Imagine paying over $50,000 for a self-driving electric SUV… only to watch it scuff its own wheels against the curb. Welcome to the “Full-Self Curbing” era.
Tesla’s 2026 Model Y Juniper is supposed to represent the pinnacle of EV innovation — sleek design, smart features, and Full Self-Driving tech that promises to park itself better than any human. But according to frustrated owners, it’s doing the exact opposite.
When Self-Parking Goes Full-Fail
We’ve all had that stomach-dropping moment — parking too close to a curb, hearing the telltale scrunch, and realizing you’ve just given your pristine rim a permanent silver scar.
So you’d think a car loaded with cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and AI steering control would eliminate that problem forever, right?
Think again.
Tesla Model Y owners are now reporting that their vehicles are auto-curbing themselves — yes, while parallel parking on their own.
One driver summed it up perfectly on Facebook:
“My Model Y Juniper scuffed up its own 20-inch rim when auto parallel parking. This [is unfortunate].” – Sergey B.
Let’s just say, we had to clean up the original quote for younger readers.
The Internet Reacts: Sympathy, Sarcasm & Some Savage Burns
When Sergey shared his story in a Tesla Model Y owner group, the reactions poured in — a mix of support, blame, and some very spicy snark.
Owners Who’ve Been There:
- Michael B.: “Had the same issue. Tesla won’t cover it… Found a rim guy, paid $80.”
- Helen M.: “My husband scuffed one of mine up pretty bad last month. Funny, I’ve never damaged his Rivian. LOL.”
- Wayne E.: “Yeah. I don’t auto park next to curbs. I only trust it in open spots.”
- Travis M.: “After the update, FSD was trying to park forward into a curb. I had to jump in fast.”
- Sarah G.: “We owned ours for 2 weeks before my husband let the car kiss a curb. RIP rim.”
Then There Were the Critics:
- Derrian A.: “Shoulda taken control…”
- John S.: “Were you not watching the cameras?”
- Adam C.: “Fixed your post: ‘I scuffed my rim while using autopark and ignoring the manual.’”
- Adam M.: “IDK… maybe get a real car and learn how to drive? 10 years, zero curb rash. LMAO.”
That last one wins the gold medal for internet arrogance.
Is Tesla Selling Wheel Damage as a Feature?
Let’s get conspiratorial for a moment.
Tesla sells wheel protection packages. During a recent visit to Tesla of Peabody, Massachusetts, one observer noticed how aggressively Tesla promotes these. Coincidence? Or is rim rash profitable business?
It’s a fair question: if Full Self-Driving and Auto-Park are so advanced, why can’t they avoid something as basic as a curb?
Maybe it’s easier to sell $900 rims and warranty packages than write better parking code.
So, Did Tesla Help Sergey?
Not quite.
Sergey posted a follow-up after contacting Tesla about the issue. Here’s how that went:
“Tesla said that because I agreed to the user agreement on Auto Parking and FSD, they won’t cover the damage. New rim + labor = $900.”
Yep. The company that makes your car drive itself also makes you pay when it drives itself into the curb.
Rim Rash Is Real
This isn’t just one angry post. Reports of curb damage from Tesla’s Auto-Park have been stacking up across forums, Facebook groups, and Reddit threads. Photos of curb-bitten wheels — especially on dark, smoked alloys — make the silver scrapes stand out like scratches on a new iPhone.
And with the Juniper Model Y’s updated wheels, the cosmetic damage is even more noticeable (and more expensive).
So… Should You Trust Tesla Auto-Park?
If you’re asking us? Maybe not near a curb.
Plenty of owners have had great experiences with Tesla’s parking assist, but these stories show that Full Self-Driving still has a few blind spots — literally. Until Tesla perfects its curb-detection tech, you might want to steer (pun intended) manually when parallel parking.
Tell Us What You Think
Is it fair for Tesla to let your car damage itself and then charge you for the repair? Should Auto-Park be safer by now?
Have you experienced Tesla Rim Rash? Drop your story in the comments below. Let’s see how many of us are members of the Scuffed Wheels Club.