Telsa’s Model Y is currently under investigation over detached steering wheels. Two complaints that were made prompted a probe by United States auto safety officials.
Telsa’s Model Y Is Currently under Investigation over Detached Steering Wheels
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration just recently launched an investigation into 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles. The agency on Wednesday announced that it is conducting a preliminary probe following two reports that the steering wheel detached while being driven. The investigation will reportedly cover roughly 120,000 of the crossover SUVs.
Consumer complaints, followed by preliminary investigations, are typically the initial steps that help the agency to determine whether a recall is warranted. No recalls however have been issued at this particular time.
The NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation Reports
As per reports from the NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, two customers received their vehicles with a missing retaining bolt, which is meant to be the connecting factor between the steering wheel and the steering column, and the steering wheel fell off while the car was in motion. The agency in its summary document notes that a friction fit kept the wheel in place until force exertion made it to separate from the steering column. And according to the NHTSA, “both incidents occurred at low vehicle mileage.”
NHTSA Web Page in Regards to the Tesla Model Y
An NHTSA web page in regards to the Tesla Model Y shows a steering-related complaint from Feb. 1. And in the summary of the complaint, which lists a tweet that includes images, the customer stated that he was driving on the highway on Jan. 29 when the steering wheel fell off. The driver was able to safely pull over to the side of the road and felt very fortunate that another car wasn’t following behind when the mishap took place.
The NHTSA reports that both Telsa customers have had repairs that required the removal and reinstallation of the wheel.
Telsa’s Response to the Development
Telsa immediately did not respond to a request for comment as the automaker does not operate a public relations department, which as you should know, normally fields such requests.
