Tesla under investigation over Model Y steering wheels falling off while driving
- The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it’s aware of two incidents of the wheel detaching from the steering column of the 2023 model SUVs
- The move by NHTSA is the latest in a series of investigations targeting Tesla, its products and its chief executive officer, Elon Musk
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it’s aware of two incidents in which the wheel detached from the steering column while drivers were operating the 2023 model year electric sport utility vehicles. 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 did not 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, Elon Musk. The Austin, Texas-based carmaker last month recalled 362,758 electric vehicles (EVs) after NHTSA said Tesla’s automated-driving technology could increase the risk of a crash.