2022 Model Y — Known Failures, Repairs & Fixes
Austin opens, 4680 cells BUY
Range330 mi LR
APHW3
Battery2170 or 4680
PlantsFremont, Austin
- 1 Liftgate / taillights
- 2 A-pillar trim
- 3 Front suspension / control arm
- 4 Cameras / Vision
What changed
- Austin (TX) production begins with the structural pack + 4680 cells (some units only).
- Berlin Gigafactory opens for Europe.
- Refreshed center console + USB-C standard.
- Software-removed radar (vision-only Autopilot transition completes).
Known issues
- 4680 cell longevity unproven — Austin structural-pack cars have less long-term data. Most 2022 Ys still use 2170 cells.
- Phantom braking complaints. Radar-to-vision transition caused false positives.
- Window tint differences between plants.
Recalls
- 2022-079: Heat pump cold operation (software).
- 2023-035: Front passenger restraint software check.
Repairs & fixes
- Phantom braking on Autopilot/TACC Keep software current (OTA refinements), keep cameras clean, lower set speed on poorly-marked roads. DIY
- Water in trunk well / taillights after rain Tesla SB-23-10-003 reseals the liftgate and replaces lamp gaskets (Loctite 5510); free under warranty, mobile service can do it. Partial
- A-pillar & interior rattles Replace A-pillar clips (P/N 1017648-00-A) and add felt tape at contact points. DIY
- Control-arm squeak Sealant per SB-20-31-006 or arm replacement. Partial
Verdict
Solid choice — mature heat pump, strong Fremont build, full range, HW3. Prefer 2170-cell Fremont over 4680-cell Austin until long-term 4680 data is in.
References & further reading
- Tesla Owners Online: phantom-braking thread ↗
- Drive Tesla: liftgate water-ingress bulletin ↗
- TMC: Model Y control-arm thread ↗
- Tesla Owners Online: squeaks & rattles ↗
- Model Y recalls (cars.com) ↗
- NHTSA recall lookup — enter your VIN ↗