NHTSA Complaint #11308875 — 2016 TESLA MODEL X

STEERING issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	11308875
Vehicle	2016 TESLA MODEL X
Component	STEERING
Date of Incident	January 2, 2020
Date Filed	February 12, 2020
Mileage	60,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	No
State	NY

Consumer Description

AS I WAS DRIVING, I HEARD LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION AND I LOST POWER TO MY STEERING AND A MESSAGE "POWER STEERING FAILURE, MAY NEED EXTRA EFFORT TO STEER" WAS ON THE DASHBOARD. LUCKILY I WAS NOT TOO FAR FROM MY HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO GO BACK HOME WITH LOTS OF EXTRA EFFORT TURNING THE STEERING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS GOING FULL SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY? I CALLED TESLA SERVICE AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO TESLA LATHAM, NY SERVICE CENTER. I HAVE 60,000 MILES. SO I WAS OUT OF MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED NEW RACK AND PINION FOR MY CAR AND THE COST WOULD BE $3863.40 PARTS & LABOR. TO SAY THE LEAST, I WAS SHOCKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THREE ALUMINUM BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE ELECTRIC MOTOR ATTACHED TO RACK AND PINION, TWO WERE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AND THE THIRD WAS BARLEY HOLDING THE MOTOR HANGING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGED PARTS. I DID NOTICE ON THE REPAIR INVOICE THAT NEW RACK AND PINION NOW IS UPDATED WITH STEEL BOLTS.

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