2022 Tesla Model Y visibility & wipers problems

Related recalls

• Recall 22V702000Sep 19, 20221,096,762 vehicles
  VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

  Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2022 Model 3, 2020-2022 Model Y, and 2021-2022 Model S and Model X vehicles. The window automatic reversal system may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

  Risk: A closing window may exert excessive force by pinching a driver or passenger before retracting, increasing the risk of injury.

  Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update of the automatic window reversal system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2032. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-013.

• Recall 22V050000Feb 2, 202226,681 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:AIR HANDLER/CHAMBER, DUCTS, AND VALVES

  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."

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

  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.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 9, 2026MIVisibility & Wipers

   The heat pump failed after experiencing temperatures below 10 degrees fahrenheit. There was no warning until after the failure, when I received a notification that the climate system needed maintenance. All heating/cooling, including defrosting/defogging the windshield, is inoperable. The service center confirmed that this is a heat pump failure and requires a replacement of the entire system, and a Tesla employee indicated that this is a common issue in the first 6-9 months…

   NHTSA complaint #11743021 · source
2. Filed Feb 4, 2026PAVisibility & Wipers

   HVAC system failure in sub-freezing weather causing loss of windshield defrost and cabin heat. Tesla has acknowledged this as a known hardware design limitation of the heat pump/octovalve system but is refusing repair coverage outside of warranty. This condition affects driver visibility and winter driving safety.

   NHTSA complaint #11715661 · source
3. Filed Jan 10, 2026NVDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlVisibility & Wipers

   While using cruise control at highway speed, the car suddenly slams on the breaks causing major panic. Oversteering onto incoming traffic and cars following are affected slamming on their breaks to avoid contact. Have contacted Tesla Service Center multiple times addressing the problem (Phantom breaking problem). What they keep on telling me is that there is no fix to the problem at this time. The cruise control intermittently turns off and on by itself with no warning or…

   NHTSA complaint #11710067 · source
4. Filed Dec 23, 2025NJDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical SystemVisibility & Wipers

   Incident Summary: Car Computer (HW3) suffered internal hardware failure on 12/17/25 following software update 2025.44.3. While the media screen and rearview camera functioned, the Autopilot Board (APB) was "MIA." Tesla Randolph (Invoice #3000S0015357298) confirmed the internal failure and replaced the unit. Safety Risk: Failure disabled safety-critical ADAS: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Forward Collision Warning. Driving visualizations were severely compromised; the…

   NHTSA complaint #11706873 · source
5. Filed Mar 13, 2025GAVisibility & Wipers

   When I try to defrost my windows, it does not work. They are so foggy when I’m going down the road I am concerned that I will wreck. I was told my vin was not included in the recall. I think it needs to be.

   NHTSA complaint #11648183 · source
6. Filed Feb 20, 2025CAVisibility & Wipers

   The windshield has a huge crack that just appeared out of nowhere. We took it to the shop and they said it wasn’t from a rock. There is no chip in the glass. Apparently a stress fracture. The crack is getting bigger every day and becoming a distraction while driving. Tesla said we are 10,000 miles over our warranty even though the vehicle is only 2 years old. It seems like they used cheap glass as this is common in the Tesla forums and chats.

   NHTSA complaint #11644034 · source
7. Filed Feb 20, 2025CAVisibility & Wipers

   The defogger doesn’t work and often makes it worse to the point we can’t see. We have almost crashed because of this twice now. Very dangerous.

   NHTSA complaint #11644033 · source
8. Filed Sep 12, 2024CADriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlVisibility & Wipers

   Multiple, random occurrences of hard braking at highway speeds when there was no object or obstruction ahead. In the 2-1/2 years we’ve owned the car this has happened on two lane and multiple lane highways, generally at speeds over 50 mph. Also, the windshield wipers randomly deploy even when turned completely off. They generally work when it’s raining but the delay function is also randomly not in sync with the settings or actual rainfall.

   NHTSA complaint #11614185 · source
9. Filed Jun 29, 2024MDVisibility & Wipers

   Tesla broke Automatic wiper function with a software update in 2023. Models other than Model Y have or have had this issue. There is no setting or adjustment I can make and Tesla has not made it a priority to fix this. They spend all of their resources doing other things. Nobody at Tesla is listening. New feature after new feature and screen changes are released but no fix for wipers. This is a conic years long recurring issue with Tesla cars. Tesla service can not fix…

   NHTSA complaint #11597765 · source
10. Filed Mar 8, 2024VTVisibility & Wipers

    This is in regards to wipers getting frozen and major snow accumulation under them under heavy snow fall, something that can be mitigated with vehicles that are manufactured with Heated Wiper Park. This issue is dangerous if you are travelling on a highway or in places where you cannot stop to clear the wipers. I have contacted Tesla service and talked to them about potential solutions but they kept coming back with the statement that “this feature is working the way it was…

    NHTSA complaint #11576261 · source
11. Filed Feb 6, 2024CAVisibility & Wipers

    The Automatic Windshield Mode does not function properly. On some Sunny days, the windshield wiper will automatically engage. Yet, during heavy downpours, the automatic windshield wipers will not engage or it will wipe very slowly. I have to press the stauk manual or press the manual setting while driving in the rain. Very unsafe due to distraction and poor visibility while driving.

    NHTSA complaint #11570346 · source
12. Filed Oct 26, 2023CAVisibility & Wipers

    Since I have been driving my car, automatic wipers always worked. On Saturday, they refused to work. I could not see while driving. I called Tesla, and they say they know this is a problem but cannot tell me when it will be fixed. I was told lots of other people have this problem.

    NHTSA complaint #11552006 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology