NHTSA Investigates Tesla for 2,388 Complaints Alleging a Loss of Steering Control

Preliminary evaluation is another way of saying that the Office of Defects Investigation is assessing the scope, frequency, severity, and manufacturing processes associated with a condition. Fast forward to February 2024, and PE 23-014 has morphed into an engineering analysis. EA 24-001 reads that 334,569 vehicles are potentially affected, namely 2023 model year Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

As per the failure report summary, the federal watchdog is currently aware of 2,388 complaints, including 124 identified through vehicle owner questionnaires. The remainder comprises 2,264 complaints identified through manufacturer data. One crash is associated with this condition, in which a 2023 Tesla Model Y driver was unable to complete a turn, hitting a car in an intersection.

The incident was filed with the NHTSA under ID number 11544655. The vehicle owner questionnaire reads that the steering wheel had locked up while driving. At that moment, a "Steering Assist Reduced" warning and error code UI_a020 appeared on the screen. After the crash, the UI_a020 error code appeared sporadically on the centrally-mounted touchscreen.

ODI notes that around a third of complaints report an increase in the required effort to turn the steering wheel at speeds lower than 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour) or at start-up. At speeds over 5 miles per hour, half of the complaints allege the inability to turn the steering wheel. The highest reported speed is 75 miles per hour. Make that 120 kilometers per hour if you prefer metric units.

Some owners told the NHTSA that the steering felt "notchy" or "clicky" prior to or right after the incident. That's not all, though. ODI is aware of more than 50 vehicles that have been towed as a result of the aforementioned concern. Also worthy of note, a number of drivers temporarily fixed the issue by power cycling the vehicle, yet the issue reoccurred until the steering rack was replaced.

For the 2023 model year, 1044832-00-A and 1188832-00-A are Tesla's part numbers for Model 3 and Model Y steering racks. An engineering analysis of the suspect racks is more involved and lengthier than the preceding preliminary analysis over the loss of steering control allegations. However, it is anyone's guess how long it will take ODI to publish the findings on the NHTSA's website.

If you have ever experienced the inability to steer and/or the loss of power steering in your 2023 model year Model 3 or Model Y, be sure to file a vehicle owner questionnaire with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The more information the federal watchdog has, the sooner EA 24-001 will be finished.

Of the 1.84 million vehicles produced by Tesla last year, Model 3 and Model Y production totaled 1,775,159 vehicles. When it comes to deliveries, the Austin-based electric vehicle manufacturer reported 1,739,707 units out of a grand total of 1,808,581 deliveries. The recently refreshed Model 3 carries a starting price of $38,990 in the United States market, whereas the Model Y starts at $43,990.