# Used Tesla Model Y: Common Problems and Which Years to Buy > What to check on a used Model Y, what a problem looks like, and when to walk away. Covers: Original (2022–2025), Juniper (2025 on). Last updated: 2 November 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-tesla-model-y-inspection-checklist. Printable PDF: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-tesla-model-y-inspection-checklist.pdf. ## Common Problems on a Used Tesla Model Y The most commonly reported problems on a used Tesla Model Y are emergency braking when there's nothing there, clunks from worn front suspension bushes, and reversing and parking camera faults. Check the battery's range at 100% too, and make sure the seller removes the car from their Tesla account. ### Emergency Braking When There's Nothing There The Model Y's driver-assist and emergency braking use cameras to spot hazards ahead. Owners report it braking suddenly for no reason, often called phantom braking, which can startle you and anyone behind ([AustralianCar.Reviews](https://www.australiancar.reviews/recalls-faults-tesla-model-y-2022/)). Check the windscreen in front of the cameras for chips, cracks or a poor replacement, and the screen for any camera or driver-assist alerts. On a stretch of open road, try the cruise control and note any braking or warnings with no cause. Ask whether the windscreen has been replaced and the cameras recalibrated, and whether Tesla has looked at it; the seller can show past service visits in their Tesla app. If it brakes for nothing on your drive, have Tesla check it before you buy. ### Knocks and Clunks From the Front Suspension Some Model Ys develop clunks and knocks from the front suspension as its rubber bushes wear. An electric car is quiet, so these noises are easy to hear. On the drive, go over speed humps and rough roads slowly, and turn the wheel at low speed. Listen for clunks or creaks from the front, and feel for looseness through the steering. Ask whether any suspension parts have been replaced, with invoices. Worn bushes or arms are a moderate repair, so price them in. ### Camera Faults Owners report the reversing and parking cameras failing, freezing or showing a blurred or blank picture. The Model Y uses its cameras for parking, driver assist and safety features, so a faulty one matters. Put the car in reverse and check the camera picture comes up straight away and is clear. Look at each camera's lens around the body for damage or fogging, and check the screen for camera alerts. A camera can be a modest fix, but repeated faults can point to wiring or water getting in. Ask whether they've been repaired, and price it in if a camera plays up. ## Which Tesla Model Y Years to Avoid? No single Tesla Model Y year stands out as one to avoid. Newer ones usually have fewer kilometres and less wear, and the newest may still have some new-car warranty left. Whatever the year, a car's condition, battery health, service history and recalls tell you more than its build date, and Shufti looks up the reported faults and recalls for the exact car from its listing. - **Original (2022–2025).** 1 to 4 years old, typically about 10,000–50,000 km. ANCAP rating: [5 stars (2022)](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/tesla/model-y/726c22). Stability control and AEB are standard. Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. Tesla's new-car warranty is 4 years or 80,000 km for cars sold from February 2019 until January 2026, so any may still be covered. - **Juniper (2025 on).** Up to 1 years old, typically up to about 10,000 km. ANCAP ratings: [5 stars (2025), expiring December 2031, for all but the six-seat Model Y L](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/tesla/model-y/ad5601); [5 stars (2025), expiring December 2031, for the six-seat Model Y L](https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/tesla/model-y-l/eaecda). AEB is standard. The current model. Tesla's new-car warranty is 4 years or 80,000 km for cars sold from February 2019 until January 2026, and 5 years with unlimited kilometres for cars sold from January 2026, so any may still be covered. Check how much is left and that servicing has kept it valid. Kilometres are at the Australian average of about 12,600 km a year. Well above that means harder use; well below, ask why. Warranty terms are from [Tesla's warranty page](https://www.tesla.com/en_au/support/vehicle-warranty), as at November 2026, for private buyers. The warranty runs from when the car was first sold or registered, which the service book shows. ## Tesla Model Y General Inspection Guide A guide to checking for Tesla Model Y problems, built on the [used car buying checklist](https://shufti.com.au/checklists/australian-used-car-inspection-checklist) for any car. It can't cover every problem reported across its years in one viewing. Tick it if it's fine. Cross it if it isn't, and note what you found so you can price it into your offer. - Safety critical: Affects how safely it drives or protects you in a crash. Best to have a mechanic check it before you buy. - Negotiate: Costs money to fix, from wear to major repairs. Get a quote and take it off the price. ### Exterior - [ ] **Glass roof.** Look up through the glass roof panel from inside for cracks, chips or water staining around the edges. Any crack or stain means the full panel needs replacing, which is costly. Water stains at the edges mean the seal has failed and let moisture in. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Wheels.** Walk around all four wheels looking for kerbed rims, cracks or flat spots on the alloy. A badly kerbed wheel can be bent. A bent wheel often shows up as a vibration through the steering at speed. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Charge port.** Open and close the charge port flap and look inside the socket for dirt, moisture, burn marks or bent pins. Burn marks around the pins point to a poor connection that can damage charging equipment. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Power tailgate.** Open and close the power tailgate several times and check it moves smoothly on both sides without stalling or reversing itself. A tailgate that stalls or reverses mid-stroke points to a worn motor or strut. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Towbar.** If a towbar is fitted, check it and its wiring plug for rust, damage and secure mounting to the body. A loose towbar mount can mean hidden rear-end damage. (Negotiate) ### Under the Bonnet - [ ] **Front boot shell.** Check the front boot area for even panel gaps, untouched bolts and no overspray on rubber seals, as this is the crash crumple zone. Fresh welds or new parts here usually mean a front-end crash has been repaired. (Safety critical) - [ ] **12V battery.** Ask the seller when the small 12V battery was last replaced, as it needs periodic renewal separate from the main battery. A car with frequent screen reboots or a dead 12V alert may need this battery soon. (Negotiate) ### Underbody and Wheels - [ ] **Underfloor battery.** Crouch down and look along the sills and floor for dents, deep scrapes, cracked covers or any leak under the battery pack. Any damage here should be checked by an EV specialist before you buy. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Underbody repairs.** Look underneath for bent metal, fresh welds or patchy new underseal in one spot near the suspension mounting points. Mismatched coating in one area often hides a repaired crash. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Suspension bounce.** Push down firmly on each corner of the car and let go; it should rise once and settle without bouncing again. Continued bouncing or an oily strut means a worn or leaking shock absorber. (Negotiate) ### Interior and Electrics - [ ] **Dashboard alerts.** Open the alerts screen and check for any airbag, brake, steering, battery or drive-system warnings. Ask about anything shown. An open alert may mean an unresolved fault the seller hasn't disclosed. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Battery range.** Charge to 100% and compare the range shown on screen with the range this version had when new. A big shortfall can mean a worn battery, so ask for a battery health report. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Seatbelts.** Pull each seatbelt out fully and let it retract, checking the webbing for fraying and the buckle for a solid latch. Fraying or a buckle that doesn't click firmly is a safety risk in a crash. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Key cards.** Check that the key cards provided actually unlock and start the car without delay. Missing or faulty key cards can be expensive to replace or reprogram. (Negotiate) ### Test Drive - [ ] **Acceleration.** Accelerate firmly and check the pull feels smooth and strong with no stutter or sudden loss of power. On dual-motor cars, uneven pull front to back can mean one motor is underperforming. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Drive noises.** Listen while driving at varying speeds; a faint hum is normal but a loud whine, grinding or clunk needs a specialist look. Noise that changes with speed rather than engine load often comes from the drive unit. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Brake firmly from speed on a quiet road; the car should stop straight with a firm pedal and no pulling, pulsing or grinding. Pulling to one side can mean uneven pad wear or a sticking caliper. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Suspension clunk.** Drive slowly over a speed bump or rough patch and listen for knocks or clunks from the front suspension. A clunk over bumps often means worn suspension bushings that will need replacing. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Steering feel.** Drive on a straight, flat road and check the car tracks straight without wandering, pulling or play in the wheel. A wheel that needs constant small corrections may point to worn steering components. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Driver assist braking.** With autosteer or traffic-aware cruise on, drive on a clear road and feel for any sudden, unprompted braking with nothing ahead. Unexpected hard braking for no visible reason can be jarring and even unsafe in traffic. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Charging.** Plug the car into a charger and confirm it starts charging, the port light turns green and no error message appears. A charger that won't start or shows an error can point to a charging system fault. (Negotiate) ### Documentation - [ ] **Service history.** Ask the seller to show service visits and any battery or drive-unit repairs recorded in their Tesla app history. Gaps in the recorded history can hide unreported damage or deferred maintenance work. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Battery warranty.** Check the start date and remaining kilometres on the separate battery and drive unit warranty, which runs longer than the basic warranty. - [ ] **Account transfer.** Confirm the seller will remove the car from their Tesla account at handover so they can no longer unlock or track it. ## Stay Safe Never go under a car held up only by a jack, and never open the radiator or coolant cap on a hot engine. Keep hands, hair and loose clothing clear of fans and belts when the engine is running, and do checks under the bonnet with it switched off where you can. On the test drive, hold a current licence, confirm the car is registered and insured, obey road rules, and only brake hard when the road behind is clear. Meet in a safe, public-facing place, take someone with you, and don't carry large amounts of cash to a viewing. ## Disclaimer Shufti is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tesla; Tesla and Model Y are trademarks of Tesla, Inc. Figures are counts from Shufti's analysis of official records and published reports, not a statement that any particular vehicle is affected. This checklist is general information only and is not professional, mechanical, legal or financial advice. It covers common checks, not every possible fault, and a car can pass every item here and still have problems. It is not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, which is worth considering before you buy, especially if anything tagged Safety critical turns up. Repair costs vary widely; get your own quotes. Roadworthy, registration and transfer rules differ by state, so check with your state road authority. Private sales generally don't come with the consumer guarantees that apply when you buy from a dealer. You use this checklist at your own risk and, to the extent permitted by law, Shufti accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from its use. ## Buying a Used Tesla Model Y: Questions Answered ### Is a used Tesla Model Y reliable? It depends more on the particular car than the badge: how it was driven, loaded and serviced. Work through the commonly reported problems above, read the service history for servicing done on time, and run a PPSR check. ### Which Tesla Model Y years should I avoid? No single Tesla Model Y year stands out as one to avoid. Newer ones usually have fewer kilometres and less wear, and the newest may still have some new-car warranty left. Whatever the year, a car's condition, battery health, service history and recalls tell you more than its build date, and Shufti looks up the reported faults and recalls for the exact car from its listing. This checklist covers the Original (2022–2025) and Juniper (2025 on) Tesla Model Y. Problems reported across them include emergency braking when there's nothing there, knocks and clunks from the front suspension and camera faults. ### How many kilometres is too many for a used Tesla Model Y? Kilometres matter less than the battery's health. A high-kilometre car charged mostly at home can have a healthier battery than a low-kilometre one charged mostly at fast chargers or used for rideshare. Compare the range at 100% with the range it had new, ask for a battery health report, and check the battery warranty's kilometre limit. ### Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a used Tesla Model Y? It's most worth it on a car where a hidden fault could be costly. Ask for a battery health report, and compare the range at 100% with the range it had new. Either way, start by checking the car yourself with this checklist, so you know what to look for and whether it's worth paying a mechanic to see. See Pre-purchase car inspection: what it checks and costs (https://shufti.com.au/guides/used-car-inspection-options) ### How do I check a used Tesla Model Y for money owing or a write-off? Run a PPSR check with the car's VIN on ppsr.gov.au (https://www.ppsr.gov.au/). It shows whether there's finance owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off. Run it on the day you pay. See What a PPSR check covers and what it doesn't (https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-is-a-ppsr-check) ### How do I check recalls on a used Tesla Model Y? Search the government's Vehicle Recalls site for the Tesla Model Y (https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/browse-all-recalls?search=Tesla%20Model%20Y). Each notice says which models and build dates it covers and what the fault is. A recall on record doesn't tell you whether the work was done on a particular car, so ask the seller for proof, or ask a Tesla dealer to check the VIN. --- Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company. From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation. A Tailored check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350. To start, Shufti's General inspection guide is free: pick the car's make and model, and it takes you through the checks that matter for that model, on your phone. There's a guide for popular models, and one for every type of car. Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au. Download: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/shufti-used-car-inspection/id6795718336?pt=129235165&ct=Website%20guide&mt=8), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.shufti.shufti_app&referrer=utm_source%3Dshufti.com.au%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite%26utm_campaign%3DWebsite%2520guide%26utm_content%3Dllms%26utm_term%3D%252Fllms.txt).