Table 1 shows one common steering related problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Steering problems |
The front suspension control arm was completely detached due to unfastened bolts. While this happened on the parking lot at low speed, such detachment at highway speed would certainly lead to major damage, loss of control and injuries or death to the driver. Pictures attached show that the bolts did not have any thread lock applied and simply unscrewed themselves due to vibration. The vehicle was brought to Tesla service, where the owner was charged $3700 for repairs. The customer's complaints that this is a structural/manufacturing problem were ignored by Tesla representatives.
I own a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of steering assist while driving, and the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, eventually locking up to the point where the vehicle could no longer be safely controlled. There were dashboard warnings related to steering and low-voltage system faults. The vehicle had to be towed because it was unsafe and not steerable. This is the second time within a few months that the vehicle has become inoperable and required a tow. The first failure involved a low-voltage electrical fault that prevented the car from charging or driving. The most recent failure involved the steering rack and a front-end controller component. Tesla diagnosed the issue as requiring replacement of the steering rack and a front controller assembly. The repair cost was quoted at approximately $4,200 out of pocket, and Tesla stated the failure was not covered under warranty and not related to the earlier electrical issue. No recall was listed for this VIN. There was no crash, but steering control was lost while the vehicle was in motion, which created a safety hazard. I am reporting this because a sudden loss of steering function while driving is a serious safety defect that could lead to a collision if it occurs at higher speeds or in traffic.
We noticed that one of our tires was leaning inwards and the alignment was completely shot. There was no event that caused this but just noticed it one day driving. After having to replace two new tires, we took it into the Tesla dealership and they found that the control arm and suspension as well as the frame underneath is broken. The car has a clean tittle and this problem use to be covered by Tesla but for some reason now is not and this is a big steering and safety issue! we should not be responsible for the cost to fix the car if this has happened so often in the past!.
I am reporting a major safety defect that began immediately after Tesla installed the full self-driving (fsd) hardware upgrade on my vehicle. After paying $2,000 for fsd and receiving the hardware retrofit, the car now instantly veers left toward oncoming traffic whenever fsd is engaged. This began immediately after Tesla’s installation. Before this service, my vehicle operated safely. I have contacted Tesla cherry hill service center in new jersey multiple times. The advisors there repeatedly told me to “just recalibrate the cameras from the touchscreen. ” I’ve done this numerous times, following every instruction carefully, but the issue persists. When I called the service center, I was told that “everything looks fine remotely,” even though the problem continues and is clearly dangerous. I was also told they could take it for a test drive, but that if they couldn’t find anything, I would have to “wait for a future update” to make fsd usable. This is unacceptable and unsafe. Tesla delivered this car to me in a dangerous condition that could easily cause a serious crash. A car that steers itself into oncoming traffic under fsd control should never have been returned to a customer — especially one new to using fsd. I should not be responsible for any repairs, recalibrations, or diagnostics related to a defect introduced by Tesla. This issue appears to be the direct result of improper installation, misalignment, or faulty calibration following the fsd hardware upgrade performed by Tesla cherry hill. This poses a severe risk of collision and injury, and Tesla’s refusal to take responsibility or correct it under warranty demonstrates clear negligence and disregard for safety. Tesla cherry hill is also known for poor customer service and repeated dismissal of safety complaints from other owners, which further concerns me.
The bolt/fastner holding the control arms almost backed all the way out. I was driving and heard metal sound it got worse on the drive home. I also noticed the alignment to get worse and when I got home I looked and the bolt/ fastner almost came out. There is a Tesla recall for only a small percent for my year with that issue. Tesla wants 4k to replace it. It is a huge safety issue. I have a family and it could have been serious if it detached not only to me and my family but other vehicles other pedestrians.
Upon entering my vehicle, which was in my garage, I put it into reverse. I found the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn and upon viewing the screen I saw a message stating "steering assist reduced. Steering may require increased effort". I backed up about 10 feet and still was unable to turn the steering wheel. I noticed another message advising "lane departure avoidance features unavailable. Features may be restored on next drive". I pulled back into the garage and rebooted the car to no avail. I let the car sit for several hours before trying again. This time the steering was fine. I am scheduled to have the manufacturer inspect the car on Tuesday April 29, 2025.
The front upper control arms on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 have failed multiple times, producing loud clunking, popping, and binding noises during steering. The issue has worsened and poses a serious risk of loss of control while driving. Tesla replaced these parts under goodwill in the past, but the failures have returned. The most recent incident occurred around 03/05/2025 at approximately 106,867 miles. The failure has been confirmed and documented by Tesla service centers, and I have multiple invoices showing repeated replacements of the same components. The problem directly affects steering and suspension safety.
Right front upper control arm began making noise and was replaced under warranty at 42k miles in sept 2019. Left front upper control arm failed around 50k miles and caused a wreck resulting in $8,365 in damages in April 2021. When fixing one side it is standard to replace the other and Tesla was negligent. Upon fixing the left side suspension at blue ash auto body in 2021, the brake caliper came loose while driving on the highway while on a vacation. This caused an additional $1500 or so in charges. Both of these incidents put my life and my son's life in danger. About a week or two after the caliper problem, Tesla issued a recall for that part stating that it is now single use only.
- component or system failed or malfunctioned - front subframe structure (part number 1044521-00-j) - the part failed with my car at approximately 55,000 miles. When it failed, the car didn't alert any problem and continue to drive the full-self-driving mode. I only noticed that it was very dangerous the next day when I tried to take my car out of the garage. - the problem was diagnosed by Tesla service center which I had to toll my car to them because it was unsafe to drive. - the vehicle or component was not inspected by police or insurance, because there was no accident. - there was no warning lamps or indication other than noise.
While regularly driving I experienced a gradual squeaking sounds from the front suspension. A few moments later I noticed that my steering wheel was acting as if it didn’t have power steering. I’m lead to believe that due to the poor design of my Model 3, that the outside elements were easily able to make its way to my universal power steering shaft leading Tesla to remove and replace my steering shaft and my upper control arms as well. The rust on the u shaft was incredible, I’ve only driven in the snow one time and immediately the noises starting happening. I paid everything out of my own pocket due to the undeliverable conditions my steering wheels was in.
Horn button does not active horns.
On [xxx], I started driving to work when I heard an click from my front wheel. The car was driving without any problem. After a while when making a u-turn, the car front wheel got completely locked with a "grinding sound" and I lost control of the car. Fortunately, it was at low speed and I just stopped driving, if it was at high speed, it could've been a horrible situation. I had to park my car, call Tesla and tow the car to them as it was not drivable. After initial evaluation, they said the bolts of the right suspension lateral arm were not only loose, but detached and fell off, so there was physical locking between the wheel and the lateral arm. Also the bolt attachment site at the subframe was completely worn out so they needed to change the whole subframe and both lateral arms. Beside a clear recall from Tesla models 3/y made between 2018-2020 about the exact same issue, and this event being for the same exact problem, Tesla keeps not appreciating that and says that recall is gone. Tesla says the loose component will be audible before it completely separates, but it was not in my case. Looking at people's posts in public media, I strongly believe Tesla is ignoring this life-threatening deficit in these cars and models and this can put the lives of many drivers at risk. While I paid out of pocket for repairs, I'm more concerned about the safety of driving my and similar cars at the moment, so I request adequate investigation. Here is some evidence: [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] . [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
I recently took my car in for a recall for the trunk wiring harness and have never had any major issues since I purchased it in 2018. Since replacing the recalled harness, I’m starting to receive several alerts from my driver assistance system (emergency brakes, camera failure). I called a service tech who mentioned there’s either a failed camera or a failed wiring harness. Looking online, I was shocked to see hundreds of other owners with a 2018 Model 3 also experiencing the same issue in 2024 (assuming after they replaced the recently recalled harness). I strongly believe that these two issues are related and that the camera should be replaced alongside the wiring harness. Several people on this forum have been quoted hundreds or thousands from Tesla to replace the harness (including myself) and are taking matters into their own hands by replacing with after market parts. This is a serious safety issue since the cameras control all self driving functionality. I’m shocked that it’s not already been addressed through a recall! the first time my system had gone out while on autopilot, the car flashed and sirened and asked that I take over. Since then all my driver assistance features including my rear camera are no longer functional. Please see this forum where several others are experiencing the same issue on their 2018 Model 3s [xxx] attached are error messages from my car and screenshots from the forum above where people have described the diy fix and the costs quoted by Tesla. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
Without warning, it became extremely difficult to turn the wheel while I was driving. An alert simultaneously appeared stating that steering assist was reduced. I was able to park the car, with difficulty, and then updated the software. The warning disappeared and the steering seemed to work again. Tesla recommended a remote visit only since the car didn’t appear to have any current warnings, however I requested an in-person evaluation. It was determined that the car had a faulty steering rack. They stated that this did not appear to be from damage, and instead an internal fault.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal grinding sound emanating from the front driver's side of the vehicle, after which he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring that the steering wheel be manually returned to center. 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 not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 43,000.
My 2017 Tesla Model 3 was unable to be successfully updated with the ota firmware update remedy in compliance with NHTSA recall no. 23v-838. The Tesla service advisor claims the computer is the cause of the failure and needs to be replaced at an estimated cost of $2,740. 28 because it is no longer covered under warranty. Tesla replaced the original computer with autopilot hardware 3. 0 at its discretion and expense in 2020, presumably to enable full fsd functionality as the fsd option was part of the original purchase. The computer controls all driving functions of the vehicle without fault and successfully communicates with the Tesla server so the diagnosis that it is defective and the cause of the ota update failure, as opposed to a "buggy" software update, is highly suspect. Independently verifying the validity of Tesla's diagnosis is not possible given the proprietary nature of such work. In response to my query about the uniqueness of this problem, the Tesla service adviser admitted that other customers have paid to have their vehicle computers replaced for this same reason which, if true, is most troubling. It leads me to believe that Tesla is using the safety recall to exploit and profit from unwitting customers for an expensive and unnecessary fix when the root problem is an inadequately written firmware patch.
My car began making a loud creaking noise that was palpable in the gas pedal on turns, especially when turning into an incline. I requested service from Tesla who gave me an appointment approximately a month after my request. The noise grew louder and more frequent so I messaged service again to make sure the car was safe to drive and see if an earlier time was available. They replied that yes it was safe and no there was no earlier time. Soon thereafter I pulled into a parking spot and heard a very loud noise from the front left and got out to find the left front wheel bent inward and support components hanging from the bottom of the car in contact with the pavement. Per Tesla service's report, "front suspension damage and driver side front finder damage. . . Left front strut damage, front sub-frame assembly damage, lower lateral links damage, aero shield is damaged, and both front lateral and compliance link brushings torn. " recommend to replace front suspension lower lateral and compliance links, both front upper control arms, left front strut, front sub-frame assembly and perform four wheel alignment. Steering rack feels harder than normal while turning on the lift. Recommend to replace steering rack assembly" the technician stated that this appeared to be due to "collision damage". The car was hit while parked a year ago, but a Tesla-authorized collision repair facility did not identify damage to any of these components at the time of repair. The quote for repair currently is $7374. 47.
Tesla Model 3 autopilot engaged. The car steered itself off the road and into a tree as it was accelerating on a residential street from 8 mph to approx. 30 mph.
Power steering stopped working suddenly while driving. This was a oem part replaced on 2021 Aug 30. The car was unable to be controlled and luckily I was driving at slow speed when I realized this issue. This issue happened without any warning and there should be monitoring if this fails and warn the customer to take necessary precautions. Also wondering if the warranty of 1 year for a part like this is sufficient and customer to bear 2750$ cost to replace is a big burden to an average consumer especially if not his fault.
I have a 2018 Tesla mode 3. It is one of the early Model 3 on roads. I have had around 10 issues in the car over the past 6 years of ownership; and most of them were fixed during warranty. My car has no accidents, no water damages (only hand washed), single driver driven and well maintained. Around a month ago, I got an alert in the car “condition detected with controller”. Tesla service did remote check and stated that vcfront (front body controller) needs to be replaced for $900. I took the car for this fix and then heard that vcfront controller is fine, but I need a replacement of harness and steering rack for $4200, as they see corrosion. I told them that I have no issues with driving or anything else, as $4200 is around 25% of the value of the car. I was advised, pay for this amount or take the car. I got my car without fix. My concern include (I) if this is corrosion issue (model s 2018 and before also had the same issue and there was a recall), then is it their part quality or design quality issue or is it a normal car’s aging issue? (ii) I see malpractice of charging exorbitant $4200 for something I do not see any issues in driving or anything else, and importantly, not sure how are my future repairs going to look like $$ wise. I have request for nhsta – can I show my car to any entity like yours (and not Tesla service) to get an advise whether (a) this is a corrosion issue by manufacturer or normal car’s aging issue (b) is it critical car to replace one or both parts (c) is this a malpractice to burden owners with this high cost of maintenance, once it is out of warranty? (please note that Tesla never offered extended warranty for my car).
The front right lower control arm, sub frame, and bolt(s) failed causing unsafe driving conditions while myself and my kids were in the car. There is a recall on this part for many of the exact same year, make, and model as my car: NHTSA campaign 23v235000. Tesla recall sb-23-31-001 (info pulled from ntsb site). My VIN wasn’t on the recall, but there is clearly an issue, so I was forced to pay for this. Please add my VIN so I can be reimbursed and also get the other side repaired for safety reasons.
The steering of my Model 3 became more difficult and clunky like I had to apply extreme amounts of force to turn. When I turned the wheel I could feel the wheel stop in each gear or grove of the steering mechanism. It got so bad at freeway speeds of 75 mph that it became extremely difficult to keep the car going in a straight line. As described before I would apply very heavy force to the wheel to turn it, when it did turn I would feel it clunk into the next stoping point and I would have to clunk back and forth this way to keep it going in a somewhat of a straight line. There was on time while using full self driving on the freeway at 75 mph on a turn the full self driving was not able to turn the wheel and almost ran into the cement barrier. I was able to take control of the wheel and correct the car as soon as I saw the car cross the solid line. I took my car in for repair at the Tesla service center October 2023. I was charged $5k to replace the full steering unit in my 5 year old car at that time. I have owned 14 vehicles over my years of car ownership, vehicles age ranging from 1984 - 2018 and I have not once ever had to replace the full steering unit for any of those cars.
This vehicle has had steering squeaks for a really long time. I've had ball joints sealed, control arms replaced and now lateral links replaced for damaged bushings. This has cost me a significant amount of money and the bushings show tears that could have resulted in loss of control.
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla model s. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, the steering disengaged. The vehicle was hard to steer. The driver was able to veer off the road. The driver steering assist disengaged message was displayed in a window. The local dealer was contacted who schedule an appointment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 23,505.
My steering wheel on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 long range, began to groan louder and vibrate periodically when the steering wheel was turned, especially at lower speeds. At speeds roughly under 50 mph, the front wheel fender area would vibrate frequently, and more often when I encountered speed bumps or dips in the pavement surface. I contacted Tesla early 2024 through my Tesla app, explained what I was experiencing. Tesla determined I may set a mechanical appointment for 01/14/2024 with a "repair estimate" that was approximately $175. 00. Upon preview by the service-intake representative (I do not remember name), he pushed down on my front fender area, heard the "groan" and informed me that my vehicle's issue was "very common and easily correctable, that should not cost me more than $200” in his estimation. A couple hours after dropping off my car, I got a call from another representative from the berkeley Tesla service center, informing me that the damage was more extensive and would be approximately $2100 (labor included), which involved a broken control assembly, replacing front upper control arm assembly, right hand and left hand, front lower compliance link assembly right and left sides, lateral lower front links right and left sides, an alignment, and various bolts & nuts parts. . Or if I choose to not move forward with repair, I can come back to pick up my vehicle without repair costs. On the phone, I brought up that I read the NHTSA and Tesla issued a recall on some vehicles within the same year as my vehicle, however, I was informed over the phone, since I was not notified nor was "on the list," I was not covered. I was very concerned with vehicle operating safely so I paid for these repairs out-of-pocket. If my front suspension failure / safety matter is very similar to over 400 Tesla recalled vehicles whose vehicles experienced the same issues, I am hopeful my vehicle can be included in this matter and be reimbursed for my paid repairs.
I am writing to report urgent safety concerns with my 2018 Tesla Model 3, software version 2023. 44. 30. 5. 1, after the NHTSA recall on autopilot functionality. I have owned my vehicle for over 4 years and have never had concerns with the adas / auto-pilot / auto-steering functionality until the NHTSA required changes in December 2024. While driving on I-405 in garden grove, CA, my vehicle while in adas / auto-steering / autopilot made repeated and unusually persistent attempts to change from lane 4 to lane 3. I had to manually cancel each attempt, despite my speed being set to match traffic flow. This issue never arose before the software update for the NHTSA recall. Moreover, the vehicle consistently signaled for driver attention, despite my full attention to the road, a concerning new behavior post-update. The need to frequently override these undesired maneuvers forced me to disable the adas autopilot/auto-steering. This puts me and my vehicle occupants at risk, as I believe the adas system, functioning correctly pre-recall update, safely maintained distance from vehicles ahead and did not make unintended maneuvers to change lanes. These issues suggest the recall modifications adversely affect autopilot functionality, creating safety hazards. This is especially alarming given the potential for serious accidents due to unexpected lane changes and false driver attention alerts. I urge the NHTSA to reconsider the recall modifications to Tesla's auto-steer/autopilot adas features. It's crucial that recall adjustments do not jeopardize vehicle and vehicle occupants safety. A comprehensive review of the recall's impact is needed, potentially leading to an amendment or reversal, to ensure the safety of Tesla users and other road users.
During the middle of a low speed turn I heard a loud thump and a metallic sound like a coin hitting the pavement. After completing the turn another strange noise followed by a dramatic change to steering of the vehicle - I would steel center but the car wanted to go left into oncoming traffic. I was able to steer hard right into the shoulder before any cars caused a collision and stop the vehicle. Upon inspection it was clear there was a major failure - the lower control arm for the left front wheel was on the asphalt and one of the bolts was missing, the other completely detached from the vehicle but still in the arm. The wheel had shifted considerably from its normal spot. If this had been at any higher speed or on a freeway this could have been a critical issue causing a life threatening accident and at this time my 5 year old daughter was in the car with me. I took photos and had the vehicle towed to the Tesla (maker) service center in austin for evaluation. I noted later that there was a recall for this exact issue and this model year however they did not apply it to this VIN, only a few hundred cars. I suspect there are many other vehicles with the same issue as the tow truck driver stated that he sees this problem all the time, several in the past few weeks which was troubling. I strongly urge a deeper look into this issue that causes the unexpected and sudden failure of the steering system and loss of control of the vehicle.
The front suspension lateral link fasteners on the driver side wheel came loose and fell off the car in my driveway when I was backing up the car. There is an active recall for this issue - 23v235000, but my VIN wasn't included in that recall.
The steering wheel assistance reduced. Couldn’t turn steering wheel while driving. Happened two times. Last time happened today 11/18/2023 at about 1:30pm.
"self-driving system" turned into a one-way road, going the wrong way when the road was well labeled. I have had similar problems every time I have activated self-driving over the past 6 years. It is easy to reproduce the issue at any time.
Lost power steering. It started working again, but the dealership recommended a replacement due to corrosion which amounted to around 4k. Comprehensive insurance would not cover since the damage was gradual and not immediate.
Power steering assist failed. I drove to work just fine but after briefly putting the car in park and then back into drive, an error message appeared on the screen (ui_a020 steering assist reduced) and I could no longer steer the vehicle. I was fortunately able to drive straight ahead into a parking spot and turn it off. I tried waiting a few minutes but was unable to regain any ability to steer the car. He error message only showed after the condition occurred. There were no other warning signals ahead of the failure. Had this happened at speed the outcome could have been catastrophic. This just happened and I have not yet had the car inspected.
When driving couple of days back an alert "ui_a020 stating steering assist disabled" appeared on screen and the steering became stiff. Luckily I was on local road; so I slowed down and pulled over. This could cause a big safety issue if I am on a highway and unable to steer easily at high speed. I contacted Tesla; they suggested getting the steering rack replaced for ~$3000. This is a basic safety issue; fixing it should be covered by Tesla.
I was turning into a parking spot when I heard a loud clanging sound, and I was unable to complete the turn. When I came out to look, the front driver's side wheel was slanted, as if in a turn, the passenger side wheel was straight. I had returned the steering wheel to center before I came out. I found a bolt behind the car, and through visual inspection saw that the front driver's side wheel was no longer attached to the steering shaft. The tow truck driver found another bolt under the car. Neither nut was recovered despite searching. Tesla support told me to tow it to their service center, where they repaired it for me for free, despite the fact that I was no longer under warranty. 1) component that failed: front driver's side control assembly 2) safety at risk: the car was unsteerable at that point, at a higher speed, it would have cause d a crash 3) confirmed by dealer, repaired by dealer. Invoice attached. 4) has not been inspected by anyone other than the dealer, and superficially by the tow truck driver. 5) no warnings or symptoms observed before the incident. Attached: a) picture of the steering arm on the ground, disconnected from the steering shaft. B) picture of one of the recovered bolts. C) repair invoice from Tesla.
Steering well locked up after parking . Unable to turn wheel. Error code power steering failure . Ui a020. Forced reset and then had to power down car. Waited 10 minutes. Then steering resumed. Drove to repair shop.
First occurrence (5 oct 2023): on 5 oct 2023, as I was backing my 2018 Tesla Model 3 into a parking spot, I heard a loud metallic sound as I turned the wheels. I stopped the car to investigate and found a large bolt (about four inches long) under the front end of the car. Further inspection revealed that a similar bolt was partially backed out of the steering linkage. I also noticed the left front wheel was no longer aligned with the right front wheel. I determined the car was not drivable and I had it flat-bedded to the nearest Tesla service center. The service center diagnosed that the bolt had fallen out of the left lateral link and the other bolt had partially backed out. Inspection of the bolt that was recovered under the car showed no sign of wear and tear with the threads being in good condition. After the repair was completed, I asked for this bolt back for the record, but the service center said they no longer had the bolt. Before the repair was performed, I asked the Tesla service manager to try to determine why this bolt may have fallen out and the other bolt partially backing out. He inspected the car as well as investigating past Tesla service history and there was no evidence of damage or a repair that would have caused this issue. Second occurrence (20 oct 2023): on 20 oct 2023, just 9 days after the repaired car was returned, I heard the same loud mechanical sound and scrapping noises while parking the car. I looked under the car and found the bolts on the right lateral link had started to back out. I returned the car to the service center on 21 oct 2023 for a second repair. I voiced concern that this was a continued safety issue as bolts on critical steering and alignment components should not just back out. Fortunately, the bolts fell or backed out in a parking lot and not while travelling at 70 mph ---- potentially resulting in a serious accident and injury. Nhtsa recall 23v-235 should be expanded to more vins.
I lose all steering assist while driving, have no power assist.
On 9/25/23 I was driving the Tesla Model 3 and had entered a parking garage when the steering suddenly locked and would not work while I was in drive mode. The Tesla screen gave a warning that additional force may be required to manouver. It was with a lot of difficulty that I was able to safely park the car in the garage and called Tesla support. I was instructed to power off the car and reboot. It was a situation that could have potentially put my life in danger and led to an accident had there been other vehicles nearby. I have owned the Tesla since April 2018 and have 39,000 miles.
The front suspension started making a lot of loud noises, the service center acknowledged that it's a control arm issue potentially however my VIN is not listed in a recall that was conducted for this manufacturer and they're doing more recalls on it but the manufacturer says that I have to pay for the repair despite it being a safety issue for the control arm not being tightened to the frame and suspension and potentially dislodge.
Steering column locked up in a left hand turn, braking system is the only thing that kept the car from going off a cliff. Steering column was just replaced, but I was told this wasn't a manufacturing default and was asked to pay. I was told the part is available if requested. Under 40k miles on the car. No accident occurred, no police or insurance companies have inspected anything because of this. I did not ask for the part and just picked up the car today, please let me know if I should request it.
Only when driving on hwy speeds 65 mph and above the steering pulls, while correcting to drive safely the car jerks and is very unsafe during hwy speeds as if I'm fighting to keep straight on the road. Tesla confirmed it was the lower lateral links which was replaced but did not fix the issue. The vehicle continues to have the same issue and now telsa is saying the steering rack may need to be replaced. Seems this is a common issue with this car!.
Power steering went out in August 2023. It would go back on temporarily intermittently after turning the vehicle off and then on, but ultimately went out for good.
This is on recal sb-20-31-006 r3. The ball joint of my Tesla Model 3. Squeaks/creaking, when I turn the steering wheel, when I drive slow, drive fast, hit any bump, turn. The noise has gotten louder. I was told by Tesla taht my car does not qualify under the recal due to my VIN#. Requesting assistance to get this fixed.
I received a message on the cars screen steering alignment service recommended on the drivers side 2 bolts fell out at low speed which we picked up behind the vehicle. Using a jack one of the bolts was reinstalled to allow it to be driven onto a tow truck. I researched and found you had a recall on 2018 Model 3 for bolts coming loose. It appears my VIN was not part of this recall . I feel it should have been obviously as they must have worked themselves loose to fall out. I discussed this with Tesla service and they are quoting me $2500 for repairs because my VIN was not included in the recall.
I drive a 2018 Tesla, Model 3 mid range rear wheel drive vehicle. On Saturday, April 22, at approximately 5:10 pm, while driving on east bound on interstate 264 in norfolk, virginia, my car suddendly began swerving wildly from left to right. It nearly missed the median on the left and then swerved into the lane next to me on the right. It repeated this about 6 times before it allowed me to regain control of my car. I attempted with my best efforts to counter turn the steering wheel to no avail. During this time, I tried to control the vehicle, although the car's software was in control. It was frightening. If I had been on a two lane road, this could have resulted in a fatal head on collision. If there had been a pedestrian / bicyclist on the road the car that decided to drive itself could have struck a vulnerable person fatally. When I called Tesla service to report the incident, they did a quick review of the cars data and said there was some issues reported from the cars cameras. I asked for the root cause and for some reassurance that this would not happen again. I was told that sometimes the auto pilot cameras have issues and I may need to reboot the system to correct it. I was told that I should restart the software periodically as a preventive measure. I checked the owners manual, and found no mention of restarting the software regularly as preventive maintenance. Regardless of a reboot issue, a fatality could have occurred in a split moment, this dangerous event should never happen, amd a system should be in place to prevent this type of vehicle terror to never happen again. Thanks again!.
I purchased this car used 12/05/2022. The seatbelt /driverside, doesn't catch on sudden stops, lurching me forward. I've almost hit the steering wheel with my face and head. Tesla says they are not responsible for replacing seatbelt. I have to pay for it. I don't know previous owners knew about this issue prior to selling it , but according to Tesla, this issue doesn't fall with in their purview. Also the sealed control arm bushings on steering are squealing & after squeaking 10,000 miles of my driving this car and purchase. That too isn't covered.
I was driving the car about 35-40 mph when I heard a popping sound. The steering immediately locked up and the car was undrivable and unsteerable. I looked around car and the body of the car was resting on top of the front right passenger side tire. A bolt was found underneath the car. There were no vehicle system warnings, I did not hit anything, nor has the car been in any accidents. The car could not even be put into neutral or moved out of the 4 lane road. I contacted police and tow truck who said swing arm had failed. I had four children in the car who could have been seriously or fatally injured. Tesla has been contacted but said it isnt their problem or a manufacturing problem although there is lots of reports on internet and they have issued a recall for this very problem on other models. I am very concerned about this safety issue that needs to be addressed since it is potentially very dangerous.
Car was steering properly when parked Dec 4th. Car sat for 5 days from Dec 5 until Dec 10 while we were out of town. Car was plugged in as recommended by Tesla during that time. On Dec 11 the screen information indicated the following "steering assist reduced". No steering assist was available. Armstrong steering was required to deliver to the service center. Any senior person with less than adequate strength requiring power steering would have difficulty safely driving the car. I noticed a recall or model s and x for similar complaint.
Lateral and comp links failed and upper control arms failed causing steering issues. Car has barely been driven and shouldn’t require repairs to these parts so early in its life.
Vehicle developed a loud squeak coming from driver’s side front wheel well that sounded like a something vibrating or rubbing a spring at ~54300 miles. Reported issue to Tesla via the Tesla app. Tesla’s recommended solution is to replace both the right and left upper control arm. Further research found that this is a widespread problem reported by Tesla owners on the web. Indeed when I was at the Tesla service center the women in line in front of me was bring in her vehicle for the same problem. The upper control arms include a ball joint that needs to be lubricated. This vehicle’s upper control arms do not have a built in means to lubricate that joint like a zerk fitting. The vehicle is available for inspection. The safety issue here is a defective and/or poorly designed part which if left un-lubricated would likely experience water intrusion, corrosion and possible catastrophic failure – maybe breaking at speed. Our vehicle has lost lubricant at the ball joint given the noise and is likely susceptible to/experiencing water intrusion. Also found “sb-20-31-006 service bulletin reseal front upper control arm ball joints”, but this curiously does not include our vehicles VIN. My suspicion is our upper control arm has a different part number than the upper control arm in sb-20-31-006 but is likely a very similar part. My concern is part number whack-a-mole is taking place. Tesla did not even have to inspect the car to know what the problem was. No other parties have inspected the part and no warnings, alerts, messages or other symptoms have occurred except for the horrible noise.
Hello. I am writing this report to describe a dramatic decrease in steering responsiveness and vehicle front-end control over my ownership of this car from new. Over about the last year, I have noticed that the steering and handling of the vehicle is not nearly as composed as it was when new. Today, the car has difficulty staying centered in the lane. This unsteadiness is especially evident at interstate speeds (60-75mph) while the car enters a curve and experiences suspension loading. It feels loose and floaty, almost like the toe is changing while mid-corner. This results in "hunting" or back-and-forth steering inputs just to stay on center. Furthermore, any type of road imperfection causes dramatic bump steer. This culminates into white-knuckled grip driving, since the car will sharply pull out of its driving line. Performance driving, long road trips, or higher-speed cruising are no longer possible with this uncertain steering. Safety is somewhat impacted and the driving and ownership experience is dramatically diminished. For example, a new driver has difficulty with this car due to the ambiguous steering. Over the year this issue has continued, the car has been inspected exactly one dozen times, nine visits to various area Tesla service centers and three to reputable and performance-oriented suspension shops. They have confirmed some type of pulling but have yet to adequately resolve the issue. Across all service visits, I have requested and completed replacements of many front-end parts: solid lower control arm bushings, upper control arms, and wheel hubs. Also, a dozen alignments, few balances, and new tires. I have attempted to make an appointment with Tesla for a rack-and-pinion replacement, but they continue to serve alignment estimates and show a lack of willingness to truly troubleshoot my issue. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. There have been no warning messages related to steering hardware, computer, or control systems.
Started hearing noises in left wheel well and notifications of stability control disabled and alignment issues. We scheduled an appointment, but were told it was safe to drive. As I was picking up my son, the left wheel locked up and the car had to be towed to Tesla service center. Problem is exactly as the recall issues for the 2019 Model 3 and y recall.
I own a 2018 Tesla Model 3. On December 1st, 2021 I heard a clunk in the front left wheel area while backing up. I stopped and found a 3 inch long 1/2 inch diameter bolt on the ground. I had my vehicle towed to the Tesla service center. They claimed that this was not associated to the recall for similar failure on 2019 and 2020 vehicles, but they extended the warranty and replaced the entire front end suspension system. Specifically, they claimed that this is not a safety issue, but they did me a "favor" by servicing this under warranty. The repair was exactly the same as the recall on the 2019 and 2020 Tesla Model 3 cars. Then on January 14, 2022 I was driving over a very low speed bump and the entire right front end dropped. After inspection, it was visible that the same bolt that had dropped out of the left front tie rod had dropped out of the right front tie rod, but this time more catastrophically. Luckily, I was in a parking lot and driving slowly, but if I had hit a pothole on the highway 5 minutes earlier, it almost certainly would have cost me my life or severe injury. The tow truck driver noted that the bolt was only screwed in for less than 1/2 inch and there was no locktite on the bolt. I had the vehicle towed to the closest Tesla service center. I gave them the dropped bolt. I have not yet heard the resolution from Tesla. My biggest fear is that this is also a systemic issue on the 2018 Tesla Model 3 and it is not being addressed by Tesla. At this point in time, I am in fear of driving my vehicle whether they repair it successfully or not. Please advise me on how to protect myself on this issue. I am afraid that the repair technicians do not properly know how to repair this "clear" safety issue.
This is a complaint about suspension failures in Teslas. There has been a crash in italy which is almost certainly caused by a broken suspension. The VIN of a junkyard Tesla has been used to complete this online submission since the VIN of the car is unknown. The crash injured 2 people. Https://ladige. It/territori/riva-arco/2021/04/11/riva-la-lussuosa-Tesla-si-schianta-in-galleria-feriti-un-ragazzo-di-pinzolo-e-una-ragazza-di-torbole-1. 2884987#2 the crash scene photographs show a Tesla with 3 wheels. The back wheel has fallen off. Skid marks on the road show only 3 tire marks. These skid marks could not have been caused by the driver intentionally swerving and braking please include this crash in your investigation into Tesla suspension failures. Thank you.
During low speed, bolts became loose and completely dropped out of lower control arm causing one wheel to veer to the right. Very concerning that critical steering components do not have a castle nut and cotter pin, if this would have been high-speed there could have been loss of life. Tesla is failing to address concerns of safety, there are numerous other reports of these bolts coming loose. Consumer concerned about the noise and vibration while driving and brought the car in for inspection on 9/1/20 to a Tesla dealer. Dealer stated rim was bent which caused the vibration and the bolts became loose after an impact with a speed bump. Consumer having a hard time understanding how low speed impact could cause a grade 8 bolt to become loose.
The car was pulling very hard to the left. Took it to Tesla service center. They gave me an estimate of nearly $6000 to replace control arms and bushings and steering rack etc. They said the parts were damaged from "outside influence". Whatever that means. The car is 18 months old and has 29,000 miles. No accidents or damage ever. This is a major manufacturing defect that could have had disastrous outcomes if I did not pick up on the symptoms first. This is in absolutely no way related to any "outside influence". This is a defect plain and simple, and a major public safety issue, to say the least. Tesla refused to cover the repairs under warranty, and I am trying to work though the California arbitration process now. I will have to rent a vehicle for weeks out of pocket while this process is pending.
Sorry to trouble you again . . . But. . Here is a Model 3 in the junkyard. . Read more...
Driving on the 101 freeway in santa barbara. Road was wet after a light rain at around 6:30am. Was in the middle lane, very light traffic, on a wide curve. Was not speeding, accelerating, braking or steering. Was not using autopilot. Tires had 11,000 miles and tread was still good. Car all of a sudden spun out of control, turning 180 degrees and crashed against a concrete center divider. I have a video saved from the car's cameras of the entire accident. You can see a car preceding me in the same lane at a similar speed, was not affected. When driving the Tesla on other raining days during the year I had the sensation that the car did not handle well on wet roads, slipping when accelerating. The insurance now owns the car so I don't have access to the black box but I know that Tesla has the data from the crash which they are not sharing with me. The called me 10 minutes after the crash noting that I had crashed and asked me if I was ok. A short video of the crash is available here: https://youtu. Be/gyqyxgeot94 I have video from the other cameras too, as well as video footage before this segment.
On 11/28/19 at around 5:30-6:00am, while driving on the 5 south freeway near the atlantic Ave off ramp, the car swerved to the right on its own. I could not control the car'it had a mind of its own. The brakes and steering wheel did not respond to me. I don't know what happened. I don't know if the side camera thought the SUV was veering into my lane because the rain distorted its view or what but it was very scary. It was as if the car was driving itself even though autopilot was not on. I could not right the car after the initial swerve, it kept on going, heading towards the exit but ended up going over an embankment, heading straight for a tree before turning and sideswiping it and coming to a stop. Thank goodness no one was hurt. It was still dark and it was raining but not pouring. The freeway was empty. I was in the 3rd lane and there was a black SUV right next to me in the lane #2. I did not see it veer into me; we were both going about 70mph in our own lanes. I had both hands on the wheel, no music was playing and autopilot was not on'though navigation on autopilot was activated. I contacted Tesla right away and they texted that the incident team and engineering team were looking into it, downloading the data (I did not have a usb so I don't have any recording of anything). So far, I have not heard back from these Tesla teams and my car still has collision damage as the Tesla rep I spoke with advised me to wait on the findings and not to contact my insurance company in case they find Tesla's at fault. Tesla service center did check out my car on 12/2/19 and released it to me, deeming that it was safe to drive. I have not driven the car in the rain while it's dark since. I've just recently realized that your department investigates these types of incidents and thought I should reach out.
Over 5000 miles of driving, there is a significant amount of vibration and buffeting in car at any speed over 45mph. Tesla service has had eight opportunities to resolve this, to no avail. The tires have been replaced to eliminate this as a possibility, and the wheels checked for runout - all measure very good. Suspension components or control arms are the likely culprits. In addition to the suspension components failing after less than 5000 miles, the drivers seats on most all Model 3 are loose and rock back and forth, with Tesla saying it is 'within specifications'. This could be another serious safety concern in the event of a crash, as it is unclear why the seat disturbing becomes loose with normal use. After discussing with other Model 3 owners with identical issues, it is clear that this is a inherent vehicle / parts problem, and Tesla is doing the least possible to address these concerns.
This is a complaint about a new development in the Tesla autopilot experiment. Electrek which is a very influential Tesla publicity publication has just released a highly irresponsible article and video. Https://electrek. Co/2019/09/19/Tesla-autopilot-v10-commute-without-driver-intervention/ this even shows the Tesla fitted with a "nag defeater" on the steering wheel. This is going to cause owners to have even more misplaced confidence in the autopilot and will most certainly cause more deaths. Please stop this dangerous experiment which is recklessly endangering innocent road users. Please note that I have used the VIN of a wrecked Tesla Model 3 so as to be able to file this complaint. I am not a Tesla owner but I have to share the public roads with these lethal vehicles. Thank you. Note - dummy USA address used to negotiate your website. Correct name and address supplied with this complaint.
Model 3 in junkyard. Not in a crash. No air-bags gone off. Front suspension arm snapped off. Steering tie-rod snapped off. Tesla seems to be procuring its steering and suspension components from a pretzel factory. Please investigate. Concerned citizen etc. Thank you. Have a fantastic day.
I was driving northbound on CA hwy 101 when I initiated a lane change from left to right with autopilot engaged. After beginning to make the lane change to the right, the car abruptly veered back into the left lane, then slowly started to move back into the right lane. It was at that time that I disengaged the autopilot.
I hit a medium sized pothole on a freeway in 2019 and cracked 2 rims. After replacing the rims and tires, I still had vibration. Now, over about 100-1000 miles, my alignment goes out and my suspension and steering begins to loosen (or feel that way), leading to steering instability, bounciness and vibration through the steering wheel. There are no warnings to identify this, but the car's own "applied offset diagnosis" will show this problem. I've been to Tesla over 10 times to attempt to repair this and they say the car is working as designed after redoing the alignment and torqueing suspension. On about 3-4 of these visits, Tesla has reproduced the problem on a test drive. In 8 of 10 of the visits, the alignment printout afterward shows the front left toe is out. Because they say this is how it is designed, I believe this is a design issue that could put myself and others at risk. I've replaced so many parts, I can only assume through process of elimination that it's the steering rack or something in the subframe being loose that's causing this. Maybe all the bolts in Teslas just get loose too easily. Overall my issue is that Tesla is unwilling to correctly diagnose or repair the problem, not necessarily that this happened in the first place. There could be thousands of other customers driving vehicles and Tesla deems as safe, but really are not.
My Tesla Model 3 has a defect with autopilot sensors and sound. When on autopilot (adaptive cruise control), the sensors can sometimes freeze up and or fail, causing autopilot to cease functioning and issue an audio alert. However, system sound (blinkers, notification alert system) sometimes fails, thus preventing the autopilot from alerting the driver that it will no longer be breaking and or steering. For example, I am driving using the autopilot cruise control, which is supposed to steer /brake/accelerate for me and instructed to keep eyes on the road, however, when the autopilot stops working as well as the audio notification, the driver will not know that it has failed and the car no longer brakes, thus making it likely to have a collision. I have recorded the flaws and defects and have it on video. This can happen anywhere, on highway or on a regular road. Tesla has been unable to fix the problem.
On 2 occasions, when I was driving in enhanced auto-pilot and engaged auto lane change, the car started changing lanes, then abruptly swerved back into my original lane. On the first occasion, it is possible I did not push the lane change indicator down far enough. On the second occasion, this was not the case. The indicator was pushed down all the way, I looked behind me and coast was clear. It's not at all apparent why the car aborted the lane change. It was raining. I was driving the speed limit, 55 mph on a 4-5 lane highway and I was in a middle lane, changing tinto another middle lane. In the first incident, I was driving on the same highway, no rain.
While traveling on enhanced autopilot and changing lanes using the direction stalk, I have noted that the vehicle has occasionally swerved back into the original lane before completing the lane change. This happened to me three times during my drive from palm springs to san diego on November 12. It happened twice on changing to the left lane and once while changing to the right. On none of these occasions was a vehicle in the next lane or accelerating in that lane towards the vehicle. Needless to say, it was a bit alarming. Other owners have reported this as well as noted in https://forums. Tesla. Com/forum/forums/autopilot-random-lane-changes-and-swerves.
Here is a video that has just been uploaded to youtube: https://. . Read more...
I have had a series of escalating incidents (see attached pdf) that have each involved the vehicle disabling automatic emergency braking system (abs), traction control, partial steering control, regenerative braking (for electric vehicle), and most recently experienced complete loss of steering function while reversing as well as an additional warning that my airbag was disabled. Initially I was advised to reset my car since it may be a software glitch similar to a computer or phone needing a restart. After several incidents, I was advised to take it to a service center where I was informed that it was a firmware issues known to Tesla, but experienced a critical shut down of my vehicle's performance and safety functions the next day. I have seen been informed that they have replaced the high voltage regulator and the wiring harness. I have not received an update since confirming that they believe the latest repair will make the car whole, safe, and functional.