2023 TESLA MODEL Y Steering Problems

like many have mentioned, the control arm bolt came off or broke. [XXX] / [XXX] / [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While making a left turn at normal turning speed, the steering system became unresponsive. The steering wheel was able to move; however, there was no corresponding movement of the front tires/wheels. The front wheels appeared to remain stuck at approximately a 45-degree left position and did not return toward the straight-ahead position despite steering input. It is also possible that the steering wheel itself became locked or partially locked during this event. As a result, the vehicle could not be corrected and collided with the median and a pillar. The collision caused the airbags to deploy and resulted in severe front-end damage, with an estimated repair cost exceeding $40,000. This steering failure occurred without warning and resulted in a sudden loss of vehicle control, creating a serious safety hazard to the occupants and surrounding traffic. The vehicle was subsequently declared a total loss.

The front lower lateral links or control arm that is used to steer the wheels has bolts that dropped on the ground causing loss of steering to the car. This happened when parking the car at home and luckily not on the highway or street during faster speeds.

A critical front suspension component failed on my 2023 Tesla Model Y without any accident, misuse, or external damage. While backing out of my garage at low speed, a loud “BAM” occurred — the front lateral link bolt fell off, detaching the lateral link and causing the front body to drop onto the tire. My child was inside the vehicle. Tesla-certified technicians inspected the vehicle and service records confirm the lateral link bolt was loose and missing, directly causing the failure. Multiple suspension components were replaced under warranty, confirming a manufacturing defect, not customer-caused damage. This is a serious safety-critical failure. At driving or highway speed, it could have caused loss of steering, severe injury, or death. The day before, my spouse drove the vehicle on the highway with our younger child — by luck, a catastrophic event did not occur. Before and after the wheel detached, the Tesla monitor...

While driving approximately 5–10 mph and making a right turn on a local street, the vehicle suddenly produced a metallic pulling sound followed by a loud impact. The vehicle abruptly stopped and became undrivable. Upon exiting the vehicle, the left front wheel was visibly displaced from normal alignment and appeared to have shifted rearward into the wheel well. No collision, curb strike, pothole, or road debris was involved. The vehicle had exhibited a wire-tugging or metallic noise during turning in the days prior. The failure occurred without warning and resulted in a sudden loss of vehicle control at low speed. The vehicle was towed to Tesla, where the left front control arm was found to be disconnected/broken. Tesla has not yet provided a determination and is attempting to route the vehicle to a collision center despite no evidence of impact. This appears to be a suspension component failure that could...

While traveling at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly veered to the right without driver input. The Autopilot/FSD system was not engaged. It all happened in a matter of seconds. There was no system failure message on the screen. The vehicle airborne and hit a tree. All side airbag were deployed. Was able to open the door and walk away without any major injuries. Software update : 2025.44.25.5

All in the same day: 1) Odd sound from behind the pedal area of driver side front quarter (sounded like a styrofoam cooler top rubbing against the cooler is the best way to describe - faint though). 2)BANG when in a parking garage turning full right but still able to control without difficulty. Made it home without incident. 3)Later that day, just after getting off of I4 in Orlando I pulled into grocery parking lot and parked. When I returned to my car I again turned right and a loud BANG and the car jerked to a sudden halt. I was able to back into a parking spot but there were 2 large screws in the driving land and the left wheel was toed slightly to the left. Ultimately it was detached when we tried to tow it we had to remove tire and put on a device to allow...

I was driving on the highway at around 70mph, switched lanes and the steering wheel randomly locked up. Gladly, I was aware of the situation and avoided a HUGE car crash but the steering started to work a few seconds later. I am very nervous to drive the car now.

I am writing to file a complaint regarding a safety issue with my 2023 Model Y Performance Tesla vehicle. The steering wheel's faux leather covering is peeling and bubbling, causing the material to come off while driving. This poses a significant hazard as it compromises my grip and creates a distraction, potentially leading to loss of control. Additionally, Tesla does NOT want to repair this, even though I’m still under warranty.

My Model Y experienced a sudden steering assist failure while driving. The wheel became extremely stiff/locked even though Autosteer was off. Multiple thermal system faults appeared: VCRIGHT_a271_THSSensorFault, VCRIGHT_a257_THSMIA, GTW_w043_THSVersionMismatch, and HVACSystemNotNominal This was very scary as I was driving and had no control of steering wheel because it locked.

Currently on the newest Tesla Full Self Driving software v14.1.4, it is phantom breaking as well as phantom swearing out of nowhere. It is swerving and using the breaks so hard it actually affects the steering wheel and self disengages it's self (without the big-loud safety alert to immediately take over control), it just does the soft disengage audio notification, like if you wanted to cancel FSD yourself. The serious problem is that the car does not stop like it should, instead it just continues it seems like it just neutrally rolls on its own drive and twice in the last week it would swerve directly into oncoming traffic. It is not supposed to be doing this at all, especially now that the "hands off" approval is enacted. I drive about 450 miles a week and this has happened about twice a week for the last two weeks. Thank god...

While driving home from a shop, my Tesla Model Y suddenly stopped in middle of busy road and became unable to move forward. I had to press the accelerator hard, which caused a loud noise before the car moved slightly and I was able to pull over to side of road. I narrowly avoided being hit by another car. Upon inspection, it was found that front tire connecting rod and suspension had failed, causing rod to drop off. The tow truck who assisted me mentioned that this is common issue with Tesla vehicle. This was a terrifying experience and I feel extremely fortunate to have escape an accident. My vehicle is less than 24 months old and I am deeply concerned about the safety and reliability of this component . I strongly urge Tesla to issue a recall and investigate this defect. There is no assurance that this failure won’t...

The bolt that holds the front lateral link portion the the lower control arm to the subframe fell out while driving. I lost the ability to steer the car and had to stop immediately and have the car towed. In searching the internet this is a know issue by Tesla but has not been recalled.

During normal driving on Sat Sep 27 2025, unusual noises started to come from the front left wheel. There were no warning lamps or messages, and no indication of issues prior to onset of the noise. I had the vehicle towed to a Tesla Service Center the following day. Tesla's technicians found that the front lateral link bolt on the left hand side had backed out and fallen out of the subframe. They determined that the cause was related to improper torque specification or application of the original bolt. They reached this conclusion in part because the passenger side lateral link to subframe bolts were also under-torqued. Rear bolts were not affected. Tesla has replaced the front lateral links on both sides with new bolts. There was no vehicle accident or damage, so there has been no involvement or inspection by police or insurance. It is fortunate that this issue...

I picked up my son from school and got home at about 3:30 PM on Sunday 9/21/2025. My son got out of the car and I heard a “clicking” sound when turning my steering wheel to the left to prepare for backing into my garage. There were no warning lights or messages for this issue. I did get out of my car and checked, but did not see anything that hit my car underneath. I got back in my car and continued backing my car into the garage. The nightmare started happening - The bolts connecting the front control arm and steering knuckle fell off that caused the left “arm” disconnected from the steering knuckle. This had resulted a sudden total loss of steering control. Please see attached photos. I could not imagine if this would have happened on the freeway.

Two days ago a warning popped up on the Tesla screen saying to schedule service for something the car had detected. It said the car could still be driven. I submitted a service request in the app, and in the meantime researched the error. Per Google, it said this was a potential issue with suspension / steering components that needed to be looked at. The next day, a Tesla technician called and asked what my appointment was for. I told him about the error and that I had found it said it was for a suspension or steering issue. He told me I was wrong, and that it was only for low tire pressure. The car did not have low tire pressure. He said the appointment wasn't needed, cancelled the appointment, and told me to drive 30-40 miles to clear the error. Literally 5 hours later, after my wife driving...

Incident Details: • Date/Time: [XXX]. • Location: [XXX] • Event: While driving, the front left wheel partially detached without warning, causing an immediate loss of steering control. Findings (third-party technician at the scene): • The wheel/control arm/linkage had come loose/detached. • Two major suspension bolts were extremely loose or had detached. • A rotor screw detached easily during inspection. • Photos, videos, and witness statements are available upon request. Current status: Tesla has not provided a failure analysis or demonstrated that the issue is resolved. Similar failures have been reported on social media, and recalls between 2021–2023 addressed front suspension lateral link fasteners that could loosen or detach. “A 2021 recall (NHTSA Recall #21V835) affected Model 3s from January 2019-April 2021 and Model Ys from March 2020-June 2021. A 2022 recall (NHTSA #22V895) was for certain 2023 Model Ys with issues on the left-hand lateral link. “ My vehicle has...

According to TESLA service, my two "lateral links" for the front wheels need to be replaced. They sent us photos of the issue and it looks like one of the fasteners for one of the lateral links was missing (1 of two fasteners) If the other fastener failed/fell out the car could easily steer out of control. The problem of the lateral links was confirmed by Tesla servicing. They are repairing it under warranty. It was only been inspected by the manufacturer, Tesla. There were no warning lamps. The only indication was the thumping sound during turns.

I am writing to report severe safety concerns involving my Tesla Model Y. Without any accident or impact, my vehicle experienced a mechanical failure on [XXX}, when the front left tire detached, making the car immobile. The vehicle had approximately 31,500 miles and no prior damage or accident history. Tesla towed the car for repairs. However, during the repair process, I discovered that the vehicle was transferred to a body shop in Chantilly, VA, without my prior knowledge or consent. When I visited the shop to retrieve personal belongings, I was shocked to see that the condition of my vehicle had significantly worsened. The technician informed me that the car now had serious structural damage, including a twisted frame and extensive paint damage. This damage did not exist before and was not caused by an impact. The technician indicated that repairs would take at least a week if only bodywork...

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the steering wheel, and the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 20,000.

While driving on the freeway, I heard an unusual noise coming from beneath the battery of my car. Concerned, I drove to a nearby friend's house and parked there, carefully checking my dashboard for any warning signals but finding none. I decided to resume my journey, but as I backed out of the driveway, I heard a sudden noise indicating something had come loose, followed by a crackling sound. Upon inspecting the car, I discovered that the control arm had become detached, the axle had popped out, and two bolts had come off. During the towing process, I noticed that the steering had become extremely tight. To my surprise, I had never received any recall notice from Tesla addressing this issue. Considering that my car is less than two years old, I was deeply disturbed by the situation. This incident has significantly undermined my confidence in the safety of the...

Making a right turn and heard a pop sound. Pulled into a parking lot immediately found the steering arm dropped and shortly after a large bolt fell out. There is supposed to be 2 bolts holding up each side, one bolt was already missing. Event occurred without incident. Normal street driving at a low speed turn.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to complete a left turn, the contact briefly heard an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle, after which the steering wheel jerked abnormally. The vehicle quickly returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the front-end suspension bushings. The contact was also informed that a bolt on the driver’s side control arm had loosened. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 - 50 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to regain control of the vehicle and attempting to correct the steering wheel, the vehicle kept going to the right and to the left independently. The contact was unable to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle struck a railing and a concrete divider with the passenger’s side front bumper and then the rear passenger’s side quarter panel, and the vehicle spun around on the highway and came to a stop. The contact pressed the emergency latch to exit the vehicle out of fear that the vehicle might catch on fire. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side tire was pushed back due to the impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The...

A suspension rod/bolt fell off my car. When I was making a right hand turn my car began screeching and shaking, I lost control for a second and almost hit another vehicle, luckily I was able to stop my car. I had my car towed to a Tesla service station for repair.

We experienced an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation with Tesla Y model on [XXX] around [XXX] and would like to report to NHTSA. We were driving on [XXX] going towards Nashua and my TESLA-Y car when the steering wheel froze and I got message that front camera was not working. When I tried to steer the car in the lane, the car suddenly braked and took two 360 degree spins (turns) on the highway with cars streaming at high speed around us. We went from the left lane to the right most lane after two 360 degree spins and ended in the right lane. Luckily, no other autos hit us and I was able to take control of the car and pull over in the right lane. The incident is recorded int the Tesla's harddrive which we can make this available to you. the car started working normally so...

I have had Supervised Full Self Driving in the vehicle for well over a year. I have used the Smart Parking feature Monday-Thursday to park the vehicle at work and it has worked flawlessly. On [XXX] around [XXX], I went to [XXX] . After entering the gate to parking on [XXX], I drove slowly. I was able to select a parking spot and tapped on it on the screen for the selection and then started the automatic parking. There were no other cars around as we were all just starting to enter the gate and park. The car began to move in reverse. It then paused turned the wheel a bit, turned it back, tried to decide what it was going to do and started to move forward. The car then drove up the curb on to the walkway and almost drove into the building. I was able to hit...

UNKNOWN I was driving with no Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). My vehicle took control of the steering wheel, swerving uncontrollably, almost hitting approaching cars, and a wooden electricity post. It was diffucult to keep the steering wheel steady. I struggled to pull the vehicle to the side of the road until I made a complete stop. A witness checked on me and was concerned that I had almost crashed.

Knocking noise coming from front left tire when turning, accelerating, and reversing. Investigated noise and found a bolt hanging (unscrewed) from control arm/tie rod and another bolt loose and working it's way loose. If this bolt unscrew, I'm positive steering would be lost. See pictures.

Vehicle was performing normally until I stopped and put vehicle into reverse to back into a supercharger stall. Heard a clunk when starting to back up. Car started to resist moving and front started to lift in the air a few inches. Stopped and went forward to go around and try again. Vehicle would not turn to left when going forward. Got out and noticed front passenger wheel was not aligned with other front wheel. Then noticed tie rod was ripped out of socket.

The driving wheel locked during a turn on back road and ran right into a electricity pole. All air bags deployed and the electricity pole broke. The driver was slightly injured on her forearm.

1. Front Passenger side wheel and auto steering system malfunctioned. Yes it is available for inspection. 2. My car was not drivable and I was stuck on the leftmost lane of highway with fast traffic passing by. Had to call 911 to move myself to safety. 3. Not yet 4. Vehicle has been inspected by the police 5. No warning lamps or message prior to failure

Power steering occasionally cuts out during low speed manoeuvres, such as parallel parking, parking, and turning while stopped. When trying to forcibly replicate the issue (by moving steering wheel lock to lock while doing parking manoeuvres) computer showed codes EPAS3P_a122_olpActive and EPAS3P_a074_overHeatProtect. Tesla says this is "working as designed" and will not fix. I have asked the car to be serviced for this issue twice now. Safety is a concern as the issue is unpredictable and I believe the steering could become difficult suddenly in a situation where it is necessary to move out of the way quickly. (Ie. Stopped in traffic with emergency vehicles incoming)

Two weeks I had my model Y serviced for shaking of the car and steering wheel. They deemed the cause of the shaking due to unalignment of the wheels and they claimed to have fixed the issue. After receiving the car for the week after it began to make a sound of something hitting every time I made a U turn or any time I turned the wheel. While driving 3/8 with my family in the car I made a U turn in a parking lot and heard the same loud sound of hitting. When I went to check two large approximately 3 inch bolts were on the ground but no nuts in sight and my control arm broke the bottom plate and was completely unattached from the car. Thankfully the bolts came off while in a parking lot and not 20 minutes prior when I was driving on a...

3/5/2024. Upon startup, car does not have power steering. Error code UI_a020 on screen and steering wheel very difficult to move as car reverses. Put car back into park and arranged for alternate transportation. Manufacturer advises "monitoring and reporting back when/if alert re-occurs"

While driving heard a noise from front end. As I turned right the steering wheel turned left in opposite direction. I heard something fall and found a bolt that fell off the car control arm. I managed to get the car back to my garage and called Tesla service. They say it needs an alignment and are going to charge me for this repair. A bolt should not be falling off the vehicle.

Subject: Urgent Safety Concern – Steering Component Failure in 2023 Tesla Model Y Dear Tesla Customer Support / NHTSA Safety Division, I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue involving a critical steering component failure in my 2023 Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX] 38,917 miles). The failure led to a loss of control and resulted in a collision. On [XXX], my wife, [XXX] , was driving the vehicle on our residential street, shortly after leaving our driveway. At a low speed of approximately 8-10 mph, she suddenly lost steering control as the car rapidly veered to the right. Despite attempts to steer, the vehicle was unresponsive, leading to a collision with a parked car. Damage Summary: •Our Tesla Model Y: Damage to front bumper, headlights, right wheel cover and right fender. •Parked Vehicle: Deep scratches and dents on the rear driver-side bumper and passenger door. Upon inspecting the...

As I entered the parking lot I disengaged FSD by taking over the steering wheel. When it can to navigating into the parking spot I gently push the accelerator and the pedal disappeared from under neath my foot as the car accelerated forward hitting the car to my right. My calls to Tesla went unanswered so I could not report the incident. The incident happened May 2nd 2024.

On [XXX] at [XXX] on [XXX] I experienced a sudden malfunction of steering control of my Tesla Model Y, followed by a rightward movement initiated by vehicle automation and potentially amplified due to the steering malfunction. The vehicle then collided with an 18-wheeler truck on the right lane and came to a stop on the middle lane. I was driving past Tracy CA on [XXX] towards Modesto on a personal trip to Merced with my daughter, [XXX] , in the front passenger seat to drop her off. Fortunately, there was no casualty or injury from this incident. We are fortunate enough to have survived physically unscathed. A difference of few seconds could have led to significant injuries or impairment. Pictures attached show the steering wheel position turned to the left at about 160 degrees, while the front wheels turned to the right at about 20-30 degrees. For a right turn...

Vehicle control arms need to be replaced as suggested by the service department. They are currently clicking because they are not secure. I truly believe this is a safety hazard. Arms cannot be replaced for another month. Seems to be a widespread issue from my research. If arm fails, driver would lose control of the vehicle.

While driving, I experienced abnormal steering control. I am not sure if it’s a mechanical or electronic issue. The vehicle was towed to a local towing facility. I have reported the issue to Tesla but have not received a response regarding an inspection or next steps. This could be a potential safety issue.

There is a steering malfunction, with my Tesla Model Y it completely locks up and the steering is disabled. The steering doesn’t move at all the following warning and codes appeared on the dashboard. DI a223 Traction control disabled Drive with caution DL a222 Stability control disabled Drive with caution GTW_w074 Steering assist reduced Steering may require increased effort Ul_a020 Steering assist reduced Steering may require increased effort. Now this is the second time it has happened within few months. It was taken to the dealership with the same complaint this was their diagnoses Concern: Customer states: Feature Availability & Settings - Steering is disabled, park assist disabled , stability control disabled, traction control disabled, vehicle hold disabled Repair Notes: Confirmed customer concern. Removed and replaced steering rack, after replacement all systems operating as designed Correction: General Diagnosis Correction: Steering Rack (Dual Motor) (Remove & Replace) - Remove and Replace...

Model Y s/w version 12.5.4.1 The model Y can be made to oscillate in the travel lane at highway speeds I think I experienced this at 70-75, it would seem to apply at any capable speed. Proper behavior: 1) driving on the highway in FSD 2) trigger the left or right turn signal to initiate a lane change by automation. What actually occurs: 1) driving on the highway in FSD 2) hold the turn signal in the desired up or down position to initiate a lane change. 3) the Tesla begins to switch lanes, and will continue to further its lane change provided you continue to hold the turn signal (up/down). 4) If you release the turn signal input "early", that is prior to the Tesla determining that the new lane is the current lane, it will immediately begin reverting to the original lane that you attempted to leave. 5)...

The Tire losing with steering shaft . The bolt come off , my vehicle can’t make hard turn make it unsafe to able to drive.

I noticed a clicking sound when turning my steering wheel at low speeds such as when parking around September 2024. The sound got louder with time. A few months later after getting new tires installed (October 22, 2024)I had very bad vibration at high speeds that was not resolved with multiple tire balances at different tire shops. Requested service with the dealer. My initial first available service appointment was December 20th 2024. I messaged the service center expressing concern that my car was unsafe to drive. They allowed me to bring my car in to drive with a technician and they ended up replacing the front lateral links on November 7, 2024. My car was purchased new in June 2024 and is at 22,000 miles. The parts were replaced under warranty. There were no warning lamps or other symptoms.

My front right suspension linkage under the vehicle has come loose and drags on the tarmac. The problem is the suspension linkage is held on by what appears to be two bolts. The two bolts have backed out, causing this linkage to fail.

Two days ago, as I was turning left into my neighborhood, I suddenly lost control of my car's steering. Just as I started the turn, the steering wheel unexpectedly pulled to the right, causing my car to veer off course and head straight toward the curb. Despite trying to correct it, the steering wouldn't respond, and the car collided with the curb. The impact was substantial, and the vehicle continued dragging along the curb until I was able to bring it to a complete stop. Upon inspection, I found that the passenger-side front wheel had been severely damaged, appearing crushed and warped from the impact. When I looked under the car, I noticed that the control arm was visibly damaged. It seemed bent or possibly broken, which I suspect contributed to my sudden loss of control over the steering. This experience has been unsettling, especially since the control arm is...

At approximately, 14,300 miles and while still under full manufacturer's warranty coverage, the front end of my vehicle started vibrating excessively at speeds of over 65 MPH while driving on smooth road surface (highway driving). I took the car to the local TESLA dealership to have the problem diagnosed. They determined that the "foam lining" on the inside of the tire separated and caused the wheel to become unbalanced. Their fix was to remove the foam lining and reinstall the tire on the wheel without the foam lining. I now have 1 tire out of 4 that does not meet the original OEM spec and condition. Below are the notes from the invoice for $256.10 that I had to pay to correct the problem. Repair Notes: Verified customer concern. Found RH front tire to have foam separation. Removed foam rebelanced tires. Test drove vehicle to verify vibration no longer present....

Front right side wheel disengaged from the steering wheel. It was very scary situation to deal with and luckily it happened while I was on alley. I was not sure what was going as suddenly car was not under my control and acting weirdly. I hit a parked car and came out of the car safely. When parked the car then realized right wheel was disengaged. Called the Tesla insurance and they are not responding for over a month now since the incident happened. Tesla is saying I need to facilitate all this with the tesla authorized facility. Bottom-line, car is with tesla insurance and nothing is happened for over a month.

I found that two bolts that connect the front right suspension assembly to the body of the car were loose (actually one had completely come off). On 9/12 I heard a rather loud clanging sound when I accelerated. When I arrived home I looked under the car, saw those loose bolts, and took the two pictures that I attached, which were taken from in front of the behind the front right wheel. We bought this car new from Tesla, and received it in late August 2023. We would expect that those bolts were not properly tightened when the car was assembled at the factory, since servicing done afterwards should not have affected them. This is the list of servicing that was done after we received the car, and before 9/12: - Tesla service fixed some rattling sounds that we heard inside the car by adjusting the interior trim, and by...