2021 Tesla Model Y engine problems
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2021 Tesla Model Y — 1% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I parked my Tesla vehicle in a friend’s driveway. When I returned and opened the driver’s door, I entered the vehicle and attempted to put it into Drive. At that point, the vehicle display went completely blank and the vehicle became inoperable. I then attempted to open the door from inside the…”
filed Jan 12, 2026
“I am filing this complaint regarding a high-voltage battery defect in my 2021 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle has been diagnosed by Tesla Service, and both the technician and service advisor confirmed that the high-voltage battery has an internal short. This is a critical failure involving the primary…”
filed Dec 9, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Engine problems in other Model Y years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Model Y | 2 | 1% |
| 2025 Model Y | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 Model Y | 8 | 3% |
| 2023 Model Y | 20 | 2% |
| 2022 Model Y | 11 | 1% |
| 2020 Model Y | 1 | 0% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Tesla Model Y
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.