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Tesla Steering Probe Closed by US Safety Regulators
27 Jun
Summary
- US safety regulators closed their probe into Tesla power steering loss.
- The investigation covered over 376,000 Model 3 and Y vehicles.
- A company recall in early 2025 resolved the power steering issue.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded its engineering analysis into power steering issues affecting Tesla vehicles. This investigation, initially launched in July 2023 as a preliminary evaluation, examined approximately 376,241 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from the 2023 model year. Owners had reported difficulties turning the steering wheel or significantly increased effort required for steering.
In early 2025, Tesla initiated a recall for 376,000 vehicles in the United States. This recall addressed a failure in the power steering assist feature, which could lead to increased steering difficulty, especially at low speeds, and potentially raise the risk of a crash. The company stated this recall was separate from the ongoing NHTSA investigation.
Tesla implemented an over-the-air software update to mitigate the issue. This update aimed to prevent overvoltage breakdown and overstress of motor drive components on the printed circuit board, identified as the cause for the increased steering effort. In light of Tesla's recall and software solution, the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation announced the closure of its engineering analysis.
