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severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Of the 19 suspension complaints filed for the 2020 Tesla Model Y, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
A detached upper control arm can cause the wheels to lean in or out, decreasing the driver's ability to steer and increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that monitors wheel alignment over time. This feature detects changes in wheel alignment that may be related to incorrect tire pressures, degraded ball joints, bushings or damaged suspension links. If the feature determines that an inspection at a Tesla Service Center is required, a customer-facing alert will appear on the touchscreen.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface corrosion of these ball joints. This may result in a creaking sound coming from the front suspension when steering at low speeds and under high loads. This is exclusively an NVH condition only and does not result in premature failure of the ball joints.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface corrosion of these ball joints. This may result in a creaking sound coming from the front suspension when steering at low speeds and under high loads. This is exclusively an NVH condition only and does not result in premature failure of the ball joints.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On certain Model Y vehicles, the Front Upper Control Arm (FUCA) to steering knuckle fastener for both LH and RH sides of the front suspension might be loose, or the FUCA to steering knuckle nut(s) might be missing altogether.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners of 2020 Model Y report suspension fasteners backing out during normal driving. Bolts and nuts on control arms, suspension links, and wheel bearing assemblies have come loose without any accident or hard impact. Symptoms include loud thumps and clicking from the wheel well, vehicle sitting lower on one side, hard steering, pulling to the side, and shimmy over bumps. In one case, a wheel bearing bolt backed out, rubbing through the axle shaft; the mechanic stated the wheel could have separated while driving. Loss of steering control and tire lockup have also been reported.
Control arm bushings and bearings wear prematurely. One owner replaced all four front lower control arms and bushings at 55k miles despite careful driving. Tires wear the inner leading edge down to wire while the outer edge retains 80% tread, even after verified perfect alignment. Owners report creaking and groaning from control arms. The design includes no grease fittings, unlike most other manufacturers, preventing re-lubrication; one owner replaced tires every 10k miles. Tesla service has blamed owner driving despite no accidents reported, and one service center refused to address the root cause after multiple visits.
Rear suspension fasteners have also been found loose or missing during tire service, accompanied by shimmy and accelerated tire wear. Multiple complaints describe hub carrier and brake rotor assemblies cracking in junkyards. One partial recall (21V83500) covered some 2020–2021 Model Y and Model 3 units for lateral link bushings, but not all affected vehicles were included.
Bolts and nuts on front and rear control arms, suspension links, and rod connections back out or fall out during normal driving, causing the wheel assembly to shift or separate from the subframe. Owners report no accident or hard impact preceding the failure.
When: Reported across early mileage (3.5 years / 55k miles) to mid-service life; one complaint at tire service during replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Loud thump or clicking/knocking noise from wheel well, especially when turning; Vehicle sits lower on one side; Hard steering with resistance; Vehicle pulling to one side; Shimmy or vibration over bumps and railroad tracks; Tire locked up and loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite replacement of control arms, compliance links, axle shafts, and wheel bearings; one mechanic documented backed-out bolt damaging axle shaft and wheel bearing housing. Repair costs not specified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service has blamed owner driving (accidents, potholes) despite owners denying any such events. One complaint references recall 21V83500 (SB-21-31-003) for lateral link bushings on some 2020–2021 Model Y and Model 3 units, but not all affected cars were included. Complaint #1 notes a suspension recall applied to some 2020 Model Y VINs but not theirs.
Control arm bushings and bearings wear prematurely and develop creaking or groaning. Owners report no grease fittings are present on control arms, unlike most other manufacturers' vehicles, preventing re-lubrication and contributing to accelerated wear and eventual structural failure.
When: Recurring issue throughout ownership; one complaint states grease was applied but problem returned and worsened
Symptoms owners cite: Creaking and groaning from control arms; Premature tire wear (inner leading edge worn to wire, outer edge at 80%+ tread); Inside/leading-edge tire wear despite perfect alignment; Noise when turning
Repairs/costs cited: Tire dealers and owners note extreme tire wear requiring replacement every 10k miles. Four-wheel alignments verified perfect yet wear pattern persisted. One owner had all front lower control arms, bushings, and compliance links replaced at 55k miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service told one owner that premature control arm wear is due to driving habits, not a quality issue, despite owner being a careful, cautious driver using the vehicle only on roads for daily commute. One owner reports Tesla service center has visited the vehicle multiple times for this issue but refused to address the root cause (lack of grease fittings). Another owner noted Tesla greased upper control arms previously but the issue returned and worsened.
Wheel bearing bolts back out, allowing the bearing to move and rub against the axle shaft, damaging both components. One mechanic attributed this to improper bolt installation at manufacture.
When: Reported during tire service and inspections; grinding noise progressive before discovery
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise from left front wheel progressively worsening; Car shaking while driving; No prior warning or alarm
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic replaced left front axle shaft and wheel bearing. Mechanic noted a backed-out bolt on inside was rubbing through axle shaft and informed owner that wheel could have fallen off while driving.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mechanic believed bolts were not appropriately installed at time of manufacture. No manufacturer response or recall mentioned.
Nuts and bolts on rear suspension rods back out or are found missing during routine tire service. Owners note shimmy and faster rear tire wear.
When: Discovered during tire replacement service
Symptoms owners cite: Shimmy with rear of car over railroad tracks, dips, and bumps; Faster rear tire wear; No prior warning
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic found one nut missing and one bolt about to fall out on driver side rear suspension rod; checked and repaired both sides.
Front right passenger strut knuckle and axle suspension separated, locking up the tire and causing loss of steering control. Preceded by clicking/knocking noise that escalated.
When: No specific mileage provided; clicking/knocking heard one day before separation
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking/knocking noise while turning, escalating over one day; Tire lockup and complete loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Awaiting Tesla service center inspection and repair at time of complaint filing.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle under inspection by manufacturer (Tesla) at service center.
Rear wheel hub carrier cracks off from the brake rotor assembly, causing wheel to separate. Complaint alleges this is a manufacturing or supply-chain defect in cast metal assembly.
When: Multiple junkyard examples cited; no specific mileage or timeline
Symptoms owners cite: Rear wheel falls off vehicle; Hub carrier fractured from brake rotor
Repairs/costs cited: Total loss; vehicle sent to junkyard.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
This is a complaint about systemic failures in Tesla suspension components that affect all years and models of teslas on the roads. Please note that I have used the VIN of a random Tesla model y since the VIN of the car in question is unavailable. Here is a link to a video in which an owner shows his car broken down on the side of the road because the front control arm has simply fallen off the…
Here is a model y in the junkyard. Https://www.iaai.com/vehicledetails/38263120?rownumber=1 the back wheel has fallen off because the hub carrier has cracked off the brake rotor. It looks as though the cast monkey metal assembly is made to the usual Tesla quality standards. The back of the car has collapsed like a souffl hit by a sledgehammer.. I don't suppose you'll be taking any…
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 2,000 and 15,000 miles, with the median around 10,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,000; a quarter make it past 15,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover suspension issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.