7 Things I Hate About My Tesla Model Y

Editor’s note: This is a follow up to an article I wrote several years ago for The Drive which was titled “10 Things I Hate About My Tesla”. The original article, written in 2015, received a great deal of hate mail. It wasn’t “acceptable” to criticize Tesla back then but a lot has changed since, including my car. I’m no longer driving a Model S 70D. Today I drive a long-range Model Y.

The Model Y continues to be an exceptional car which happens to be an EV but it’s far from perfect. Here are some of the things I hate about my car.

• Build Quality: Inconsistent panel gaps, misaligned body parts, and paint imperfections are frequently mentioned issues. While these may seem cosmetic, they can be frustrating for a car in this price range. Consumer Reports data reflects this, with the Model Y receiving low ratings for body hardware, paint and trim (especially in earlier models).
  
• Ride Quality: Some owners find the ride quality to be stiff and uncomfortable, especially with the larger wheels. This can be a significant factor for those who prioritize a smooth ride.
  
• Limited Service Options: Tesla relies heavily on its mobile service technicians, but availability is uneven. Additionally, complex repairs might still require taking your car to a service center, which can be inconvenient.
  
• Lack of Some Features: Compared to some competitors, the Model Y lacks features like a built-in 360-degree camera system or blind-spot monitoring, not just software.
  
• Costly Insurance: Due to the car’s performance and repair costs, Tesla vehicles often fall into higher insurance brackets. This can be a significant ongoing expense to consider.
  
• Repair costs: I put a gash in the rocker panel of my previous Model 3 and he total cost was $11,000 which is at least double or triple from a standard combustion engine car. At least my insurance covered it.
  
• Windshield wipers: How is it that my car can drive itself but the windshield wipers follow no conceivable logical algorithm? When set to automatic, they will go on for no reason, or speed up for no reason. On rare occasions they run appropriately to the speed of the rain.

Tesla is working on improving build quality and expanding service options, so it says these issues are addressed in newer models.

Now see 8 Things Owners Love About Their Tesla Model Y.

THE TAKEAWAY
The Tesla Model Y is one of the most popular EV’s on the market and for good reason. But, there are several areas where there is room for improvement.

Source: EV Car Answers Editor Andy Blau, Gemini, Tesla