NHTSA Complaint #11604825 — 2023 TESLA MODEL S

STEERING issue reported to NHTSA

Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report
Crash

Complaint Details

ODI Number 11604825
Vehicle 2023 TESLA MODEL S
Component STEERING
Date of Incident
Date Filed
Mileage N/A miles
Crash Yes
Fire No
Injuries 0
Deaths 0
Vehicle Towed No
State CA

Consumer Description

There is a design flaw with the horn on the steering yoke. It is not easily located especially in times of stress or eminent collision. I have been driving for 50 years and all horns in my past vehicles have horns in the center of the steering wheel. Last April, I was backing up in a parking lot and through the rear camera, I saw a car behind me backing up. I stopped my car and could not get to the horn quick enough to alert the other diver and he continued to back up and he backed into my car causing $3,500 in damage. Yesterday, I was driving, and someone made a very unsafe turn that needed a horn to alert them, and I could not find the little button on the yoke to activate the horn. Yesterday's event, a near miss caused me to file this notice, although I should have done it sooner. Not as much of an issue, but the turn indicators are buttons too, and it is confusing to use them as opposed to a strike. I find myself not using the indicators as much in situations requiring a quicker need, typically like on the freeway. NHTSA should consider making all horns to be in the center of the steering wheel and all turn indicators to be strikes.

Related Complaints for the 2023 TESLA MODEL S

Other STEERING Complaints

#11684245 The steering wheels on these Tesla Model S vehicles have a horn button instead of depressing the center of the wheel....
#11670265 The horn being a button is a safety hazard, and Tesla should replace it at no cost. On many occasions my steering whe...
#11659938 On May 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM EDT, while driving a 2023 Tesla Model S on a busy highway in a high-density ...
#11629422 THIS VEHICLE HAS THE YOKE STEERING WHEEL.Issue is two fold. The right and left turn signal activation in on the face ...
#11620970 Experienced severe phantom breaking on [XXX] in route to Las Vegas at 70mph September 2024. In heavy rain, while win...

Recent Complaints for the 2023 TESLA MODEL S

#11713173 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM The vehicle is over reporting it's speed by 5% this is a large discrepancy which effects safety by causing people dri...
#11713173 POWER TRAIN The vehicle is over reporting it's speed by 5% this is a large discrepancy which effects safety by causing people dri...
#11713173 WHEELS The vehicle is over reporting it's speed by 5% this is a large discrepancy which effects safety by causing people dri...
#11707195 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Auto emergency braking is occurring when vehicle recognizes leaves as people. This has happened on three occasions. ...
#11707197 UNKNOWN OR OTHER The horn is a little button on the steering wheel. Tesla has since switched to a center horn. I assume this is due ...
Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report