Window & Wiper complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On [redacted] at approximately 8:30 PM, the vehicle was operating under Full Self-Driving (Supervised) mode when it failed to detect or react to a stationary pole, resulting in a front-end collision. 1 System Failed: The Full Self-Driving software, Tesla Vision camera system, and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) failed to detect the obstacle or apply brakes. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2 Safety Risk: The autonomous driving software drove the vehicle directly into a fixed object without warning, creating a severe collision risk for occupants and nearby pedestrians. 3 Confirmed by Dealer: Yes. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center in [redacted] on [redacted], where technicians officially captured and logged the diagnostic vehicle data for this specific incident under my active service file. …
I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the forward-facing cameras on my Tesla Model Y. The vehicle relies on these cameras for critical driver-assistance functions, including Tesla's FSD system. However, the camera area is prone to accumulating dust, dirt, moisture, and other contamination during normal driving. When this happens, camera performance can be degraded and driver-assistance functions can become restricted or unavailable. More importantly, the current design makes proper cleaning unnecessarily difficult. To access and clean the camera area properly, the camera cover/housing must be removed. This is not a reasonable or practical routine-maintenance procedure for a component that is essential to the vehicle's safety systems. It creates a recurring risk that camera contamination will remain uncorrected. …
I am reporting a safety incident involving my 2025 Tesla Model Y and Full Self-Driving. While driving with Full Self-Driving engaged... latest update, the vehicle steered into an express-lane barrier/bar structure. The impact caused severe windshield damage and apparent body damage near the passenger-side A-pillar / windshield frame / roof rail area. The windshield is heavily cracked across the driver's side and center area, and the vehicle is not safe to drive. I was able to get home safely and filed an insurance claim. I preserved TeslaCam footage and photos of the damage. The in-vehicle Tesla playback shows Full Self-Driving engaged during the incident. I also copied the TeslaCam files from the vehicle's USB drive. The exported video file does not appear to show the same Full Self-Driving overlay that appears in the in-vehicle playback. …
Vehicle Component: Exterior Mirrors Make: Tesla Model: Model Y Model Year(s): 2022, 2023, 2024 (and ongoing) Problem Description: Since the 2022 model year, the Tesla Model Y has exhibited a recurring issue with excessive vibration in the driver side exterior mirror at highway speeds. The vibration becomes noticeable around 50 mph and increases in severity with speed, making it difficult to clearly see vehicles in the adjacent lane. This issue persists even after mirror replacements or realignments, indicating a possible design or manufacturing defect affecting multiple vehicles. The vibration affects driver visibility and could pose a significant safety risk, particularly during lane changes or merging maneuvers. Numerous Model Y owners have reported similar complaints in forums and online communities, suggesting this may be a widespread issue. …
The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in the rain, the auto windshield wipers failed to function as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30.
Widespread issues acknowledged privately by Tesla service managers, advisors, and engineers. Affects all models built from July 2024 to present with most recent "AP4" computer and hardware, primarily out of Fremont factory. Suddenly, computer is short circuiting. This results in MULTIPLE systems failing given effectively ALL systems are dependent upon this "AP4" computer and hardware, and initially causes GPS and Camera sensors to fail also. This system failure includes: -federally required rear view vision system -adaptive cruise control -automatic emergency braking -blind spot warning -forward collision warning -lane departure warning -lane keeping assistance -parking collision warning -rear cross traffic warning -visibility and wiper systems -all external lighting systems -speed control Internally, Tesla service advisors and managers are being told to advise customers that vehicles …
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. …
Related recalls (2)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. The hose connector may block the windshield washer nozzles, preventing washer fluid from reaching the windshield. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 104, "Windshield Wiping and…
Remedy: Tesla service will inspect and replace the wiper arm elbow connector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.
Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032.
Frequently asked questions
Which Tesla Model Y years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2023 (63), 2021 (50), 2022 (33), 2020 (16) and 2024 (10) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2023.
Is there a recall for Tesla Model Y window & wiper problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 25V-359 (linkages, May 29, 2025); 22V-702 (power window devices and controls, Sep 19, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Tesla Model Y window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 5,000 miles; 93% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the rearview mirrors/devices › exterior (3 mentions), followed by the glass, side/rear (2).
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.