2023 Tesla Model Y Safety and Reliability

While the NHTSA is yet to conduct a review of the Tesla Model Y for 2023, the IIHS found the Model Y to be safe enough to warrant a Top Safety Pick+ award for 2023. The latter agency awarded top marks for all tests, although trims with non-projector headlights scored less than perfectly.

Like other Teslas, the Model Y's low center of gravity and the large crumple zones contribute to its strong safety cell. Of course, there is a long list of passive and active safety features, too, including eight airbags - side curtain and knee airbags are included as well. The Model Y also has tire pressure monitoring, a hill holder function, and stability control. Tesla's familiar Autopilot suite comprises blind-spot monitoring, collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Customers can also upgrade to Tesla's so-called Full Self-Driving Capability upgrade, although the name is misleading as this system doesn't offer fully autonomous driving. It does, however, introduce advanced features like auto lane change, autopark, summon, and navigate on Autopilot, a system that can guide the Model Y from on-ramps to off-ramps. Traffic sign/traffic light recognition has been added in recent times and autosteer on city streets will be available later.

2023 Model Y's have been subject to four recalls, for failing taillights, suspension fasteners that have been improperly tightened, an improperly secured second-row seat frame, and for faulty self-driving software that may cause a crash. 2022 models are even worse off, with eleven recalls listed for the same issues, as well as problems with the power windows, center display malfunctions due to overheating, pedestrian warning sounds being obscured, the windshield failing to defrost properly, weakened suspension knuckles, the vehicle failing to stop at a stop sign, and a seatbelt chime that may not activate. Going further back into its history yields even scarier results, with 15 recalls for 2021 models and 16 for Model Ys from 2020.

The Model Y is covered by a basic four-year/50,000-mile warranty, and the battery/drive unit comes with a warranty that runs for eight years or a mileage of 120,000 miles. The latter warranty gives you an idea of optimal battery life, although Tesla batteries have been designed to last well beyond this point.