2020 Tesla Model Y Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems
NHTSA lists 111 Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints for the 2020 Tesla Model Y, 40% of all 278 complaints for the year. These complaints are linked to 16 crashes and 6 injuries, with a median failure mileage of 4,000 miles, and four related recalls address software issues in this system.
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
- 111
- 40% of 278
- Crashes reported
- 16
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 6
- Median mileage
- 4,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 5
Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report
- Owners report phantom braking, where the vehicle suddenly applies brakes hard with no obstacle present, sometimes triggering hydroplaning or near rear-end collisions.
- Some drivers describe the rearview camera dropping frames or freezing while backing up at low speed, with no dashboard warning shown.
- Several complaints describe autopilot suddenly accelerating the vehicle at a red light or in traffic, leading to a rear-end collision.
- Owners report the car unexpectedly veering out of its lane or toward oncoming traffic while lane-keeping or autopilot features were active.
- A pattern of sudden, uncommanded acceleration is described while parking or at low speed, sometimes with the driver's foot off the accelerator.
When 2020 Tesla Model Y collision avoidance system complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 27, 2020, latest Aug 18, 2026.
Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2020 Tesla Model Y
- NHTSA 26V283000May 4, 2026Collision Avoidance & Cameras218,868 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Back over prevention:software
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017, 2021-2023 Model 3, 2020-2023 Model Y, 2021-2023 Model S, and Model X vehicles operating software version 2026.8.6. The rearview camera image may be delayed when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A delayed rearview image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-26-00-001.
- NHTSA 24V153000Feb 27, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras6,557 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Forward collision avoidance: warnings:external/pedestrian alert
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Risk: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, release 2023.44.30.14, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 27, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-006.
- NHTSA 22V235000Apr 12, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras594,894 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Forward collision avoidance: warnings:external/pedestrian alert
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Risk: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall supersedes recall 22V-063. Vehicles configured with Summon or Smart Summon and already remedied under 22V-063 will need to have the new remedy software installed.
- NHTSA 22V063000Feb 4, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras578,607 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Forward collision avoidance: warnings:external/pedestrian alert
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."
Risk: Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will disable the Boombox functionality when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral and Reverse modes, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-003. Note: This recall has been superseded by Recall 22V-235. Tesla's number for the new recall is SB-22-00-003.
- NHTSA 21V846000Oct 29, 2021Collision Avoidance & Cameras11,728 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
Risk: Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.
Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by Model Y model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints does the 2020 Tesla Model Y have?
- NHTSA lists 111 complaints in this category for the 2020 Model Y, which is 40% of the 278 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall related to these camera and collision avoidance issues?
- Yes. NHTSA lists four related recalls, including campaigns 26V283000, 24V153000, 22V235000, 22V063000, and 21V846000, covering software issues like delayed rearview camera images, muted pedestrian warnings, unwanted Boombox sounds, and false forward-collision warnings.
- At what mileage do these problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 4,000 miles.
- Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these complaints?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area show 16 crashes and 6 injuries among the 111 complaints filed.
- How does 2020 compare to other Model Y years for this issue?
- The 2020 model year had 111 complaints (40% share) in this area, lower in raw count than 2021 (594, 55%) and 2022 (505, 59%), but the category remains a large share of total complaints across all years.