Our Glitchy Tesla Model Y Window Failed in a Colorful Way
Not long after we gave our 2021 Tesla Model Y’s broken window a clean bill of health, it settled back into its broken ways: The window wouldn’t consistently close on the first try, and it wasn’t lowering to account for its frameless operation, so you could slam the door shut with the window clanking against the trim, scoring the black trim and, we feared, potentially breaking the window.
Related: Getting Our Tesla Model Y Repaired Was Painless
What I didn’t expect, however, was for the window to fail in a colorful way during a car wash, letting a deluge of rainbow-colored soap into the Model Y’s interior. During this comedic episode — where I frantically attempted to get the window back up during the most aggressive soap-spraying cycle, and the window repeatedly rolled back down — I had to hold the window switch up to force the window into the fully closed position.
Initial Troubleshooting
We scheduled an appointment via the Tesla mobile app for a week out (the earliest available), but I wanted to try a few things before the appointment so backseat passengers didn’t have to climb in and out of the driver’s side or risk any more slamming of the window into the trim. The Model Y owner’s manual cites instructions on how to recalibrate the windows when there are issues with the window operation, but multiple attempts did nothing to change the window’s errant operation.
The second type of window calibration is only accessible via the Model Y’s Service Mode, a use-at-your-own-risk portal for technicians to get advanced diagnostics; the Model Y warns before entering this mode that it’s only for service personnel. Within this menu, an active alert for the rear window showed it being out of calibration, with the endstop uncalibrated and the window state unknown. Perhaps this is why that window opened when Car Wash mode was engaged, because the car didn’t know if the window was up or down, and I didn’t catch it in time.
Calibrating through the Service Mode involved a very different test, with all of the windows cycling up and down (after warning about the window-pinch safety feature being disabled during the test). Once completed, the checkboxes showed green, and the problematic window resumed (seemingly) normal operation.
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Underlying Problem Uncovered
The last time our Model Y was serviced for this issue, a Tesla service center replaced the window regulator. This time, at a different Tesla service center, the technician found a wiring harness with a corroded connector caused by water getting past a door grommet. Tesla replaced the harness, said they addressed the leak and even replaced the damaged trim, all under warranty at no cost to us. So far, the window is still working properly.
Better Luck This Time
During our previous service visit, we mentioned a noisy, vibrating steering column that would make a horrendous noise in the cold every time you’d get inside with the Easy Entry feature turned on (it moves the driver’s seat and steering wheel in a position for easier entry and exit). The noise couldn’t be replicated during that appointment, so the issue wasn’t addressed. This time, I showed the service advisor the steering-column vibration when it was being adjusted. The service center lubricated the splines on the motor/actuator, and it currently makes no noise or vibrations, including in temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit; this was also covered under warranty.
Normally, when we’ve had our Tesla serviced, we’ve received rideshare credits to be used for transportation back and forth to the service center. For the first time, however, I got a Tesla loaner car, announced via the Tesla app. I was hoping for a newer Model Y to sample the updated “comfort” suspension versus our car’s “discomfort” suspension, but all they had was a Model X P100D. I’m sure most people would be thrilled and see the Model X as an upgrade, but it cemented my opinion that the Model X’s over-the-top Falcon Wing doors are more trouble than they’re worth. I also prefer the Model Y’s nimble, engaging driving experience versus the lumbering Model X, even at the expense of ride quality, but it was really nice to have a car with an instrument panel as a loaner for the daylong repair on our Model Y.
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