla vehicle suddenly accelerated forward very fast on its own without any input on the accelerator pedal. Either I was not pressing the gas pedal at the time, or I was slowing pressing as the car was going down on ramp. The car surged ahead with significant force and struck a fence at the bottom/end of the ramp area. There were two passengers in the vehicle. No other vehicles were involved. The impact caused: My Tesla Model Y to sustain severe front-end damage and appear to be a total loss. Injuries to both passengers. Minor scratches on my hands. …

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, a message that the vehicle was shutting down was displayed and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle started operating normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that a wiring harness clip was not clipped correctly. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 41.

On [redacted], I was at [redacted] waiting for green light, as soon as the light changed. I hit the drive but the car suddenly lost control and speed up and I couldn't stop. I try my best not to hit any people or any cars and ended up hitting the board on the right. I never smoke or drink alcohol. never did any drugs, I didn't hold phone. It was absolutely an uncontrollable incident very unfortunate but totally out my control I wish this never have happened as I have good driving record. Thank you, your honor !

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, stalled, and shutoff. The vehicle was restarted. The message, "Vehicle Will Shut Down - Pull Over Safely" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 5,100.

Vehicle: Tesla Model Y Blue Purchased in Oct' 23 Tesla setting: Regenerative braking (single pedal driving) Issue: Brake Pedal/Acceleration Pedal Malfunction I was pulling my car out from the parking lot to pick up my mom, from the hospital entrance. I just turned right and had to take an immediate left to leave out of the parking lot. The Tesla was driving at approximately 5 miles an hour at that point. I lifted my foot from the gas pedal for the car to stop with its regenerative braking. However, instead of coming to a stop, the Tesla started rapidly accelerating, with my foot not even on the pedal. When I slammed the brakes, the car was unresponsive and continued accelerating. I started honking madly to warn people that I had no control over the car I was driving. …

On November 16, 2025, my Tesla Model Y experienced a complete and dangerous failure while driving. The touchscreen went totally blank and stopped responding. All essential driving information and safety functions were lost, including speedometer, gear selection, turn signals, HVAC/defrost, and vehicle controls. At the same time, the car made a continuous loud humming/buzzing sound and displayed a low coolant warning. This made the vehicle unsafe to operate because I could not see my speed, cannot shift properly, and could not access any safety controls. This is the second time my vehicle has experienced a critical malfunction. The first major incident occurred on July 28, 2025. A complaint has been filed with the NHTSA under tracking number 11676662. …

After just 250 miles on the car and just after one month of the purchase, my wife along with my 4 years old daughter was driving to get my 7 years old son from the school when it suddenly stopped on the road with displaying errors on the screen as follows, the car battery was sufficiently charged, later from the inspecting what it appeared that the "rear drive unit" of the car got screwed up. Warning and error messages were: "Acceleration and top speed reduced" "Power Reduced" There was a huge school traffic jammed behind the car, luckily other car owners offered help but the car was not moving, it stranded in the middle of the road. We contacted Tesla they towed the car after one hour of the call, they kept the car for a week and told us the whole new "rear drive unit" need to be replaced. After a frustrating experience they offered no replacement but to fix the car. …

On 2 occasions, my 2023 Tesla Model Y, accelerated more than expected with the slightest pressure to the accelerator pedal. No one was injured and no damage done, however, damage and injury COULD have resulted if this happened at a different place and time. At this time, I have not contacted the dealer as recent Google searches revealed other such complaints having been reported. The outcome was determined to be driver error each time. This, because the vehicle has no way of recording speed at time of accelerator depression. The acceleration was NOT in proportion to the surprise result, instead a "spurt of speed" rather than the slower anticipated speed required when pulling into the garage or into a parking spot. …

While driving on I-95 North in the fast lane at highway speed, my 2023 Tesla Model Y experienced a sudden loss of propulsion and displayed a warning indicating the vehicle was shutting down. The vehicle rapidly decelerated and would not respond to acceleration or drive engagement. Steering remained functional, which allowed me to maneuver the vehicle across lanes to the shoulder to avoid a potential collision. This required an emergency maneuver in active highway traffic with my family in the vehicle. A soft reset did not resolve the issue. After performing a hard reset, I was able to move the vehicle slowly off the roadway to a nearby location where it was later towed. This incident occurred without prior warning and created a significant safety hazard due to sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed.

Driving 70mph on the highway, car abruptly clunked and three warning messages appeared. APP_W009 Automatic Emergency Braking is disabled; DIF_A062 Power reduced; and BMS_a170 Acceleration and top speed recuded. Car immediately dropped to 40mph and gave me enough time to exit the freeway to the shoulder. After putting in park, the car would no longer shift into any gear. Soft reset and full reset, exiting and re-entering the car didn't fix the issue. Tow required. Failure of rear motor (inverter) was cited in the service center. Seems to be a common issue across Model 3 (as far back as 2017), Model Y (deliveries in Nov/Dec 2022) and Model S (the last 3-4 years). Very dangerous if someone had hit us when it decelerated hard on the highway. Traveling with a 6yr old in a car seat. Only 500 miles on the car.

Engine complaints in other Model Y years