Tesla MODEL S steering problems
474 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
3,384 owner complaints analyzed
38 distinct recall campaigns
40,594 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,732 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
474 of 3,384 complaints match this topic (14.0%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10885723 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
NOTICED THIS PROBLEM AFTER I WAS BACKING UP AND TURNING MY WHEELS AND WOULD HEAR A LOUD METAL ON METAL "CLUNK" OR "GRINDING" SOUND. IT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT-LEFT SUSPENSION AND WOULD OCCUR CAUSING MY WHEEL AND STEERING TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS SKIPPING. I NOTICED AND MY STEERING FELT "LOOSE" OVER BUMPS AND WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. AGAIN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND THIS WAS FELT THE MOST WHEN TURNING FULL MOTION AND/OR BACKING UP AND TURNING. WHEN LOOKING AT ONE OF THE CONTROL-ARM JOINTS AFTER I NOTICED A VERY LOUD CLUNK AND COMPARING IT …
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885723 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10917208 · 2016-10-18 (October 18, 2016)
HERE IS ANOTHER TESLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILIMAGES.ASPX?IMAGEURL=2&ITEMID=23306666 THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW THAT THE FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED IN HALF AND THE WHEEL IS HANGING SIDEWAYS OUT OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH. THE AIR-BAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AND THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE BODYWORK. THESE STEERING KNUCKLES ARE A MADE FROM LOW PRESSURE DIE CAST ALUMINIUM WHICH IS CLEARLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE PURPOSE. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES WHERE THE KNUCKLE HAS SIMPLY SNAPPED C…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10917208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10925274 · 2016-11-09 (November 9, 2016)
HERE IS A TESLA IN THE SALVAGE YARD. HTTPS://M.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETENC.ASPX?AUCTIONID=21921554&ITEMID=23249264&ROWID=16&PAGESOURCE=VEHICLERESULTS THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. THE AIR-BAGS HAVE NOT DEPLOYED AND THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THE KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED IN HALF. UP UNTIL 2015 THE STEERING KNUCKLE WAS MADE FROM HOLLOW CAST ALUMINUM AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER INCIDENTS WHERE THE KNUCKLE HAS SNAPPED. THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN 2015 TO A SOLID H-SECTION BUT FAILURES OF THAT PART AND OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10925274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330739 · 2020-06-25 (June 25, 2020)
MULTIPLE TIMES MY MASTER CONTROL UNIT IN MY CAR IS FREEZING AND LOCKING UP. IT REQUIRES A HARD REBOOT WHICH TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO COME BACK TO LIFE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OF ANY FUNCTION THAT THE MCU IS IN CHARGE OF WHILE THIS HAPPENS. IT IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING TO HAVE HAPPEN WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. IT IS NOT ALWAYS IN SAFE PLACE I.E. THE FREEWAY WHERE I CAN PULL OFF AND RESTART IT. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE PARKED STARTING MY CAR AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 128,064 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11330840 · 2020-06-25 (June 25, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT (MCU) FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE USE OF TOUCHSCREEN FUNCTIONS. THE CONTACT MANUALLY ACTIVATED THE MCU USING THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. TESLA (1200 OLD SKOKIE VALLEY RD, HIGHLAND PARK, IL 60035) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WAS STILL PENDING. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330840 at NHTSA ↗