NHTSA Complaint #11695103 — 2026 TESLA MODEL Y

On August 8, 2025, while driving on the highway, the 2026 Model Y suddenly lost power and became unable to accelerate, creating an immediate safety hazard. The accelerator pedal was completely unresponsive even when fully pressed. The vehicle rapidly slowed from approximately 65 mph to around 44 mph and then to 22 mph while in the left lane of a two-lane highway, with a truck on the right and multiple vehicles behind. This unexpected power loss made it extremely difficult to change lanes or maintain a safe speed with surrounding traffic, placing myself and others at serious risk of collision. Prior to the incident, warning messages appeared on the dashboard stating “Powertrain requires service” and “Speed limited to 74 mph.” A service appointment had already been scheduled through the manufacturer’s app, but the earliest available date was several days later. The issue was reported to Tesla Customer Support, and the vehicle was towed to the Tesla Palo Alto Service Center for inspection. The first repair (August 9–13, 2025) involved replacing the electric oil pump. However, the identical malfunction recurred immediately after pickup, and I returned the vehicle the same day. The Service Representative initially claimed the issue could be resolved by “resetting the message,” but I expressed that I felt unsafe driving the vehicle with the same unresolved defect. The vehicle was retained for further diagnosis. The second repair (August 13–28, 2025) replaced the rear drive inverter. Tesla issued nearly identical invoices for both repairs, causing confusion about what work was actually performed. Despite repeated requests, Tesla has not provided full diagnostic reports or documentation verifying the vehicle’s safety. This malfunction appears to involve a critical failure of the powertrain or propulsion system. The condition has been documented, and the vehicle remains available for further inspection upon request.