Tesla Steering Failures Probed by NHTSA

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into reports of Tesla vehicles losing steering control and power steering. 

The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation preliminary evaluation involves 2023 model year Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles with an estimated 280,000 vehicles affected. 

The report describes the issue as “loss of steering control, frequently accompanied by driver-facing messages indicating that power steering assist is reduced or disabled.”

The agency received 12 complaints about losing steering control and power steering in the vehicles involved. Five of the reports involved drivers not being able to steer the vehicle, while seven cited loss of power steering. 

According to the filing, the preliminary evaluation was opened to assess the scope, frequency, manufacturing process and severity associated with the issues reported. 

The report comes two months after the NHTSA turned up the heat on Tesla over its assisted driving technology as part of its ongoing investigation into Autopilot in early June. 

In March, Tesla temporarily halted the rollout of its full self-driving (FSD) software in North America in the wake of a recall of more than 362,000 cars.