Tesla Faces Investigation After Model Y Steering Wheels Fall Off While Driving

Tesla delivered some Model Y units to customers without the retaining bolt that holds the steering wheel in place, according to the US NHTSA.

By Richard Clough, Bloomberg | Updated: 9 March 2023 13:47 IST

Tesla Faces Investigation After Model Y Steering Wheels Fall Off While Driving

Photo Credit: Bloomberg

The Model Y is a key product for Tesla

Highlights

The move is the latest in a series of investigations targeting Tesla
Tesla recalled 362,758 electric vehicles last month
Steering wheel detachments are not unique to Tesla

Tesla is under investigation by US regulators over complaints the steering wheel can fall off certain new Model Y vehicles while they're in use.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it's aware of two incidents in which the wheel detached from the steering column while drivers were operating the 2023 model year SUVs. The preliminary evaluation, opened March 4, applies to an estimated 120,089 vehicles, according to a filing posted on NHTSA's website.

The affected vehicles were delivered to owners without the retaining bolt that holds the steering wheel in place, the agency said. NHTSA is assessing “the scope, frequency and manufacturing processes associated with this condition.” There are no known injuries or deaths related to the issue, NHTSA said.

Tesla to Build 'Mostly Autonomous' Next-Generation Small Car: Elon Musk

Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move by NHTSA is the latest in a series of investigations targeting Tesla, its products and its chief executive officer, Elon Musk. The Austin, Texas-based automaker last month recalled 362,758 electric vehicles after NHTSA said Tesla's automated-driving technology could increase the risk of a crash.

A Tesla owner in New Jersey posted photos on Twitter in January that appeared to show a detached steering wheel in a Model Y he said he received several days earlier. He said in subsequent tweets that Tesla agreed to replace the vehicle and that NHTSA had contacted him about the issue.

Elon Musk Keeps Affordable EV Under Wraps as Tesla Plans to Cut Costs

Tesla shares fell 3.2 percent at 9:50 am in New York.

The Model Y is a key product for Tesla, which recently started manufacturing the vehicle at its two newest plants — one outside Berlin and the other in Austin. The company reports a combined figure for Model Y and Model 3 deliveries and handed over more than 1.2 million of the vehicles last year. The Model Y was the best-selling EV globally last year and could be one of the top vehicles of any type this year, according to BloombergNEF.

Steering wheel detachments, while rare, are not unique to Tesla.

Nissan Aims to Boost Global EV Sales, Amplify Production in the US

In August, Ford Motor recalled 692 F-53 Motorhome Stripped Chassis and F-59 Commercial Stripped Chassis vehicles because the steering wheel attachment bolt could loosen and separate from the steering column. It also recalled about 1.3 million Ford and Lincoln brand vehicles in 2018 over a similar problem.

Is 2023 the year when you should finally buy a foldable phone? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.