Tesla Model Y steering noise problems

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Suspension · CA

I brought my Tesla Model Y to a Tesla Service Center after noticing an abnormal noise while steering the vehicle at low speeds. During the inspection, Tesla technicians discovered significant damage to the front suspension components. The driver's-side lower control arm bushing had cracked and shifted substantially out of position, with the bushing pushed outward toward the driver side of the vehicle. The lower control arm bushing on the opposite side was also found to be severely cracked. Due to the extent of the damage, both lower control arms and both upper control arms required replacement. The suspension failure also caused severe damage and abnormal wear to the driver's-side front tire, which resulted in the replacement of all four tires. This condition involved critical steering and suspension components and raises serious safety concerns regarding vehicle handling, suspension durability, tire wear, and the potential for loss of vehicle control. The severity of the component failures was discovered only after the vehicle was inspected for the steering noise. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this may represent a safety-related defect that could affect other Tesla Model Y vehicles.

Filed Sep 30, 2026 · Suspension · CA

I am reporting a front suspension mechanical failure on my 2023 Tesla Model Y. The vehicle developed a clunking/clicking noise from the left-front/front suspension area, most noticeable when turning the steering wheel at low speeds or while stationary. The noise was first noticed around December 2025. It was intermittent, more pronounced in colder temperatures and after the vehicle had been parked for an extended period. It sometimes also occurred during larger steering inputs after driving straight for a while. The vehicle had previously needed wheel alignment correction, including abnormal left-front alignment values. I took the vehicle to a Tesla Service Center. A Tesla technician reproduced the noise and inspected the front suspension. The final repair record states: "Technician verified a clunk from the front when steering back and forth at low speeds. Inspection of the front suspension indicated loose lateral links or worn bushings, and subframe nuts were broken." Tesla replaced the following parts under the Basic Vehicle Limited Warranty at no charge: - Front subframe assembly (P/N 1044531-00-C) - Front lower lateral link assembly, pair (P/N 1188341-00-C) - Front lower compliance link assembly, RH (P/N 2188359-10-B) and LH (P/N 2188354-10-B) - Associated bolts and nuts Tesla also checked and adjusted the four-wheel alignment, followed by a post-repair validation test drive. This was not a subjective noise complaint. The fault was physically reproduced by the technician and confirmed by disassembly and inspection, which found broken subframe nuts and loose/worn lateral link bushings, requiring replacement of the entire front subframe and both front lower suspension link pairs. No crash, fire, injury, or component separation occurred. I am concerned that had this connection continued to deteriorate, it could have affected front suspension geometry and vehicle control. I request that the federal safety agency include this case in any related safety defect investigation.

Filed Sep 14, 2026 · Driver assistance · CA

On September 11, 2026 at 5:11:51 PM in San Jose, CA, FSD (Supervised) had been engaged continuously for 23 minutes. The vehicle was traveling straight in its lane at 32 mph and still accelerating. FSD disengaged with no takeover warning: no visual alert, no chime. My data export from the manufacturer (200 ms resolution) confirms the timestamp and shows the driver-monitoring channel never entered either of its warning states during the drive, though both appear elsewhere in my data. Nothing I did caused it. Steering torque stayed within sensor noise, with no rightward torque at any point. First brake application was 5.56 seconds after; first accelerator input 15.5 seconds after; no steering wheel button events near the event. Immediately afterward the steering angle moved about 7 degrees right over five seconds with my torque still near zero. The vehicle left its lane toward parked cars and came very close to striking them. No forward collision warning, no automatic emergency braking. I braked manually and stopped. I re-engaged FSD 36 seconds later and again two minutes later. Both times it steered right again and I disengaged. No warning lamps or messages appeared before any of this. The manufacturer reviewed logs remotely but has not inspected the vehicle or reproduced the problem. They attribute it to reduced forward camera visibility. My export shows one camera-related alert for that drive, logged 23 minutes earlier and absent from the incident window. They later stated the vehicle logged 30 non-customer-facing "low" obstruction events over two weeks, and that a customer alert appears only for significant obstruction. I drove extensively in that period without incident. A condition judged not worth notifying me about should not also explain withdrawal of steering control at 32 mph. Root cause is unconfirmed pending a paid diagnosis I have not authorized. Vehicle available for inspection. I have dashcam footage and the full export.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Suspension · FL

Driver-side front suspension is creaking and popping when turning the steering wheel, particularly at low speeds. Noise appears to be coming from the left-front suspension. Vehicle needs inspection of the driver-side front upper control arm/ball joint, lateral and compliance links, bushings and associated suspension components for wear or excessive play.”

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Suspension · NY

I am experiencing a loud, persistent creaking and groaning noise coming from the front suspension of my 2023 Tesla Model Y whenever the vehicle travels over bumps, uneven road surfaces, or during low-speed steering maneuvers.This structural front-end noise raises immediate safety concerns regarding a potential premature failure of critical suspension components, specifically the front lower lateral links or upper control arm ball joints. I am deeply concerned that this component wear could lead to a sudden detachment of the suspension link while driving, resulting in a sudden loss of steering control and an immediate crash hazard.Tesla is aware of widespread suspension issues in these model years, but there is currently no active safety recall to protect owners from catastrophic part failure. I am filing this to urge a mandatory safety recall before a serious failure occurs. I have just over 63,000 miles

Filed Aug 9, 2026 · Suspension · CA

--torn bushings on both the lateral and compliance links --my understand is that torn bushings, if they completely failed, could cause a wheel to lose its rigid control causing the control arm to shift wildly, causing severe steering wander, loud clunking noises over bumps, unstable braking, and rapid, uneven tire wear. In worst-case scenarios, it can lead to a sudden loss of vehicle control and at worst cause an accident --also, this can also cause alignment issues and excessive tire wear--in my case, the torn bushings caused the front tires to chunk --three dealerships, including Tesla, confirmed the issue, including that it likely impacted the alignment and tires --the earliest symptoms were uneven tire wear: 1) all four tires from my first set were chunking and had to be replaced; 2) the front two exhibited the same chunking and have yet to be replaced

Filed Aug 8, 2026 · Suspension, Wheels · TX

Tesla was in FSD and had the latest software update installed on 8/6/28 which included the new FSD version released. On 8/7/28 on the way to work that my wife takes every time she goes to work the FSD ran over a large pot hole which it had never done before on the previous FSD version. The car started having rattling of the steering wheel and a rattling noise from over the rear driver wheel area. The next available Tesla service appointment was on 8/27 but we walked in and Tesla offered to do an alignment and found that the driver front and rear rims were bent from the pothole and we had to be pay close to 1800$. Thereafter, the rattling over the rear wheel well is louder but Tesla has not accommodated us with an earlier service appointment and refused to make any accommodations for the FSD update resulting in this damage.

Filed Jun 10, 2026 · Wheels · NY

Model Y (VIN: [XXX]). On XXX, I brought my vehicle to Tesla Service for replacement of the front wheel hub assembly and paid approximately $1,000 for the repair. Shortly after picking up the vehicle, I noticed abnormal knocking and clicking noises while turning the steering wheel. Because I was concerned about the safety of the vehicle, I sought a second opinion from an independent repair facility. On XXX, the independent shop inspected the vehicle and found that two wheel hub mounting bolts had not been properly tightened and that one mounting bolt was completely missing. The repair invoice states that the vehicle was being operated in an unsafe condition and that continued operation could have resulted in wheel hub failure and a serious accident. The shop corrected the condition by replacing the missing bolt and properly tightening the wheel hub assembly. I incurred an additional expense of $284.47, which would not have been necessary had the original repair been completed properly. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 4, 2026 · Body, Steering · MD

I am reporting a suspected defect involving the front suspension or steering system of my 2026 Tesla Model Y AWD. The vehicle produces loud popping, knocking, and rattling noises from the front end when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, particularly when the steering approaches full lock in either direction. The issue is most noticeable when entering or exiting uneven surfaces such as sloped driveways or parking lot entrances where the suspension is under load. During these conditions, the front suspension produces distinct mechanical popping or knocking sounds that appear to originate from the front wheel or suspension area. The noise does not occur while driving straight. It becomes significantly more noticeable when turning left or right at low speeds and worsens as the steering approaches full lock. In addition to the noise, a noticeable mechanical jolt or feedback can be felt through the steering wheel when the popping or knocking occurs. This issue began suddenly without any warning signs. One moment the vehicle was operating normally, and the next the popping and knocking noises began. Since that time the issue has continued consistently during turning maneuvers. The vehicle has not been involved in any collision and has been driven under normal conditions. Numerous other 2026 Tesla Model Y owners have reported similar front suspension symptoms, suggesting this may represent a broader pattern of potential suspension or steering component issues. Because the noise and feedback occur through the steering system while the suspension is under load, this raises concern that a suspension or steering component may be shifting, binding, or prematurely wearing. This condition raises safety concerns because abnormal movement or failure of steering or suspension components could affect vehicle control during turning or emergency maneuvers. I request that this issue be investigated for a possible defect trend affecting Tesla Model Y vehicles.

Filed Nov 12, 2025 · Suspension · ID

I am reporting a safety defect involving loose lower control arm bolts on my 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range (VIN: [XXX] ), discovered at 33,008 miles. We purchased the vehicle brand new, and it has no modifications or repairs to the suspension. On 09/02/2024, a warning light appeared. At the time, I did not know if it was related to the suspension. In the weeks after, I began noticing popping/clunking noises when turning or going over bumps, and the steering felt noticeably looser and less stable. On 11/08/2024, the issue was identified: bolts on the lower control arm were backing out and were extremely loose. On 11/11/2024, during a scheduled Tesla service visit, I drove the vehicle to the service center and demonstrated the noises and steering issues. Tesla technicians inspected the vehicle and confirmed it was unsafe to drive due to the loose control arm bolts. This is a serious safety concern. Loose or backing-out lower control arm bolts can lead to loss of steering control or suspension separation, creating a high risk of a crash. The vehicle did not provide a clear suspension-related warning prior to this issue, and the problem would not have been noticeable to an average driver until it became severe. Because this occurred on a well-maintained, unmodified vehicle with just over 33,000 miles, I am concerned this may indicate a broader manufacturing or quality-control issue affecting other Tesla Model Y vehicles. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this defect for potential patterns and determine whether a recall or corrective action is warranted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)