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Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y is a battery-electric compact crossover built since 2020 that Wikipedia calls the best-selling electric vehicle of all time. Federal recall counts fall from 24 on the 2020, 23 on the 2021 and 20 on the 2022 to 5 on the 2024 and 3 on the 2025, and guides name 2024 and 2025 the years to buy.
What the Tesla Model Y is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Model Y as a battery-electric compact crossover SUV produced by Tesla since 2020, presented in March 2019 as the company's fifth production model and the best-selling electric vehicle of all time. It has had a 2025 refresh and added the long-wheelbase Model Y L. Batteries are lithium iron phosphate on the standard range and nickel-manganese-cobalt on long range and Performance. The 2026 Model Y is rated 105 to 138 mpg-equivalent by the EPA at $550 to $700 a year in fuel, and Kelley Blue Book base prices run from $41,630 for the Standard through $46,630 for the Premium to $59,130 for the Performance.
Best and worst Model Y years
Recall counts show a steady fall as the car matured. The 2020 has 24 recalls, with the electrical system, suspension, exterior lighting and seat belts among them, and 275 complaints. The 2021 has 23 recalls, the 2022 has 20 and the 2023 has 17, with steering and the backup camera appearing in the later years. The 2024 has 5 recalls, the 2025 has 3 recalls and 96 complaints, and the 2026 has 8 so far. See the 2023 and 2022 Model Y pages for those years.
Guides mostly agree. CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says buyers should avoid the 2020 release due to first-year production flaws and carefully inspect any 2021 for heat pump reliability. Car Smite (opens in a new tab) says the years 2020 to 2022 present more problems. REREV (opens in a new tab) lists phantom braking and forward collision avoidance malfunctions in 2021 and 2022 under NHTSA investigation PE22-002, and says the best years to buy are 2024 and 2025, which score at or well above the model average on reliability.
Choosing a year
For a used purchase the recall pattern favors a 2024 or later car, and a 2020 to 2022 car deserves a VIN check for open recalls, a heat pump inspection on the 2021, and a look at which battery it has.
Questions buyers ask
Which Tesla Model Y years should I avoid?
CarsCounsel (opens in a new tab) says to avoid the 2020 and inspect the 2021, and Car Smite says 2020 to 2022 present more problems. REREV (opens in a new tab) names 2024 and 2025 as the best years.
How many recalls does the Model Y have?
Federal data shows 24 on the 2020, 23 on the 2021, 20 on the 2022, 17 on the 2023, 5 on the 2024 and 3 on the 2025.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is built around Electric motor(s), single or dual, rated at 295–510 horsepower across its electric compact SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 5 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2026 Tesla Model Y is published to tow is up to 3,500 lb (with official Tesla Tow Package, all trims).
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2026 Model Y.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Tesla Model Y
Standard and Premium each come in RWD and AWD; Premium RWD is single-motor with the longest range (357 mi), Premium AWD adds a second motor (327 mi), and Performance is the flagship with the shortest range (306 mi).
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
6 indexed Tesla Model Y model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Tesla Model Y | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Tesla Model Y | 2025 record → | |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y | 2023 record → | |
| 2022 Tesla Model Y | 2022 record → | |
| 2021 Tesla Model Y | 2021 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Tesla Model Y.
The Tesla Model Y is a battery electric compact crossover SUV produced by Tesla, Inc. since 2020. Presented in March 2019 as the company's fifth production model, the Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle of all time, having sold more than 2.16 million units worldwide. After its 2019 introduction, the Model Y started production at the Tesla Fremont Factory in California in January 2020.
- Reception
- The Model Y has generally been well received by automotive critics, who have praised its acceleration, interior space, range, and efficiency, while criticizing its firm ride, handling, and styling. Car and Driver and Top Gear both described it as a capable and practical vehicle despite reservations about comfort and design, with Top Gear calling it a "great car to live with".
- Awards
- 2023: Autovista Group Residual Value Award, Compact and Large BEV SUV category. 2024: Auto Trader New Car of the Year. 2024: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+. 2024: Carbuyer Best Company Car; Parkers Best Company Car; BabyCenter Best Family EV.
- Production
- Tesla originally announced plans at the unveil to assemble the Model Y at Giga Nevada (in Sparks, Nevada), along with the battery and drivetrain for the vehicles, unlike the Model 3, where drivetrains and batteries are assembled at Giga Nevada, with final assembly completed at the Tesla Factory in Fremont, California.
- Design
- The Tesla Model Y featured a streamlined crossover design derived from the Model 3 sedan, adopting similar proportions and surface treatment while integrating a higher roofline and hatchback-style tailgate. The overall form emphasized aerodynamics, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.23, with smooth body surfacing and mechanical flush door handles.
- Specifications
- In July 2025, 2020–2024 Tesla Model Y, 2017–2024 Tesla Model 3, 2016–2024 Tesla Model X and 2013–2024 Tesla Model S were recalled for issues with open hood latch detection while in driving state.
Source: Tesla Model Y (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
NHTSA rated the 2025 Tesla Model Y overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (13 campaigns across the latest model years)
- September 2026, Suspension:Critical Fasteners. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y vehicles. One or more front suspension lateral link fasteners may not have been properly tightened, allowing the lateral link to loosen or separate from the sub-frame. Consequence: A lateral link separation could shift the wheel alignment, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
- July 2026, Structure:Body:Bumpers. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2026 Model Y and 2024 Model 3 vehicles. The vehicles were originally built for a foreign market and do not have knee air bags, may not be equipped with certain interior safety countermeasures, and may not… Consequence: A noncompliant vehicle may have reduced occupant protections, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- May 2026, Equipment:Other:Labels. Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Model Y vehicles. The certification label may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 567, "Certification." Consequence: Missing weight information provided by the label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 99 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Tesla Model Y, most often about forward collision avoidance (46), unknown or other (23), lane departure (20).
Year by year
The Tesla Model Y across 8 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Tesla Model Y | 114 | $700 | 1 | |||
| 2026 Tesla Model Y | 105–138 | $550–$700 | 6 | 8 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Tesla Model Y | 104–125 | $600–$750 | 3 | 3 | 96 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Tesla Model Y | 105–120 | $650–$700 | 5 | 5 | 5 stars | |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y | 111–123 | $600–$700 | 3 | 17 | 5 stars | |
| 2022 Tesla Model Y | 111–129 | $600–$700 | 4 | 20 | 5 stars | |
| 2021 Tesla Model Y | 111–129 | $600–$700 | 3 | 23 | 5 stars | |
| 2020 Tesla Model Y | 111–121 | $650–$700 | 3 | 24 | 275 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Tesla Model Y, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 6 to 1 | 121.5 to 114.0 | 326 to 328 | Labels: Model Y L (20in Wheels) | Labels: Model Y Long Range AWD, Model Y Long Range RWD, Model Y Performance AWD, Model Y Standard AWD, and 2 more; Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2025 to 2026 | 3 to 6 | 114.5 to 121.5 | 307 to 326 | Labels: Model Y Standard AWD, Model Y Standard RWD (18in Wheels), Model Y Standard RWD (19in Wheels) | |
| 2024 to 2025 | 5 to 3 | 112.5 to 114.5 | 290 to 307 | Labels: Model Y Long Range AWD-I, Model Y RWD | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 3 to 5 | 117.0 to 112.5 | 305 to 290 | Labels: Model Y Long Range AWD-I, Model Y Long Range RWD, Model Y RWD; Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Labels: Model Y AWD |
| 2022 to 2023 | 4 to 3 | 120.0 to 117.0 | 287 to 305 | Labels: Model Y RWD; Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | |
| 2021 to 2022 | 3 to 4 | 285 to 287 | Labels: Model Y AWD, Model Y RWD | Labels: Model Y Standard Range RWD | |
| 2020 to 2021 | 116.0 to 120.0 | 304 to 285 | Labels: Model Y Standard Range RWD; Drives: Rear-Wheel Drive; Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Labels: Model Y Performance AWD (21in Wheels) |
Buying used
What the Tesla Model Y recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | visibility (windshield wiper/washer); seats (critical fasteners); electrical system (horn); 5 more | None |
| 2025 | 3 | tires (pressure monitoring and regulating systems); back over prevention (software); equipment (other) | 1 fixable over the air |
| 2024 | 5 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); latches/locks/linkages (hood); seats (front assembly); 2 more | 3 fixable over the air |
| 2023 | 17 | exterior lighting (tail lights); suspension (subframe/mounting bracket); steering (automated/adaptive steering); 13 more | 9 fixable over the air |
| 2022 | 20 | suspension; electrical system (adas); electrical system (software); 13 more | 15 fixable over the air |
| 2021 | 23 | seat belts (rear/other); seat belts; service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); 16 more | 15 fixable over the air |
| 2020 | 24 | exterior lighting; suspension (front); seat belts; 17 more | 16 fixable over the air |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| forward collision avoidance | 150 | 40% | 2020 (105) |
| unknown or other | 78 | 21% | 2020 (55) |
| service brakes | 50 | 13% | 2020 (35) |
| lane departure | 48 | 13% | 2020 (29) |
| vehicle speed control | 47 | 13% | 2020 (37) |
| electrical system | 44 | 12% | 2020 (27) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Tesla Model Y trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | AWD | AC Electric Motor | – | – | 4,061 | 3,500 | – | $41,630 |
| Premium | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | – | 4,264 | 3,500 | – | $46,630 |
| Long Range | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | – | 4,396 | 3,500 | – | $46,630 |
| Performance | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | – | 4,264 | 3,500 | – | $59,130 |
| Launch Series Long Range | AWD | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | – | 4,396 | 3,500 | – | $61,630 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Tesla Model Y model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,061–4,396 | 3,500 | – |
| 2025 | 2 | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,416 | – | – |
| 2024 | 3 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,416 | – | – |
| 2023 | 3 | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,416 | – | – |
| 2022 | 2 | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,416 | – | – |
| 2021 | 3 | AC Electric Motor / Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,416 | – | – |
| 2020 | 2 | Dual AC Electric Motors | – | 4,416 | – | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Tesla Model Y: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2025 Tesla Model Y : 3 recalls on file (average across published years is 12.9).
- 2024 Tesla Model Y : 5 recalls on file (average across published years is 12.9).
- 2019 Tesla Model Y : 3 recalls on file (average across published years is 12.9).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2021 Tesla Model Y : 23 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and seat belts.
- 2020 Tesla Model Y : 24 recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system and suspension.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | not available | electrical system, visibility/wipers, seats, equipment |
| 2025 | 3 | 96 | tires, backup camera, equipment |
| 2024 | 5 | not available | electrical system, door latches, seats, tires |
| 2023 | 17 | not available | steering, electrical system, backup camera, exterior lighting |
| 2022 | 20 | not available | electrical system, backup camera, exterior lighting, steering |
| 2021 | 23 | not available | electrical system, seat belts, forward collision system, suspension |
| 2020 | 24 | 275 | electrical system, suspension, exterior lighting, seat belts |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | seat belts, electrical system |
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Tesla Model Y model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Tesla Model Y?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2025, 2024, 2019 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2021, 2020 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Tesla Model Y model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2021 Tesla Model Y has 23 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, seat belts, forward collision system; The 2020 Tesla Model Y has 24 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting electrical system, suspension, exterior lighting. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Tesla Model Y model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2025 Tesla Model Y has 3 recalls on file; The 2024 Tesla Model Y has 5 recalls on file; The 2019 Tesla Model Y has 3 recalls on file: below this model's own average of 12.9. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Tesla Model Y by model year?
2026: electrical system, visibility/wipers, seats, equipment. 2025: tires, backup camera, equipment. 2024: electrical system, door latches, seats, tires. 2023: steering, electrical system, backup camera, exterior lighting. 2022: electrical system, backup camera, exterior lighting, steering. 2021: electrical system, seat belts, forward collision system, suspension.
Q05Why do some Tesla Model Y model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Tesla Model Y model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Climate and electrical, Brakes, tires and steering.
2021 Tesla Model Y owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering.
2020 Tesla Model Y owners specifically: see Climate and electrical and Brakes, tires and steering and Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Tesla Model Y is most often compared with.
Nearest Tesla models
Other Tesla models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 Model Y come in?
The 2026 Tesla Model Y (electric compact SUV) comes in 5 trims: Standard RWD, Standard AWD, Premium RWD, Premium AWD, Performance.
Q02What are the 2026 Model Y trims?
The 2026 Tesla Model Y trims are Standard RWD, Standard AWD, Premium RWD, Premium AWD, Performance, listed from the entry Standard RWD up to the top Performance.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 Model Y use?
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is built around Electric motor(s), single or dual, rated at 295–510 horsepower across its electric compact SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 Model Y have?
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is rated at 295–510 horsepower (Electric motor(s), single or dual).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 Model Y?
The 2026 Tesla Model Y is offered with RWD / AWD.