2021 Tesla Model Y Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 181 brake complaints for the 2021 Tesla Model Y, 17% of all complaints for the year, tied to 18 crashes and 10 injuries at a median 2,500 miles. Tesla issued recall 21V387000 for loose brake caliper bolts on 2020-2021 Model Y and related Model 3 vehicles.
- Brakes complaints
- 181
- 17% of 1,076
- Crashes reported
- 18
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 10
- Median mileage
- 2,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Brake pedal is applied but the vehicle continues moving forward without slowing, sometimes ending in a collision.
- Emergency braking or forward collision warning fails to activate when another vehicle brakes hard ahead.
- Brakes reportedly lock up or 'deadlock' at highway speed, causing a loss of control.
- Vehicle rolls through a parking space or down an incline after the brake pedal is pressed and does not hold.
- Complete loss of power is accompanied by brake failure, forcing the driver off the road to avoid a crash.
- Owners report a caliper-related recall covering loose bolts that can let the caliper contact the wheel rim.
When 2021 Tesla Model Y brake complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 23, 2021, latest May 26, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2021 Tesla Model Y
- NHTSA 21V387000May 25, 2021Brakes5,974 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:critical fasteners
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Model 3 and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles. The brake caliper bolts may be loose, allowing the brake caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim.
Risk: Contact with the rim may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service online by visiting www.tesla.com/support/contact or by calling 1-877-79-TESLA (or 1-877-798-3752). Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-33-002.
Brakes complaints by Model Y model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Are there a lot of brake complaints on the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
- Yes. NHTSA has logged 181 brake-related complaints for this model year, 17% of the 1,076 total complaints filed for 2021, one of the higher shares among all model years for this vehicle.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2021 Tesla Model Y?
- Yes. Recall campaign 21V387000, filed May 25, 2021, covers loose brake caliper bolts on 2020-2021 Model Y (and 2019-2021 Model 3) that could allow a caliper to separate and contact the wheel rim. Tesla Service inspects and tightens or replaces the bolts free of charge.
- At what mileage do 2021 Model Y brake problems usually appear?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 2,500 at failure for brake complaints on this model year, suggesting many issues surface early in ownership.
- Have brake issues caused crashes or injuries on the 2021 Model Y?
- NHTSA records 18 crashes and 10 injuries linked to brake complaints for the 2021 Model Y, with no fires reported.
- Is the brake complaint rate higher in 2021 than other Model Y years?
- Brake complaints made up 17% of all complaints in 2021, higher than 2020 (13%), 2022 (15%), 2023 (13%), 2024 (8%), and about equal to 2025 (15%), based on NHTSA's model-year breakdown.