American regulators are currently examining a potential safety issue related to the power steering systems of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into the steering assistance of these vehicles, following 2,388 complaints alleging power steering faults. Among these complaints, one crash has been identified as potentially associated with the reported issue.
According to NHTSA, drivers who submitted complaints described an increased effort required to turn the steering wheel, with some noting that the resistance became so significant that they were unable to turn their Tesla vehicles at all.
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The agency reports multiple instances of drivers blocking intersections and roadways, and it received reports of more than 50 vehicles being towed due to this steering concern, occurring in various locations such as driveways, parking lots, roadsides, and intersections. While some complaints mentioned temporarily resolving the problem through power cycling the vehicle, the issue persisted until the steering rack was replaced.
NHTSA highlights that incidents were reported at various speeds, with a third of complaints indicating a loss of power steering at speeds below 5 mph (8 km/h), half occurring at speeds between 5 and 10 mph (8-16 km/h), and the remainder at speeds exceeding 35 mph. The highest speed at which a loss of power steering was reported was 75 mph (121 km/h).
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The majority of complaints mentioned receiving a warning message stating, “steering assist reduced” during the loss of steering ability. This warning was reported before, during, and after drivers experienced the problem. Some owners also noted a “notchy” or “clicky” steering sensation around the time of the incident.
In response to these concerns, NHTSA has launched an Engineering Analysis into the matter, potentially affecting approximately 334,569 Model Y and Model 3 vehicles. The investigation aims to assess the conditions leading to steering rack failures and their implications. If the agency determines a safety risk to drivers, it may request Tesla to initiate a recall campaign.
