The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a probe into the steering systems in 280,000 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The action follows complaints from customers claiming they were forced into dangerous situations due to a failure in the system.
The “preliminary evaluation” is not a recall, but is an early step along the path that can lead to one. NHTSA will work to determine whether this problem, about which it has received 12 complaints, amounts to an unreasonable safety risk.
Unfortunately, it is not yet clear what is at the root of the issue. However, Reuters reports that the problem seems to be affecting very new models, with customers complaining that their steering systems are failing after just days of ownership.
Read: Phantom-Braking Complaints Lead To NHTSA Investigation That Could Affect Over 400,000 Teslas
For example, one owner complained in April that after 30 days of ownership, the “wheel jerked hard right and made a thud.” A warning light then illuminated on the screen that said, “Steering Assist Reduced,” in addition to an error code. The driver said that the power steering was completely disabled, making it feel unsafe for them to steer.
“Tesla has moved my service visit from May 2 to May 25 due to a backlog of parts,” the customer claimed. “They confirmed this is a recently known issue and noted the steering rack might be replaced entirely.”
In Honolulu, a driver complained that their Model 3’s steering wheel began locking up randomly. They claimed that it happened six time before they were able to get a service appointment. Their car is now with Tesla for three weeks while they await a new steering rack.
At least one owner claims that the steering issue directly led to an accident. The owner said that in May, their Model 3’s “steering felt stuck and slid off the road, which resulted in crashing into a tree.”
We have reached out to Tesla for more information, but the company has not responded.
