Model-year warranty research

Is an Extended Warranty Worth It for a 2021 Tesla Model Y?

Review estimated repair costs, owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications for this model year. The records describe submitted cases; they do not tell you how likely a failure is.

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1,089complaint reports
23recall campaigns
94manufacturer communications
6leading reported component tags
2021 Tesla Model Y: submitted complaint records, vehicle recall campaigns and available complaint component tags. Counts are not failure rates.
Published source snapshot. Check the record scope below before applying these counts to your vehicle.

Source: NHTSA vehicle records, recall and complaint snapshot 2026-10-18. Manufacturer communications retain their separately dated source snapshot. Counts are submitted records, not failure probabilities. One vehicle can appear in several campaigns.

Complaint model names counted: MODEL Y. Recall model names counted: MODEL Y. Complaint records are deduplicated by ODI number; vehicle recalls are counted by distinct campaign number for this year.

Model-year records

What the 2021 record can and cannot say

The 2021 record contains 1,089 submitted complaints. The median across this model's matched years is 406 reports. Neither number accounts for vehicle sales or time on the road. Source names: MODEL Y. NHTSA source snapshot: 2026-10-18.

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control is the most common displayed component tag, with 410 reports (37.6% of this year's submitted complaints). One complaint can name several components. The share describes reports, not the probability of a failure.

EV traction battery replacement has the highest arithmetic midpoint for parts in the applicable planning estimates, at $16,000 before labor. A paid plan can help only if the component and cause qualify; check existing manufacturer coverage first.

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Problem research and repair guidance

2021 Tesla Model Y: symptoms, affected vehicles and documented fixes

Match the symptom and the exact vehicle scope before arranging work. The imported catalogue is an editorial index of source documents, not an independent safety authority. Recall text is checked against NHTSA; each record links to the evidence that supports its scope and remedy.

3documented issue files
3vehicle systems

3 recall files · 0 other manufacturer files. These are editorial file counts, not distinct campaign totals, failure rates or a complete recall history.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Safety recall with over-the-air software remedy2020, 2021, 2022Campaign 22V050000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE: recall 22V050000

Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Condition in the official record

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A software error may cause a valve in the heat pump to open unintentionally and trap the refrigerant inside the evaporator, resulting in decreased defrosting performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Which vehicles the source covers
  • NHTSA model names: MODEL Y. Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022.
  • NHTSA campaign 22V050000
  • The complete campaign lists 26,681 potentially affected units across all listed vehicles.
  • A make, model and year match does not establish VIN eligibility.

Recall 22V-050 is based on heat-pump equipment and firmware history, not mileage.

Component in the source: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Published recall remedy

Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.

Consequence in the NHTSA record: Decreased defrosting performance may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Official recall remedyManufacturer or authorized dealer · Confirm with the dealer

Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 1, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-18-002.

Limit: Confirm VIN eligibility and current remedy instructions with the manufacturer.

Check the complete VINVIN lookup · Before arranging repairs

Check the 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls and ask the manufacturer whether this campaign remains open for the vehicle.

Limit: The model-year list is not proof that an individual vehicle is affected.

Evidence for this issue

SUSPENSION

Official NHTSA safety recall2020, 2021, 2022Campaign 21V912000

SUSPENSION: recall 21V912000

Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The front and rear suspension knuckles may fracture, causing the suspension links to separate.

Condition in the official record

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The front and rear suspension knuckles may fracture, causing the suspension links to separate.

Which vehicles the source covers
  • NHTSA model names: MODEL Y. Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022.
  • NHTSA campaign 21V912000
  • The complete campaign lists 826 potentially affected units across all listed vehicles.
  • A make, model and year match does not establish VIN eligibility.

Campaign 21V912000 is based on the recalled vehicle population and VIN, not a published mileage threshold. Mileage alone cannot confirm or exclude it.

Component in the source: SUSPENSION

Jurisdiction: United States

Published recall remedy

Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-004.

Consequence in the NHTSA record: Suspension links that separate can reduce vehicle stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Official recall remedyManufacturer or authorized dealer · Confirm with the dealer

Tesla Service will inspect and replace the knuckles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 18, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-31-004.

Limit: Confirm VIN eligibility and current remedy instructions with the manufacturer.

Check the complete VINVIN lookup · Before arranging repairs

Check the 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls and ask the manufacturer whether this campaign remains open for the vehicle.

Limit: The model-year list is not proof that an individual vehicle is affected.

Evidence for this issue

TIRES

Official safety recall2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025Campaign 24V935000

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS: recall 24V935000

Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Condition in the official record

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Which vehicles the source covers
  • NHTSA model names: MODEL Y. Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
  • NHTSA campaign 24V935000
  • The complete campaign lists 696,281 potentially affected units across all listed vehicles.
  • A make, model and year match does not establish VIN eligibility.

Safety recall eligibility is based on the VIN and campaign scope, not ordinary warranty mileage. Check the complete VIN even when the vehicle is outside its original warranty.

Component in the source: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Published recall remedy

Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.

Consequence in the NHTSA record: Driving with improperly inflated tires increases the risk of a crash.

Official recall remedyManufacturer or authorized dealer · Confirm with the dealer

Tesla released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-018.

Limit: Confirm VIN eligibility and current remedy instructions with the manufacturer.

Check the complete VINVIN lookup · Before arranging repairs

Check the 17-character VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls and ask the manufacturer whether this campaign remains open for the vehicle.

Limit: The model-year list is not proof that an individual vehicle is affected.

Evidence for this issue

Confirm who pays before authorizing work

A recall remedy follows the campaign and VIN eligibility. A service bulletin provides diagnosis or repair instructions; it does not by itself promise payment. Manufacturer warranty extensions and support programs have their own conditions.

Compare recalls, bulletins and warranty extensions →

Keep a current problem separate from future coverage

These files do not supply a shop quote. Ask for a diagnosis and written estimate, then check recall remedies or existing coverage. A new vehicle service contract generally excludes pre-existing conditions.

Prepare a useful description for the mechanic →

Each file retains its original source review date. Historical remedy wording can change; check the current manufacturer notice and NHTSA VIN lookup for your vehicle. The separately dated NHTSA counts elsewhere on this page use a different dataset and scope.

Read the evidence for this vehicle

What can the data tell you about 2021 Tesla Model Y?

No model-specific individual-repair price keys are retained for Tesla Model Y in this library. Generic parts and labor estimates, public records and separate annual cost references may still be available.

Individual-repair price scopeGeneric inputs

Model-level range presence is a source-coverage check. It does not confirm that a repair fits every engine or model year.

EPA configuration match3 source rows

This model year can include different equipment. Use the VIN and original specifications to identify the actual configuration.

Documented repair pathsCheck the source

Recall and communication counts describe records. They cannot establish a breakdown probability or current VIN status.

Price-key audit reviewed October 18, 2026; EPA source snapshot 2026-08-07. Individual-repair ranges and annual repair-budget references are different datasets.

Source: NHTSA vehicle records, recall and complaint snapshot 2026-10-18. Manufacturer communications retain their separately dated source snapshot. Counts are submitted records, not failure probabilities. One vehicle can appear in several campaigns.

Complaint model names counted: MODEL Y. Recall model names counted: MODEL Y. Complaint records are deduplicated by ODI number; vehicle recalls are counted by distinct campaign number for this year.

Sources and methods

What each source tells you

NHTSA records: 1,089 submitted complaints, 23 recalls and 94 manufacturer communications. These are report counts, not failure probabilities.

EPA vehicle details: 3 matched fuel-economy configurations help us leave out repairs for equipment this model year does not have.

Repair-cost estimates: We model 18 applicable repairs beyond normal wear items, using published benchmarks where available plus parts and independent-shop labor assumptions. These ranges are not dealer quotes, repair-shop quotes or invoices.

Read the full research and repair-cost methodology.

Vehicle configuration

2021 EPA specification range

The official dataset contains 3 matched configurations for this model year. The range reflects trim and drivetrain choices, not changes to the complaint count.

Vehicle classSmall SUV
Fuel choicesElectric
Drive layoutsAll-wheel drive and Rear-wheel drive
Engine rangeNo combustion engine
EPA efficiency111 to 129 MPGe; 244 to 326 miles electric range
Transmission typesAutomatic

EPA figures vary by configuration. Confirm the exact engine, drive layout and fuel system from the VIN or original window sticker. Source: FuelEconomy.gov vehicle data, updated 2026-08-07.

Estimated repair bills

Major repair cost range

These ranges combine parts and labor benchmarks with modeled independent-shop rates for 50-metro reference. These are national repair benchmarks and planning assumptions, not published prices for this exact vehicle. We filter repairs using the available model-year specifications; a shop must confirm the engine, equipment and diagnosed job.

RepairSystemEstimated range
EV traction battery replacementEV Powertrain$8,270 to $29,375
EV drive unit replacementEV Powertrain$3,952 to $17,281
EV onboard charger replacementEV Powertrain$1,635 to $8,187
EV thermal management repairEV Powertrain$1,008 to $6,187
Strut and control arm repairSuspension$1,053 to $4,545
Infotainment display or head unit replacementElectrical and Electronic$722 to $4,467
Steering rack replacementSteering$2,232 to $2,681
Electronic control module replacementElectrical and Electronic$604 to $3,210
AC evaporator replacementClimate control$1,223 to $2,079
Radiator replacementCooling System$1,316 to $1,628