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Tesla Model Y VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on a Tesla Model Y VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 43 NHTSA recall campaigns for 2020–2026 cover that year.

VIN prefix7SA5YJ

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Tesla Model Y

About the Tesla Model Y

Tesla has sold the Model Y in the US since the 2020 model year. Across those years NHTSA lists 43 vehicle recall campaigns and 4,201 owner complaints. The 2023 has the most complaints of any model year (1,168). It is electric; EPA rates it at 104–138 MPGe combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2020–2026
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle
NHTSA recall campaigns43
Owner complaints4,201 at NHTSA
Tesla Model Y photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Tesla Model Y at a glance

One generation in the data, 2020–2026: 43 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4,201 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Model Y
2020–2026Small Sport Utility Vehicle
Tesla Model Y (2020–2026)

Photo: © M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

20202025
2020–2026

Tesla Model Y

EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle
EPA combined MPGe104–138
NHTSA recalls43

Engines (EPA)

  • Electric · 2020–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • automatic (2020–2026)

Known issues to check

Forward collision avoidance (2,687)Speed control / acceleration (583)Brakes (560)

Mentions in 4,201 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Model Y5YJYGDEE?MF······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2021 Tesla Model Y, built in Fremont, California
Check a Model Y VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Model Y model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 43 campaigns on file for Model Y model years 2020–2026, and the 2020 shows up in more of them than any other year (24), ahead of the 2021 (23). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2020
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Tesla Model Y owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2023 and 2021 hold 2,248 of the 4,201 complaints, or 54%. Tap any bar or generation.

4,201NHTSA complaints, 2020–2026
558mention a crash
26mention a fire
391injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearModel Y: 4,201 complaints · most for the 2023 (1,168)

Top complaint areas · Model Y

Mentions in 4,201 complaints, 2020–2026.

Forward collision avoidance2,687
Speed control / acceleration583
Brakes560
Electrical system556
Steering465
Lane departure440
Crashes 558Fires 26Injuries 391

2020–2026

NHTSA data summary

Forward collision avoidance owns this generation. Its 2,687 mentions are more than twice the next area, speed control / acceleration (583). Of the seven model years, the 2023 (1,168) and 2021 (1,080) drew the most complaints.

What Model Y owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2020–present (1st generation)

Phantom braking dominates owner complaints. Forward collision avoidance is by far the largest NHTSA category for the 2021 and 2022, with owners describing hard, sudden braking on Autopilot or cruise control with nothing ahead, a topic also discussed on r/TeslaModelY. Some 2021 owners on Reddit report the heater failing in subzero weather, and a recall fixed heat pump software that could reduce windshield defrosting. CarComplaints has only a few reports, including a car that would not wake from sleep and early 12-volt battery failures. Recalls also cover suspension knuckles on 2020–2022 cars that may fracture. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the suspension knuckle recall on 2020–2022 cars and the software recalls.
  • Ask for service records on the heat pump, 12-volt battery and suspension.
  • On the drive, use cruise control on an open road to see how often it brakes without reason, and in cold weather confirm the cabin heats and the windshield defrosts.
Sources (5) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2021 Tesla Model Y
  2. r/TeslaModelY thread, phantom braking
  3. r/TeslaModelY thread, 2021 Model Y heater failing in subzero cold
  4. CarComplaints.com, 2021 Tesla Model Y problems
  5. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2023 Tesla Model Y

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Model Y complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Model Y version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

4,201complaints, 2020–2026
558mention a crash
26mention a fire
391injuries reported
10complaints report a death
Most complaints: 2023 (1,168), 2021 (1,080), 2022 (865)
’201,080’21865’221,168’23’25

2023 · 1,168 complaints

Crashes 152 · fires 4 · injuries 87 · complaints reporting a death 1

Forward collision avoidance475
Steering212
Vehicle speed control167
Service brakes154
Unknown or other149

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Model Y CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 27 Model Y versions for model years 2020–2026. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Model Y2020–2026

104–138 MPGe electric · CO₂ 0 g/mi

2025
117combined MPGe
0CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$650EPA yearly fuel cost
10/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
10/10Greenhouse gas rating
311midriving range
California ZEV · Federal Tier 3 Bin 0Emission standard
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
050100150200202020252020 · Electric: 02021 · Electric: 02022 · Electric: 02023 · Electric: 02024 · Electric: 02025 · Electric: 02026 · Electric: 0
Electric

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Model Y vs BMW X3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2020–2026. NHTSA lists 43 recall campaigns for the Model Y, against 32 for the BMW X3 and 40 for the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Pick a range to compare.

Tesla Model Y

Model years 2020–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
43
NHTSA owner complaints
4,201
EPA combined MPGe
104–138
Engines (EPA)
Electric
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Forward collision avoidance 2,687
  2. Speed control / acceleration 583
  3. Brakes 560

BMW X3

Model years 2020–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
32
NHTSA owner complaints
408
EPA combined mpg
16–29
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0, 3.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed
turbo, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 115
  2. Engine and cooling 69
  3. Forward collision avoidance 50

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Model years 2020–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
40
NHTSA owner complaints
368
EPA combined mpg
17–29
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L · 8-cyl 4.0 L
Also listed
turbo, plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Engine and cooling 103
  2. Electrical system 103
  3. Fuel system 43

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Tesla Model Y VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Model Y

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White Tesla Model Y (first generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: BuickRiviera99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Model Y follows Tesla's standard EV VIN placement: driver's door pillar at eye level when the door is open, dashboard plate at the lower windshield, and the vehicle's touchscreen under Controls > Service. No traditional engine bay stamp exists.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Tesla Model Y VIN questions

Which Tesla Model Y model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2023 leads with 1,168, ahead of the 2021 (1,080) and 2022 (865). Those first two alone make up 54% of the 4,201 Model Y complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Tesla Model Y had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 43 vehicle campaigns for model years 2020–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

What fuel economy does the Tesla Model Y get?

EPA rates the 2020–2026 Model Y at 104–138 MPGe combined (electric; fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Tesla Model Y compare with the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC on recalls?

For 2020–2026 models the Model Y has 43 NHTSA recall campaigns. The BMW X3 has 32, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 40. Complaints run 4,201, 408 and 368 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

Other Tesla models

Check another Tesla model

Model 3Model SModel XCybertruck
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