While driving a 2023 Tesla Model Y at approximately 45-50 mph on the freeway, the vehicle suffered a severe, uncommanded steering failure. The vehicle violently swerved and oscillated left-right-left without any driver provocation. Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) were NOT engaged at the time; the car was under manual control. The steering wheel pulled hard and physically yanked out of my hands. I had to manually wrestle the steering wheel for several seconds to regain control and avoid a severe accident. Crucially, there were NO visual warnings on the touchscreen, NO audible safety chimes, and NO error codes displayed during or immediately after the event. Dashcam footage of the incident was captured and saved. The vehicle is being turned over to Tesla Service as unsafe to drive.
2023 Tesla Model Y steering problems
220 complaints (18% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 10,500. 32 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 220
- of this car's complaints
- 18%
- typical mileage
- 10,500
- crashes
- 32
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- Electric power assist system1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Tesla Model Y steering problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2023 Tesla Model Y steering
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again.
- Risk
- A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1‑877‑798‑3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-004.
Recall number 25V092000 · Recall details
Steering: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Model Y vehicles. The steering wheel fastener may be loose.
- Risk
- A loose fastener may allow the steering wheel to disconnect from the steering column, which can cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla Service will inspect and replace the fastener as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were be mailed July 28, 2023. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-32-001.
Recall number 23V385000 · Recall details
Steering: automated/adaptive steering
- What is wrong
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
- Risk
- FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1‑877‑798‑3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Recall number 23V085000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Loss of steering control
On July 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23014) to investigate instances of loss of electronic power-assisted steering in MY 2023 Tesla Model 3 and MY 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla, Inc. The complaints allege a sudden and unexpected inability to turn the steering wheel or an increase in effort required to turn the steering wheel. These conditions were alleged to occur both during the drive cycle, at various speeds, and at vehicle start up. Consumers reported receiving the warning message âSteering assist reducedâ either before, during, or after the loss of steering control, and some consumers described their steering begin to feel ânotchyâ or âclickyâ either prior to or just after the incident. On February 1, 2024, PE23014 was upgraded to EA24001 to further investigate the alleged defect in the affected vehicles. Tesla identified the cause of the increase in steering effort as an overvoltage breakdown (the voltage applied exceeds the maximum design limit), which can overstress motor drive components on the printed circuit board of the vehicleâs steering Electronic Control Unit (ECU). If the primary motor drive components experienced an overvoltage breakdown occurrence while the vehicle was traveling above 0 mph, electronic power-assisted steering would be diverted to secondary motor drive components. The secondary, or backup, motor drive components would maintain electronic power-assisted steering until the vehicle reached 0 mph. If the vehicle was operating on the secondary system and reached 0 mph, the driver would lose electronic power-assisted steering with manual steering remaining available. Only manual steering would remain until the vehicleâs steering ECU is replaced. On February 19, 2025, Tesla filed safety recall 25V092 to address the loss of electronic power-assisted steering. The recall filing documents state that a steering ECU software update, identified as 2023.38.4, was introduced into production vehicles and provided to affected fleet vehicles through an over-the-air (OTA) update beginning in October 2023. The updated software was designed to prevent overvoltage breakdown and overstress of motor drive components on the printed circuit board. ODIâs analysis of related Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and Tesla field data found that complaint traffic declined following the 2023.38.4 software release. In view of the recall action taken by Tesla, ODI is closing this EA. ODI will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the remedy as is consistent with the Agencyâs authority and practice. the federal safety agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
EA24001
Loss of steering control
On July 28, 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-014) after receiving 12 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting loss of steering control in model years (MY) 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Y vehicles. During PE23-014, ODI interviewed complainants, sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Tesla, and convened technical meetings with Tesla that included a joint inspection of a crashed vehicle. The investigation identified 2,388 total complaints regarding the alleged defect, including 124 complaints through VOQs and 2,264 complaints through manufacturer data. ODI is associating 1 crash to this investigation (11544655), where a driver was unable to complete a right hand turn in the intersection and hit a vehicle. This vehicle was subject to a joint inspection by ODI and Tesla. The steering rack was recovered by ODI with the consumerâs permission. ODIâs interviews of allegations supplied to the agency, in the form of VOQs, identified patterns of the incoming complaint traffic. Complaints allege an inability to turn the steering wheel, while other complaints allege an increase in required effort to turn the steering wheel.  These conditions were reported to occur during the drive cycle as well as at start-up. Approximately one-third of complaints with a reported speed occurred at vehicle start-up or speeds less than 5 mph. Interviews with failures reported at speeds over 5 mph, half reported an inability to turn the steering wheel. A majority of complaints with a reported speed reported between 5 mph and 35 mph with approximately 1 in 10 occurring on open roads at speeds 35 mph and over. The highest reported speed regarding an alleged inability to turn the steering wheel is 75 mph. A majority of allegations reported seeing a warning message, âSteering assist reducedâ, either before, during or after the loss of steering control. A portion of drivers described their steering begin to feel ânotchyâ or âclickyâ either prior to or just after the incident. There have been multiple allegations of drivers blocking intersections and/or roadways. ODI is aware of over 50 vehicles which were allegedly towed as a result of the condition from a variety of areas including, driveways, parking lots, side of road and intersections. Multiple complaints state they were able to temporarily remedy the condition by power cycling the vehicle, but the issue reoccurred until the steering rack was replaced. Tesla supplied four steering rack part numbers on the subject vehicles.  The investigation identified part numbers, 1044832-00-A and 1188832-00-A accounted for 2,187 of the complaints and 4 did not have original part number in the information request. ODI has upgraded PE23-014 to an Engineering Analysis (EA24-001) due to continued complaint traffic and to characterize the system conditions leading to- and stemming from- the alleged defect in vehicles supplied with steering rack part numbers 1044832-00-A and 1188832-00-A To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE23014
Steering Wheel Detachment
On March 4, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23003 to investigate two reports of steering loss on model year (MY) 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles due to the detachment of the steering wheel from the steering column while the vehicle was in motion. ODI confirmed from Tesla that in both cases, the vehicles were delivered to the owners missing the retaining bolt (P/N 1036655-00-A) used to secure the steering wheel to a splined shaft on the steering column. Tesla repaired both vehicles under warranty. ODI further learned that both 2023 MY Model Y vehicles had been manufactured in the first week of January 2023 at Tesla’s Austin, TX and Fremont, CA manufacturing facilities, respectively. Both vehicles had received end of production line repairs (rectification) requiring removal and reinstallation of the steering wheel before release from the factory. End of line rectification is an offline process manufacturers use to repair any defects found prior to vehicle release from the factory. It often requires removing and reinstalling unrelated components to access and correct the issue detected during inspections. This service process usually takes place outside the assembly line’s standard quality-control safeguards, introducing the risk of an incomplete or incorrect repair. On April 28, 2023, ODI sent an Information Request letter to Tesla requesting production data and steering wheel detachment reports for all MY 2022 – 2023 Tesla models; numbers of vehicles undergoing end of line steering wheel removals / reinstallations; information about Tesla’s procedures and process controls pertaining to this activity; and Tesla’s assessment of the alleged defect. ODI sent three sets of follow-up questions to Tesla in April, May, and June of 2025 to request a field data update, fleet mileage data, and further information concerning Tesla’s rectification processes and its 2023 internal assessments. ODI’s analysis of Tesla’s submissions and other relevant data revealed that: - No additional related incidents have occurred in either the subject or peer vehicles. - The subject vehicles suffered their steering wheel detachments below 400 miles of service, indicating that any other vehicles experiencing this issue would have already experienced a steering wheel detachment. - ODI identified additional circumstances indicating that rectification taking place outside of January 2023 do not exhibit missing steering wheel fasteners. - After the recognition of both failures, Tesla applied additional controls on vehicles receiving end of line rectification. Since this investigation’s opening, the subject and peer fleet have accumulated an average of 33,000 miles of service with three vehicles reporting under 500 miles and six reporting no mileage, making the likelihoodof any undiscovered missing steering wheel fasteners extremely low. Accordingly, no evidence has been identified to indicate that the alleged defect exists outside the two 2023 incidents that prompted the opening of PE23003, and this PE is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
PE23003
What 2023 Tesla Model Y owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was backing out of a parking spot and as I shifted to driving forward I heard a loud bang from the front driver's side wheel well. I got out to see what had happened, expecting a flat tire, but nothing visually appeared wrong. So I got back into the vehicle and started to drive away again, I could drive straight or turn left, but if I tried to turn right it made loud grinding noises. I slowly drove around the parking but quickly determined the vehicle was unsafe and undriveable at that point. Additionally, I found a large bolt on the ground near where I had driven the vehicle. I no longer have the bolt, because the service center kept it. I arranged to have the vehicle towed to a local Tesla Service Center where they discovered "the front left lower lateral link bolt was missing and the remaining bolt was loose". After having the vehicle repaired, I discovered that this exact issue has been documented and resulted in the federal safety agency Recall Campaign 22V895000 / Tesla Bulletin SB-22-31-002 (improperly torqued lateral link fasteners). I requested a refund for the towing and repair cost, but was told that there are no active recalls on my VIN. I believe the scope of the active recall is too limited and clearly the issue exists beyond the currently recalled vehicles and should be expanded.
I recall Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) being engaged throughout the trip. While negotiating the curved highway interchange, I experienced an unexpected, sharp steering movement toward the concrete roadway barrier that I did not intend. The vehicle collided with the barrier, multiple airbags deployed, and the vehicle sustained extensive damage, including apparent steering/suspension damage. The vehicle was rendered undrivable. I obtained the dashcam footage and Tesla's vehicle data export. The available records show self-driving features marked "Available" and "Unavailable" in the seconds preceding collision detection, with cruise control recorded as "Standby." A lane-departure/take-control warning was also recorded shortly before impact. These records raise questions about whether FSD unexpectedly disengaged, whether automated steering contributed to the vehicle's movement, and whether adequate warning was provided.
Noticed a clunking noise from the front of car. Put in a service request via the Tesla app. It said it was fin to drive and made an appointment for 2 weeks later. 1 week later, there was a very loud noise and settling of the car. 2 bolts were on the ground and the left front wheel lost steering control. The bolts secure the lower control arm. This would have been catastrophic if it had occurred while driving.
A large bolt completely detached from the drivers side suspension. The vehicle made scraping noises when turning. Tesla confirmed lateral link bolt and brushing damage. The vehicle required towing. There has been no previous suspension or steering work.
On 09/24/2026 at approximately 4:41 PM, my 2023 Tesla Model Y drifted toward the center divider. When I attempted to steer right, away from the divider, the steering felt locked and unresponsive, and the vehicle struck the divider at approximately 24 mph. Airbags did not deploy; no injuries. Vehicle data obtained from Tesla shows: cruise control was engaged approximately 7 seconds before impact and disengaged approximately 2 seconds before impact; about 1.5 seconds before my rightward steering correction, the steering wheel swung hard left (~24°) without driver input; I then applied rightward steering effort and the wheel turned right (up to ~91°) while I was braking; the vehicle displayed "Take control immediately — vehicle departing lane" at the moment of the event; after impact it reported "Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable" and "Autopilot cameras unavailable." Damage was repaired at a cost of $11,467.75. I am reporting this because the steering behavior — the unexplained leftward swing and the unresponsive steering when I attempted to steer away — suggests a possible defect in the steering or lane-keeping system that could affect other vehicles.
On October 13, 2026, at approximately 1:30 PM, my 2023 Tesla Model Y was operating with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged on I-595 in Davie, Florida. While approaching a closed Express Lane entrance, the vehicle steered toward the end of a swing gate barrier marked "DO NOT ENTER" and collided with it. The impact damaged the lower left portion of the windshield. No injuries were reported. The incident was captured by the vehicle's dashcam. Florida Highway Patrol attended the scene, reviewed the footage, and documented the collision. The vehicle's steering behavior while FSD was engaged raises concerns about its ability to recognize and safely respond to closed lane entrances and physical road barriers. The incident has been reported to Tesla, with a request to preserve relevant vehicle data and investigate the FSD behavior. No technical findings have been provided yet.
I began hearing a squeaking noise coming from the front of my 2023 Tesla Model Y. While pulling out of a parking lot at a low speed, the front left control arm failed and the bolts came out. When the failure occurred, the vehicle suddenly steered to the left. Fortunately, I was traveling at a very low speed when this happened. I am concerned that if the same failure had occurred while traveling at freeway speeds, I could have lost control of the vehicle and potentially been involved in a serious accident. Tesla has since repaired the vehicle. After this incident, I researched similar failures and found multiple reports from other Tesla Model Y owners describing control arm/suspension components or associated fasteners coming loose or separating. I am reporting this because I am concerned this may represent a broader safety issue with the Model Y suspension system.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was determined that the front lateral link assembly and full body suspension needed to be replaced. While a USB cord was connected to the USB port, the USB cord overheated and almost burned out due to a battery surcharge, and the air was leaking into the front passenger’s side door. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while attempting to make a left turn at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became stiff and failed to turn as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the trunk door latch was rusted and the front windshield wipers activated independently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,149.
While driving and making a left turn the wheels pulled hard to the left and a major grinding noise started and at the same time the steering wheel locked up. I was just shy of crashing into a curb area and sitting in oncoming traffic lane. I pulled on the steering wheel and it broke free but still had a grinding noise and this happens a handful of times. I took to Tesla service and they said the lower steering link was completely hanging free. No advance notice just major failure.
Questions about the 2023 Tesla Model Y steering
Does the 2023 Tesla Model Y have steering problems?
Owners have filed 220 complaints about the steering of the 2023 Tesla Model Y, 18% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2023 Tesla Model Y steering problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 10,500 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2023 Tesla Model Y steering?
Yes, 3 recalls: 25V092000, 23V385000, 23V085000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Tesla Model Y have bad steering?
The Tesla Model Y model years with the most steering complaints are 2023 (220 complaints), 2021 (97 complaints) and 2022 (63 complaints).
Other 2023 Tesla Model Y problems
Driver assistance 549Acceleration 168Brakes 156Suspension 137Electrical 128Visibility 64Wheels 52Airbags 41Seat belts 36Body 32Transmission 29Lights 22Engine 20Seats 13Fuel system 10Tires 8Locks 4
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