YearToAvoid

2023 Tesla Model Y Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 183 Engine-area complaints for the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 16% of its 1,163 total complaints for the year. These complaints involve 36 crashes and 15 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 5,000 miles. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints
183
16% of 1,163
Crashes reported
36
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
15
Median mileage
5,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or maneuvering at low speed, often into curbs, walls, or garage doors.
  • Several drivers say the vehicle accelerated on its own even while the brake pedal was depressed, with no warning lights illuminated.
  • Multiple complaints describe the acceleration event happening within minutes or days of taking delivery, or during routine parking maneuvers performed many times before without issue.
  • Some owners report the vehicle failed to stop despite hard braking, continuing to accelerate until it struck another vehicle, curb, or fixed object.
  • A few complaints note the incident occurred while making a turn or entering a parking lot, resulting in the vehicle jumping curbs or hitting trees.

When 2023 Tesla Model Y engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 18, 2022, latest Sep 15, 2026.

2023 Tesla Model Y engine complaints: complaints filed per month19Nov 2022May 2023Oct 2023Mar 2024Aug 2024Mar 2025Oct 2025May 2026
183 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2022 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2023 (19).

Engine recalls for the 2023 Tesla Model Y

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine 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. 202038 (14%)
  3. 2021175 (16%)
  4. 2022149 (17%)
  5. 2023183 (16%)
  6. 202443 (13%)
  7. 202511 (11%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine-related complaints does the 2023 Tesla Model Y have?
NHTSA lists 183 Engine-area complaints for the 2023 Model Y, which is 16% of all 1,163 complaints filed for this model year.
Are there any recalls tied to the engine complaints?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2023 Model Y.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 5,000 miles.
Do the engine complaints involve crashes or injuries?
Yes. NHTSA data tied to this problem area shows 36 crashes and 15 injuries reported, though 0 fires.
How does 2023 compare to other Model Y years for this issue?
The 2023 Model Y's Engine complaints are 16% of its total, close to 2021 (16%) and 2022 (17%), and higher than 2020 (14%), 2024 (13%), and 2025 (11%).

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.