2020 Tesla Model Y Service Brakes Problems

NHTSA component category: SERVICE BRAKES · data through 11/01/2026

37Service Brakes complaints

13.1%Of all 283 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How service brakes ranks on this vehicle

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL73 · 25.8%

Unspecified / other57 · 20.1%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING46 · 16.3%

SERVICE BRAKES37 · 13.1%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL35 · 12.4%

Share of the 283 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Tesla Model Y overview page.

What owners report

“The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving at various speeds with the adaptive cruise control activated the vehicle would…”NHTSA complaint 11452659 — filed 02/18/2022

“It's called phantom braking and it's absolutely dangerous. It happens when on auto pilot.”NHTSA complaint 11450508 — filed 02/04/2022

“On 5/24/21, I was driving in the rain on a busy 6 lane highway.I was driving under speed limit. The car hydroplaned across 3 lanes…”NHTSA complaint 11418414 — filed 05/24/2021

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Service Brakes complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Tesla Model Y have service brakes problems?

Service Brakes is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2020 Tesla Model Y: 37 of 283 complaints on file (13.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Tesla Model Y have in total?

283 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 11/01/2026. Across all categories, 48 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 26 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's service brakes category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the SERVICE BRAKES category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 11/01/2026.