The Model Y first arrived in the UK in February 2022, built exclusively in Shanghai (Gigafactory 3) which generally delivered better build quality than US cars. The defining issue of early Model Ys was boot water ingress through the liftgate assembly — Tesla issued service bulletin SB-23-10-003 in April 2023 acknowledging the problem. The harsh ride was also widely criticised on early 2022 cars.
A batch of faulty sensors (Recall SB-22-18-002) can cause the heat pump to fail, leaving the car with no cabin heating or defrost capability during UK winters. In some cases, the compressor itself may also require replacement.
Sharing its front suspension with the Model 3, the Model Y is also prone to squeaking upper control arms as water ingress degrades the ball joint grease.
Water can enter the rear trunk through the liftgate assembly or tail light seals due to inadequate sealant application during manufacturing.
Some owners report a low-frequency pressure or booming noise when driving, often traced to the rear hatch vibrating or not being seated correctly on its stops.
Moisture ingress into the rear tail light units is common, particularly in the UK's damp climate, which can eventually damage internal circuitry.
Early UK Model Y examples were criticized for an overly firm and "crashy" ride, which was particularly noticeable on poor UK road surfaces.