My Tesla Model Y's Screen Goes Completely Black While Driving 70mph in Snowstorms, Dealer Says 'Just Pull Over and Reboot' With My 3 Kids in the Car

The Tesla Model Y is a leader in the electric car world. It’s not merely the best-selling electric crossover, it’s one of the best-selling cars in the world. In 2023, it outsold icons like the Toyota Corolla, a feat that once sounded as absurd as a rocket company building family haulers. But here we are. Tesla's soft-edged cyberpod has become the default choice for everyone from Silicon Valley engineers to suburban school-run warriors. It’s fast, efficient, safe, and utterly utilitarian, wrapped in a veneer of futurism that gives the illusion of luxury without delivering the substance.

Beneath the Sleek Touchscreen

But beneath that minimalistic touchscreen utopia is a creeping reality: these are not luxury vehicles. They’re appliances, very fast, very high-tech appliances. Think less “car as companion” and more “transport as software platform.” The Model Y doesn’t coddle or charm, it functions. Until, of course, it doesn’t. Consider this firsthand account from an owner:

“We have a 2023 MYLR, which we bought brand new from Oakville (Toronto) Tesla. In the last few weeks, the car screen blanks out while we are driving...it's completely unresponsive.. it's concerning as we can't control gears, see speed, direction etc.. it comes back on when we stop the car and do a reset holding both the scroll buttons. Sometimes that won't even work. The first time we took it to Oakville Tesla service center, they told us that since it happened more than 14 days ago, there is no more log of the issue. And they claimed that they see nothing wrong with it.. so after 1.5 hours at the showroom (no loaners or uber available), we were sent back saying everything is fine. Of course a couple of days later it blanked out again.. this time we messaged them immediately. And after looking at our system log they just said that we need to keep reseting it by stopping our car and pressing the toggle button... they simply refuse to fix or replace it.. they claim its a software issue and not hardware.... (can't say for certain, but feel the screen is simply not built for cold weather, and they are just stalling us until it warms up)... we have multiple videos of it blanking out.. and have numerous time told Oakville Tesla that this a major safety concern as we can't be doing this on highways or during storms (especially with 3 young kids in the car) .. but they simply won't fix or replace the screen even though it's under warranty.... Anyone else had this issue and if so, did you find a better permanent solution?”

Tesla Model Y Safety Alerts

Take a moment and consider the implications. A vehicle that requires a digital hard reset mid-drive. A car that, without warning, can lose all interface, gear selection, speed, and navigation, leaving the driver in a software blackout.

This isn’t a one-off bug; this is what happens when you centralize every vital function into a single, failure-prone touchscreen. Tesla’s over-the-air updates are a technological marvel, but when the system flatlines at highway speed, it’s less innovation and more roulette.

Many people in the Facebook Group also complained about similar issues happening with their Teslas, it seems to be an on-going issue that has yet to be fixed.

Impressive Range, Minimalist Design & Dynamic Performanc

• The Model Y Long Range offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 320 miles per charge, providing ample distance for both daily commutes and longer trips. ​
• The vehicle boasts a minimalist interior design with a large central touchscreen that controls most functions. It also offers ample cargo space, especially when the rear seats are folded down, making it practical for families and travelers. ​
• Equipped with dual electric motors and all-wheel drive, the Model Y Long Range accelerates rapidly and handles well, offering a dynamic driving experience. ​

That’s the contradiction at the core of Tesla. The same tech-first thinking that enables direct-to-consumer sales, OTA updates, and a vertically integrated empire also introduces fundamental vulnerabilities. Tesla’s sales model, to its credit, works spectacularly. The traditional dealership is a dinosaur; buyers prefer the no-haggle configurator and online checkout. But without a robust service infrastructure, it falls apart. Service centers treat issues like IT tickets, not mechanical defects. If the logs don't show it, it didn't happen, no matter what you filmed or experienced firsthand.

The Pitfalls of Tesla’s Software-First Diagnostics

More troubling is the shift away from hands-on diagnostics. These cars are engineered around processors and software stacks. Your average tech doesn’t wrench bolts anymore; they parse cloud-based data streams. The cold, digital detachment means intermittent issues—like a screen blackout in the middle of a snowstorm, are nearly impossible to resolve. The screen is fine until it isn't, the software is stable until it's not, and Tesla’s solution is often the same: pull over, reboot, and hope for the best.

And yet, the Model Y is nearly impossible to crash. The safety ratings are top-tier. The acceleration is absurd. It can drive across town like a silent spaceship, swallow a week’s worth of Costco runs, and keep you cozy while sipping electrons. But it’s clinical. Hollow. There’s no conversation between car and driver, no mechanical feedback, no soul. Just sterile, algorithmic motion. As one seasoned reviewer once said, Tesla makes transportation, not automobiles.

In the end, the screen going black at 70 mph isn’t just a glitch, it’s a metaphor. Tesla’s greatest strength is also its biggest flaw: a car so advanced it sometimes forgets it's still a car. Until the company starts treating real-world safety issues with the seriousness they deserve, Model Y drivers will continue to serve as beta testers in snowstorms, with their kids in the back, scroll wheels in hand, and fingers crossed that the system comes back before the next curve in the road.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.