U.S. Security Laws Probe Steering Problem Affecting 280,000 New Teslas

U.S. auto security regulators stated Tuesday they’ve opened an investigation into 280,000 new Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y automobiles over stories of lack of steering management and energy steering.

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration opened a preliminary analysis after it obtained 12 complaints from house owners of 2023 Tesla Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y automobiles.

One Mannequin 3 driver reported in Might the “automobile steering felt caught and slid off the highway which resulted in crashing right into a tree.”

A driver in Alpharetta, GA, in June reported {that a} two-week-old Tesla Mannequin Y was popping out of a shopping mall when “all of the sudden steering wheel didn’t steer. It was onerous and noticed the alert. Went to very near reverse aspect of site visitors and a few how made it to throughout the highway contained in the procuring heart.”

Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

This is step one of a proper investigation to find out if the difficulty poses an unreasonable security danger. NHTSA would want to improve the probe to an engineering evaluation earlier than it might demand a recall.

One other current grievance stated a Tesla Mannequin Y that was lower than 30 days outdated in April was turned on and the “wheel jerked onerous proper and made a thud” and the display warned that “Steering Help Decreased” and displayed an error code.

The driving force stated energy steering was disabled and advised the NHTSA it felt unsafe to steer and added “Tesla has moved my service go to from Might 2 to Might 25 on account of a backlog of elements. They confirmed this can be a lately recognized subject and famous the steering rack may be changed solely.”

A driver in Honolulu stated every week after buying a Tesla the steering wheel started locking up randomly and stated it ” occurred six instances on completely different dates earlier than we have been capable of get it to the Tesla service division.” The driving force stated it “at present stays at Tesla for the subsequent 3 weeks whereas we await a brand new steering rack/motor.”