"Tesla under investigation for a possible manufacturing defect on the steering wheel of its Model Y"

Tesla may be facing yet another recall as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched a preliminary investigation into the Tesla Model Y. The reason for this is that the steering wheel of the car might come off while driving.

This issue was reported by a user who experienced this mishap five days after receiving his Tesla Model Y on the highway. The US security agency opened an investigation in response to this complaint, as well as another reporting the same issue, which led to the monitoring of Tesla.

Tesla is again under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a potential safety flaw. This time the investigation concerns the detachment of the steering wheel in the Tesla Model Y produced in 2023, and it could affect up to 120,089 vehicles. According to NHTSA, two Tesla Model Ys have already experienced this defect, and the cars delivered to customers were missing a retaining bolt connecting the steering wheel to the steering column.

Pre-investigation for another mass recall

At this time, this is a preliminary investigation to assess the scope, frequency, and manufacturing processes associated with this condition. This is a preliminary step to a possible mass recall, which will depend on the isolated or generalized nature of the fault. Tesla has so far taken no responsibility in this matter.

This new investigation is in addition to an ongoing review call regarding the FSD Beta autopilot , which has resulted in performance issues at intersections and on variable speed lanes. Tesla has stopped implementing it pending the errors being corrected, but continues to sell this option.

The latest review call concerns more than 363,000 cars. The company is under pressure to address these security issues, which have been repeatedly reported by authorities and customers. The detachment of the steering wheel is of particular concern as it can lead to serious accidents on the road.

However, Tesla also has supporters who argue the surveys are exaggerations and attempts to discredit the brand. Despite this, the safety of Tesla cars remains a concern for regulators and consumers . The company will need to be transparent and diligent in addressing these issues to maintain consumer and investor confidence.

A disgruntled Tesla customer has posted images on Twitter showing his Model Y's steering wheel literally dangling from the steering column. He was lucky that no one was following him during the incident and had to wait for the tow truck and the assistance services to arrive.

The owner of the new Model Y was then charged for the repair of his vehicle, but refused to pay citing a manufacturing defect. Tesla eventually bought the vehicle back and promised to deliver a new car to the customer. In the meantime, Tesla offered him another Model Y as a replacement car.

However, in the letter sent by the after-sales service to Patel , Tesla did not acknowledge that it was a fault or a manufacturing defect. This is precisely what NHTSA is currently investigating to determine whether or not this is a factory failure.

If NHTSA determines that it is indeed a manufacturing defect, it will mean that more than 120,000 vehicles will have to go through the shop to correct the fault. This investigation is therefore crucial in determining Tesla's responsibility in this case.