Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2023 Tesla Model Y owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This vehicle forces the "Automatic Wiper" setting to be on whenever cruise control is engaged. Wipers will come on randomly when there is no rain or when wipers are not necessary. Yesterday it happened over 30 times on a dry day distracting the driver and finally we just had to drive without any cruise control or driver assist functions on, which increases the changes of not maintaining a safe and constant speed along with lane keeping in some circumstances. I live in a rural area with lots of bugs and dust. When wipers actuate unnecessarily it smears bugs all over the window decreasing visibility and eventually scratching the glass from the wipers grinding dust into the windshield. We clean the windshield often but can't stop during the middle of a trip to clean the windshield whenever a bug hits the sensor. …
While using adaptive cruise, Tesla requires that the beta automatic windshield wiper function be enabled. When this function is active, the windshield can quickly become smeared due to false positive detections, or even during accurate moisture detection though the driver's vision is not impaired enough to warrant wiper usage. The driver has no ability to disable this feature in favor of their own judgment for determining when the windshield should be safely cleared. Even having put only 7000 miles on my 2023 Tesla Model Y, I have been in multiple situations where the wipers turn on unexpectedly and smear the windshield. Situations which are especially dangerous are when driving directly into sunlight, and in cold weather conditions when the wipers smear freezing moisture in my field of view. …
My tesla is supposed to have "automatic" wipers that go on by themselves to keep the windshield clear so one can drive in rain. Manual wiper speed control is difficult because the driver has to look at center screen and use menus to select a speed. There is no intermittent wipers control; the lowest speed setting is too fast for light range. Only one pass operation is possible without using the center console while driving which is dangerous. The automatic wipers are very erratic, sometimes running faster than needed or coming on when it's not raining to other times hardly coming on at all making it very difficult to see and making driving very accident prone. The poor operation can, of course, adversely affect the proper operation of the automatic driving capability too since that depends on vision by cameras through windshield. Other owners I know voice the same concerns. …
I have a complaint about the wiper system. The wiper settings include "Off", "Auto", and numbers 1-4 corresponding to different wiper speeds. The "Auto" detection is based on the front facing camera rather than any rain sensors, and is incredibly inconsistent. It regularly turns on the wipers in completely clear and dry conditions and often fails to turn on the wipers even in heavy rain. This would be more of an annoyance than an issue if it were possible to adjust the wiper speed manually, but it seems that the wipers still utilize some form of auto detection even when set to numbers 1-4. In this particular incident, I was driving in heavy rain, and had the wipers set to "4", the highest setting. Even in this setting, the wiper speed would often slow down regardless of the weather conditions, drastically reducing visibility in an unpredictable manner. …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? HVAC heat pump and defrost/defog system failure. The failure caused immediate fogging/condensation on the windshield and door windows. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and no parts have been removed. [Tesla Model/Year, VIN last 8]. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Sudden loss of forward and side visibility made it impossible to see lane markings, surrounding traffic, or mirrors, preventing a safe lane change or pull-over to the shoulder. This created a risk of collision with vehicles ahead or beside me. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes but they are not covering it. …
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. …
Summary of Complaint: My 2023 Tesla Model Y has had two roof glass failures in three months (two glass roof replacements). Both times, the glass cracked from small road debris while driving under normal city conditions. Safety Concern The roof glass appears unusually fragile and prone to cracking, raising concerns about whether it meets industry standards for impact resistance and occupant safety. The rapid failure rate (two roof glass panels in three months) suggests a potential design or materials defect rather than isolated incidents of road damage. If roof glass panels cannot withstand normal road debris, this presents a safety risk for drivers and passengers, as well as for other motorists if large shards detach while driving. The roof glass seems unusually fragile. Two failures in such a short time suggest a design or material defect. …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Driver's side rear view mirror. Mirror vibrates to a point where rear view is blurred and no longer clearly visible to driver. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? No event, however I have been unable to clearly see traffic behind me when traveling 60mph+ due this defect. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, I have taken it to the Tesla dealership in Raleigh, NC 3 times for the same issue. They have openly acknowledged the defect across all Model Y's and have no fix. The team tightened the mirror, replaced the mirror, added padding behind without any luck. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? …
The problem here is the cruise control or autopilot. It first appeared when I bought the car. It continues to appear when driving on cruise control or autopilot. The car brakes harsh or suddenly stops. No messages or warning. Sometimes when driving under a ramp or sometimes when nothing is there it stops. I went to the Tesla shop many time and they can't find any issue. I can't drive using the auto pilot or cruise control. It's not safe and my passengers. The other issue is the wipers start working when no rain but when you have auto or autopilot on. Please fix this issue. It has become a problem for me. I have taken it many times to the shop and they can't find issue. No messages or warning. Another issue occurred two weeks. It's regarding TPMS. A warning sign appeared on the dash state faulty. I took it to the shop 4x and they've tried to fix it but it continues to show up. …
I bought this car on March 2023. The windshield blades won't stop running on auto. I kept it turned off, but when I engage the adaptive cruise control, it goes back on and I can't turn it off. I made a service request on May 10 and Tesla cancelled the appointment saying the issue was resolved because it was a software issue, not a hardward issue. I was advised that wait for over the air update. I have had 3 over the air updates and the issues continuous. This is no my first tesla and this was never a software problem with my previous car. I also have another tesla Y 2021 that doesn't have the problem either. I have contacted Tesla again and they don't have a solution. One of the main reason I keep buying teslas is because I have problems with my arms and need to use the adaptive cruise control with lane centring to easy my arm pain. …
Window & Wiper complaints in other Model Y years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 2023 Tesla Model Y?
NHTSA has 63 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 5% of the model year's 1,185 complaints. The component named most often is glass, side/rear (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2023 Tesla Model Y window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof recall for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, though it has 17 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.
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.