YearToAvoid

2023 Tesla Model Y Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 40 airbag complaints for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 3% of its 1,163 total complaints. These reports involve 21 crashes and 17 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 28,000 miles, and no related recall has been issued.

Airbags complaints
40
3% of 1,163
Crashes reported
21
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
17
Median mileage
28,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during moderate to severe collisions, including head-on and T-bone impacts.
  • Owners report airbags not deploying even after a crash totals the vehicle, leaving occupants unprotected.
  • Some crashes involve a white powder or burning odor release without actual airbag deployment.
  • In at least one case a deployed airbag released gel that burned the driver's wrist.
  • Several complaints link airbag non-deployment to sudden loss of steering or braking control just before the crash.

When 2023 Tesla Model Y airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 2, 2023, latest Sep 22, 2026.

2023 Tesla Model Y airbags complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2023Jun 2023Feb 2024Jul 2024Dec 2024Feb 2026Sep 2026
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2024 (4).

Airbags recalls for the 2023 Tesla Model Y

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Model Y model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20190 (0%)
  2. 202017 (6%)
  3. 202123 (2%)
  4. 202219 (2%)
  5. 202340 (3%)
  6. 20249 (3%)
  7. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does the 2023 Tesla Model Y have?
NHTSA lists 40 airbag-related complaints for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, making up 3% of the 1,163 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2023 Tesla Model Y airbags?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for the airbag problem area on the 2023 Tesla Model Y.
How serious are the airbag complaints on the 2023 Tesla Model Y?
Of the 40 airbag complaints, 21 involved a crash and 17 involved an injury, with one also involving a fire.
At what mileage do airbag problems tend to show up on the 2023 Model Y?
The median mileage at failure among reported airbag complaints is 28,000 miles.
How does the 2023 Model Y compare to other years for airbag complaints?
The 2023 Model Y has 40 airbag complaints (3% share), higher in count than 2020 (17), 2021 (23), and 2022 (19), though 2020 had a higher share at 6%.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.