Tesla Model 3 And Y Steering Issues Prompt An NHTSA Safety Investigation
According to a recent NHTSA filing, a probe has been opened to investigate reported steering issues on 2023-model year Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The filing states that 12 Tesla customers complained that their car suffered a loss of power steering and/or were unable to steer their vehicle. NHTSA details that "
Five reports indicate an inability to steer the vehicle. Seven additional reports cite loss of power
steering resulting in increased effort to control the vehicle.
Five reports indicate an inability to steer the vehicle. Seven additional reports cite loss of power steering resulting in increased effort to control the vehicle."
Approximately 280,000 units are part of the investigation, and depending on what NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation digs up, a recall could result to rectify the claimed problem.
While investigations and recalls are dime-and-dozen for many makes and models, Tesla receives extra federal and media scrutiny due in part to its safety concerns surrounding autonomous driving technology. Last year was a busy one for Elon Musk's company—NHTSA had to step in 19 times altogether, such as when some Tesla vehicles were ignoring stop signs or had intermittently working taillights.
This year, while not as frenetic, had the agency checking into wheels falling off Model Ys, while in July, Tesla issued a voluntary recall for 1,300 select Model S, X, and Y cars for misaligned cameras. According to that filing, NHTSA said that the camera issue could "cause certain active safety features to be unavailable, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and lane keeping assist, without alerting the driver to their unavailability."
As for the latest investigation into steering issues, fortunately no deaths or injuries have been reported.
