Steering Problems of Tesla Model 3 - part 1

While out on vacation in [xxx] on xxx at around 11 am I had just finished charging the Tesla at a supercharging station. I was headed to go eat breakfast at the intersection of [xxx] and xxx on the right lane. I stopped briefly prior to making a right onto [xxx]. Upon making the right turn the vehicle kept turning all the way right and making a sharp right turn instead of a soft right. When I noticed the sharp right turn I tried to turn the steering wheel towards the left but the steering wheel was locked and it wouldn't respond. The car drove me into a concrete barricade and caused a collision. My children were in the car and thankfully no one in my vehicle was seriously injured nor were there any pedestrians on the sidewalk near the barricade. I contacted Tesla for the repair and investigation into why the steering wheel locked. Tesla has not provided a loaner vehicle in the meantime despite my frequent requests. This incident is a serious and critical safety issue that may have caused deaths had I been traveling at a higher rate of speed or been on the highway heading back to [xxx]. The strange thing is that this vehicle is still under warranty with Tesla and had been working just fine without any issues since I got the vehicle in xxx. No warning messages, or symptoms to indicate any malfunction. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2025 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

On July 11 at approximately 6:47 a. M. , I was operating my Tesla Model 3 on interstate 65 in hart county, kentucky, with full self-driving (fsd) engaged during normal highway travel. Approximately one hour earlier, I had departed a highway rest area after sleeping from the previous day’s travel. Rain developed during the trip, but I observed adequate visibility, apparent roadway traction, and I was not impaired. I was traveling in the far-right lane of a three-lane interstate. The posted speed limit was approximately 70 mph; however, fsd limited the vehicle to approximately 65 mph and displayed warnings indicating that the higher speed was unavailable. While fsd remained engaged, the system initiated a lane change from the far-right lane into the center lane. After entering the center lane, the vehicle began displaying repeated warning messages and fsd disengaged multiple times. I attempted to locate settings related to the warnings on the touchscreen but could not identify an available adjustment. During the third disengagement, I perceived that the vehicle continued braking without releasing while steering resistance increased significantly. The steering wheel then rotated abruptly, and I was unable to regain normal directional control before the vehicle departed its intended travel path and struck a concrete median. The collision caused personal injuries and substantial vehicle damage. I have not been able to reproduce the condition. The incident was investigated by the kentucky state police. Based on the sequence of repeated fsd warnings, disengagements, continued braking, and abrupt steering behavior, I believe this event warrants investigation. I request that NHTSA review the vehicle’s full self-driving logs, telemetry, event data recorder (edr) data, steering and braking commands, diagnostic records, and software history to determine whether a vehicle or software malfunction contributed to the collision. Almost like someone had control, into the wall -km.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

My steering suddenly got extremely stiff on the highway while driving. There was a warning that assist will be reduced but no assist was present. I had to use all my strength to turn the steering and pulled into a parking lot with great difficulty. Then I reset the main computer and the power steering was functional again. I was lucky since the traffic was moving slower than usual but it could have been very dangerous and was a major safety concern.

See all problems of the 2021 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

My wife had a collission on June 25th at 2 30pm cst while she was parking her vehicle in her office parking spot. The car suddenty sped and hit a tree. We suspect it be a misfire in Tesla.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

On xxx at approximately 5:00 pm, I was driving my 2020 Tesla Model 3 on [xxx] from [xxx] toward [xxx], with Tesla fsd engaged. Near the area where the center divider begins/ends, the vehicle crossed the double yellow/divider area and entered the opposing traffic lane. There was no oncoming traffic at that moment, so there was no crash, but this created a serious potential head-on collision risk. The car also did several hard jerks that aggravated my neck and back that it has been consistently doing for a long time which cause worse ongoing headaches. The system/component that malfunctioned was Tesla fsd/advanced driver assistance, including lane keeping/steering behavior. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the vehicle moved into the lane for oncoming traffic. I had to intervene and no longer feel safe using fsd. I have reported unsafe fsd behavior to Tesla multiple times before, but the issue has not been resolved. Tesla service has previously listed the concern as “fsd not working properly/test drive required” and/or general diagnosis, but I have not received a clear written resolution explaining why the vehicle crossed into the opposing lane or how Tesla will prevent this from happening again. There were no warning lamps or messages that I recall before the vehicle crossed into the opposing lane. If Tesla has vehicle logs or telemetry for the incident, I request that they be reviewed. I am reporting this because the vehicle may repeat this unsafe behavior and create a head-on collision risk. The car continues to behave unsafely and erratically. I have a log of some of the incidents. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While making a right turn from a near-stopped position, the steering wheel became stuck or extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle initially turned right normally, but when I attempted to steer back left/counterclockwise to complete the turn and straighten the vehicle, the steering wheel did not respond as expected. This caused the vehicle to continue in the wrong direction and resulted in a collision. I believe the electronic power steering assist system malfunctioned or failed. My concern is that the power steering assist experienced an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist after the vehicle almost reached a stop and then accelerated again. This put my safety and the safety of others at risk because I was unable to steer the vehicle as intended during a low-speed turning maneuver.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

After an over the air software update this past week 2026. 14. 6 my Tesla Model 3 power steering has failed. Epas shows actice in service mode, calibration was successfully completed and there are no active epas/rack faults. Power steering assists at higher speeds but fails below 20mph. Tesla has a history of steering related software problems and needs to take ownership of the problem.

See all problems of the 2018 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Within the last 7 days, my 2018 Tesla Model 3 long range awd began displaying active alerts for two separate safety system failures: (1) alert code ui_a020 / gtw_w075 — steering assist reduced, stating steering may require increased effort, and (2) alert code rcm_a056 — front passenger safety restraint system issue, requiring service. The steering alert appeared intermittently, firing at consistent times of day suggesting a possible electrical or sensor fault rather than mechanical failure. On one occasion during startup, the steering system briefly locked up before resuming normal function. No noticeable change in ongoing steering feel has been observed while driving. The passenger restraint system alert indicates the front passenger airbag and occupant classification system (OCS) may not function properly in the event of a collision, directly endangering any front passenger. Both issues have been confirmed by the manufacturer via remote diagnostic review, and two separate service estimates totaling approximately $4,784 have been issued recommending replacement of the steering rack, front passenger airbag, occupant classification sensor, seat harness assembly, and seat cushion assembly. Notably, the manufacturer has not physically inspected the vehicle — both estimates were generated solely based on alert codes read remotely and "ai" according to a representative. The manufacturer's own customer support system indicated these repairs may qualify for goodwill coverage, yet no formal commitment has been made. The passenger airbag and restraint system failure is of particular concern as it represents a potential inability of a primary safety system to deploy correctly in a crash event. The component is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Warning alerts remain active and ongoing.

2022 Tesla Model 3 with approximately 19,373 miles. Third-party tire shop inspection on April 25, 2026 identified visible tearing of front lower control arm bushings on both sides (bilateral failure). Rubber bushing material has separated from inner metal sleeve on both left and right front lower control arms in identical pattern. No impact event or curb strike. Symmetric bilateral failure indicates manufacturing/material defect, not impact damage. Failure occurred at mileage well below the 40,000-70,000 mile range commonly cited for this known Tesla Model 3 lower control arm bushing wear pattern. Suggests accelerated failure mode that warrants investigation. Photos from third-party inspection attached. Vehicle scheduled for Tesla service center evaluation under remaining factory warranty.

The steering wheel turn signal buttons on my Tesla Model 3 intermittently becoming unresponsive or getting stuck signaling left or right. This prevents me from reliably signaling lane changes or turns. This is a safety risk because I may be unable to properly signal maneuvers as required under maryland vehicle law §21-604, potentially confusing nearby drivers and increasing the risk of an accident. As this is a moving violation, I can be fined and or points on my driving record the issue has occurred multiple times during normal driving but has not yet been formally confirmed by a service center.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

Firstly, we were driving in the center lane on I-84w (three lanes), with full self driving (fsd) at 55 mph. The car veered left on it owns (under fsd) into the center median with the front driver side of the vehicle struck the metal beam guardrail causing both air bags to deploy on the driver and left rear passenger sides. The car continued to move forward in the next 4-6 seconds under fsd (approximately 10-20 feet range) and then came to a complete stop with flashing warning screen asking driver to take over the steering wheel immediately.

Tesla full self-driving (supervised) repeatedly ignored the “avoid toll roads” navigation setting and attempted last-second lane changes into express toll lanes at freeway speeds. This has occurred approximately 10 times. I was repeatedly forced to take over steering immediately to avoid entering the toll lane, creating a serious safety risk due to sudden maneuvers in heavy traffic. On several occasions, I could not safely intervene before the lane change was completed. Tesla service center inspected the vehicle, found no hardware or camera faults, and stated the behavior appears to be software-related.

On March 14, 2026, at 20:54:21 utc, while the autopilot system was engaged, the vehicle malfunctioned by initiating a sudden, unprompted right-hand steering command within 0. 3 seconds, resulting in a collision with another vehicle traveling in the adjacent right lane. Telemetry data from the event confirms the system failed to maintain the lane despite the primary steering torque sensor measuring 0. 00 nm, proving no driver input caused the maneuver. This unintended steering event at cruising speed created an immediate safety risk to myself and the occupants of the other vehicle. To date, the manufacturer (Tesla) has declined to perform a technical or remote diagnostic review, redirecting the case to a collision center instead. No warning lamps, audio chimes, or system messages occurred prior to the failure; the vehicle is currently available for inspection and raw csv telemetry logs can be provided to investigators upon request.

The front lower lateral link (rearward lower control arm) fastener/bolt completely backed out and fell off the vehicle while in motion, causing the lateral link to separate entirely from the subframe. This is the exact mechanical failure described in Tesla recall campaign 23v-235 (service bulletin sb-23-31-001), however, my specific VIN was not included in that recall. The vehicle and components are currently at an independent ev repair facility and are available for inspection upon request. Photographic evidence of the missing bolt and separated control arm has been retained. The separation of the lower lateral link caused an immediate and violent collapse of the front passenger-side suspension geometry. The affected wheel was no longer anchored to the vehicle frame, causing it to fold backward and grind heavily against the wheel well. To keep the vehicle moving straight, the steering wheel had to be turned to an extreme 45-degree angle. This resulted in a near-total loss of steering control. Had this fastener failed while traveling at highway speeds instead of low speeds, it would have resulted in an uncontrollable, catastrophic collision. Yes. The problem was physically confirmed and documented by an independent, ev-certified repair facility (evfixme/shocker motors in costa mesa, CA) once the vehicle was placed on a lift. The vehicle was physically inspected by an independent service center. The manufacturer (Tesla) was contacted via the Tesla app; however, they refused to perform a physical diagnosis without pre-authorization of a $2,600+ comprehensive suspension replacement estimate and stated the vehicle was out of warranty with no open recalls. There were no dashboard warning lamps, digital alerts, or error messages from the vehicle's computer system prior to the failure. The failure presented suddenly as a loud, painful metal-on-metal grinding noise accompanied by immediate, severe steering misalignment. Currently waiting on invoice from indy shop.

While using Tesla's full self-driving (supervised) software on the pacific coast highway (pch) and other highways, the vehicle’s automated steering system repeatedly malfunctions by failing to maintain lane centering. Specifically, the car drifts or actively steers across double yellow lines into the lane of oncoming traffic. This issue is a persistent failure of the advanced driver assistance system (adas) and lane keeping assistance. The vehicle has attempted this maneuver multiple times at [approximate speed, e. G. , 40-60 mph], requiring immediate and forceful manual steering intervention to avoid head-on collisions with oncoming vehicles. The system provides no warning chimes, error messages, or "take over immediately" alerts prior to crossing the lines; it appears to perceive the oncoming lane as a valid path or fails to recognize the double yellow boundary entirely. This has occurred during [mention conditions: e. G. , bright daylight with high glare / night time]. The vehicle is equipped with hardware 3. 0 (hw3). I believe the 1. 2-megapixel camera suite or the processing power of the hw3 computer is insufficient to safely navigate the geometry of the pch or any roads within mountains/hills. I have attempted to "clear calibration" and performed system resets, but the life-threatening behavior persists. The vehicle and its internal data logs are available for inspection. I have also sent "bug reports" via voice command to the manufacturer immediately following these near-miss events.

On February 5, 2026, at 12:21 pm pst, my 2026 Tesla Model 3 (hardware 4) collided with a 5-inch wooden pillar while using the autopark feature. The system failed to provide any audio chimes or visual warnings prior to the impact. I officially requested the driving logs from Tesla to investigate the cause of this failure, but Tesla refused to provide any logs or data. Furthermore, Tesla service center technicians insisted there were no hardware defects, effectively confirming that the collision was caused by a software/algorithmic failure of the Tesla vision system to detect a stationary vertical object. Despite Tesla’s claim that the vehicle is "operating as designed," the system's inability to recognize common infrastructure and its failure to warn the driver constitutes a severe safety risk. This defect must be investigated to ensure the safety of the hardware 4 autonomous platform, as the lack of proximity alerts could lead to far more serious accidents involving pedestrians or other obstacles.

Sunday [xxx] downtown sacramento, driving about 25 mph. Heard a loud bang—bolt sheared off front subframe. Steering felt lagging upon making a right turn vehicle proceeded in a very wide turn, pulled into parking lot. Wheel locked right as I exited [xxx] parking spot; steering went slack, brakes scraped rotor. Two witnesses saw hardware hit pavement. Aaa tech removed tire: lower control arm bolt missing, no loctite, subframe raw. Second bolt loose—single point of failure. Tesla missed this on six different service visits and during their one-twenty inspection before delivery. Recall 21v835 should’ve flagged it but service personnel assured me all clear on every visit . Vehicle towed to Tesla service center at 1104 tinker rd, rocklin, CA. Tesla shop manager sal confirmed this failure as manufacturers defect, and poor assembly. Safety was seconds from total loss. Need probe. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The control arms on all make and models of Tesla have a horrible design that all water off of the car flows down the sides of the front hood and down onto the control arm bushing. This could be a simple fix for Tesla to out a boot on it to cover the bushing. The control arms start to fail at any given time. This is costing owners thousands of dollars. I have had to had them replace once under warranty and now they want me to pay 2000 since I am out of warranty. Owners with newer vehicles sometimes start to have problems within the first year. This part design needs to be recalled and all persons have free repairs. According to sources, driving with severely worn control arm bushings can lead to a fatal accident. While bushings often start as a minor nuisance, complete failure compromises the structural integrity of your vehicle's suspension. Don't wait till deaths start happening. Protect the customer and others and send a recall on this. Yiu can google Tesla control arm issues and and see over and over in videos and forums that this is a major issue.

The front lateral links, compliance links, and stabilizer bar link on my 2018 Tesla Model 3 long range failed and required replacement in January 2026. Prior to failure, abnormal creaking and clunking noise from the front suspension began appearing weeks before the repair — no warning lights illuminated at any point. The failed components were replaced by a Tesla-certified service center and are no longer available for inspection. The failure was confirmed and repaired solely by the Tesla service center; no police, insurance representatives, or other parties inspected the vehicle. I was charged out of pocket for this repair. The lateral link separation risk directly endangers vehicle safety — if a fastener loosens sufficiently, the lateral link can detach from the subframe, causing sudden wheel misalignment and loss of steering control, which could result in a crash at any speed. Tesla issued recall 23v-235 (NHTSA campaign 23v235000) in March 2023 for this exact condition on 2018-2019 Model 3 vehicles. My vehicle's VIN was not included in the recall population, yet experienced the identical failure mode. I am requesting this complaint be considered for recall expansion under 23v-235 and seeking reimbursement for out-of-pocket repair costs for a defect Tesla has already acknowledged in identical vehicles.

Please review attachment.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the steering system failed due to corrosion and water ingress affecting both the steering rack and the associated steering wiring harness. These components were replaced by Tesla and are no longer available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the steering system is a safety-critical component. Corrosion and water intrusion created a risk of reduced or sudden loss of steering assist while driving, which could lead to loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes. Tesla service confirmed water ingress and corrosion affecting the steering rack and wiring harness and performed a full replacement of both components. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? yes. The vehicle and steering components were inspected by Tesla at a Tesla service center, which identified water ingress and corrosion as the cause of failure. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes. The vehicle displayed steering-related warning messages prior to repair, including reduced steering assist alerts, which prompted inspection by Tesla service. The warnings appeared shortly before the repair was performed.

See all problems of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 🔎.

There's a problem with the airbags, and the steering wheel is hard to turn.

Lately I keep getting the following concerning message on the dashboard of almost brand new 2025 Tesla 3 car, even after reset the screen : steering assist reduced steering may require increased effort see the attached picture of this message, I took this photo on Dec 25, 2025 at 12:56 pm with parked car. I am pretty concerned with potential safety issue with the important steering-function while driving on highway and other roads. The car has only 804 miles as of Dec 26, 2025. The new car was picked up on may 31, 2025 with 15 miles. I have the fsd on monthly subscription. I have sent a message to Tesla. It has provided me with a service appointment at its west bloomfield township center in michigan on Jan 26, 2026 at 10:30 am. At the time of setting the appointment an estimate of about $450 was provided. It is concerning since the new car is under warranty. I am submitting this concerning safety related issue to NHTSA - to please investigate.

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.

After 3 prior repairs 2 of which were recalls of the front suspension, control arms. I was driving when me and my 3 children’s life’s were almost taken. While driving on the expressway immediate loss of control of the car shaking while driving to work, I stopped immediately thank god no cars around next to me to crash into. We called for a ride and walked off the expressway. Immediately car was taken to Tesla where they told me they couldn’t help and come back in a few days. The car was later inspected by Tesla where instantly knew the issue and later the report came back where the lateral links on both sides of the front where completely out of socket, the compliance links bushing completely torn. This is critical failure and breakdown of critical safety components that almost took our life. We had moments before this happened and thank god we made it out before imminent life changing things happened. No warning no alerts in the car at any time.

My Tesla Model 3 is experiencing premature suspension failures involving the lower lateral links and stabilizer links. These components were already replaced once, and they are failing again in less than 30,000 miles. This is not normal wear for suspension parts on a modern vehicle. These failures cause clunking, instability, and looseness in the front end—conditions that affect the vehicle’s ability to track straight and maintain control, especially over uneven pavement or during emergency maneuvers. This isn’t an isolated case. There are extensive reports from other Tesla owners across multiple models (model 3 and model y in particular) showing the same premature wear on these suspension links. Many owners have parts failing even earlier. Once the car is out of warranty, Tesla charges thousands of dollars to replace these components, despite clear indications that the suspension was under-engineered for the weight of the vehicle. Tesla knows this is a recurring issue but refuses to issue a recall or goodwill repairs. A repeated failure of critical suspension links in such low mileage suggests a defect. These parts should not be wearing out this fast, and the resulting instability poses a real safety risk. I’m requesting NHTSA investigate these premature failures.

I am leasing a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The vehicle has a steering column defect that was previously acknowledged and temporarily repaired by Tesla service. Within days, the issue returned. Tesla has now informed me that the steering column has a known design flaw, that replacement parts are still in development, and that any repair attempted now would fail. Despite this, I am being asked to continue driving the vehicle until at least January. This defect affects the steering system, a critical safety component, and raises serious concerns regarding vehicle control and driver safety. Tesla has not offered a loaner vehicle or alternative transportation while awaiting a permanent fix. I believe this vehicle is unsafe to operate and am reporting this as a safety-related defect in the steering system.

I purchased a 2024 Tesla Model 3 a little over a year ago. Recently, and after an update, myself, and other drivers in my life, noticed the self-driving feature was malfunctioning - to the point I used the audio reporting feature to report this problem twice to Tesla. The car would veer off the road when flasing lights appeared and would jerk suddenly for no reason when it thought there was a obstruction in the road (sticks, plastic bags, etc. ). Last month this malfunction has caused an accident, and my car has been totaled, my insurance will not cover it, and I have been advised by two separate attorneys to sue. This has been litigated in court with lawsuits against Tesla (see benavides v. Tesla; see also in Tesla advanced driver assistance systems litigation). I had notified telsa twice of this issue, the car left the lane and did not notice a concrete barrier on the left side going north on I-95 in or around broward county. To my knowledge no one has inspected the car. I was not warned that this car would cause an accident, the problem first appeared when I reported the issue using the voice reporting feature around November 2025. It is currently located at a tow facility in broward county, FL and can be inspected there.

The front control arms are creaking and I’ve read that many of models built in 2018 have this problem as well. It is unknown if it is a safety concern or not.

I am submitting this complaint to report a safety issue with the turn-signal buttons on my steering wheel of the 2024–2025 Tesla Model 3 highland. The turn-signal buttons are located on the steering wheel surface instead of a traditional stalk. When the steering wheel is turned at any angle, the buttons are difficult to locate by feel, often requiring the driver to look down to activate them and take his eyes off the road. Trying to signal during turns, lane changes, or roundabouts is not intuitive, and I have nearly had several collisions. This design presents a potentially dangerous safety hazard and could increase the risk of collisions. Tesla should be required to recall and retrofit these vehicles with turn signal stalks on the steering wheel column.

The steering was hard to turn, and the fully supervised driving mode didn't work. This has happened twice, and both times the issue went away on its own after a few minutes. I performed a soft reset both times, but it did not resolve the issue. The first time, the steering was very heavy, I. E. , hard to turn. The second time was less difficult, but in both cases, fsd (full self-driving) did not function. General guideline questions: 1. The steering system malfunctioned. The car is available for inspection. 2. The car was very difficult to drive. I was able to turn the wheel, but I won't let my wife drive it. 3. No. The nearest service center is 90 miles away, and so far, they want me to bring the car to them. I am still working to resolve this, as I believe this issue requires mobile service. 4. No inspections have been done. 5. Yes. An alert message on the main display stated: "alerts - steering & braking - steering assist reduced/steering may require increased effort. ".

It threw an error that said “steering assist reduced” and the power steering no longer functioned. It was very difficult to turn the wheel. The vehicle was stopped when the error popped up, but was driving fine up until that point.

I drove car for about 15 minutes and pulled into a parking space. There was no bumping or other incident. I left the vehicle for about 10 minutes and returned. The screen on my return showed 2 warnings, 1. Steering assist disabled, and 2. Collision avoidance system currently inoperable. Dealing with warning number 1: on starting to back out of parking space, I discovered there was no assist for steering, and a high degree of force was needed to turn the steering wheel and guide the car. This required considerable force. I tried a "system reboot" twice to no avail (this is done by holding 2 steering wheel buttons for about 10 seconds). I called Tesla for service and they towed to car to their service center. I do not know what steps were taken to diagnose or repair the problem. Warning number 2 disappeared from the screen when I started trying to back up. .

I am reporting a safety issue involving my 2025 Tesla Model 3 performance. My steering wheel began shaking while driving, and the vehicle felt unstable, especially at speed. I brought the vehicle to Tesla service in las vegas. Their inspection found that the outer tie rod nut on the passenger front side was loose, which created steering play and caused the steering wheel shake (documented in Tesla invoice #xxx). A loose tie rod nut is a serious steering safety defect that can result in loss of steering control. Tesla performed a four-wheel alignment and tightened the components but stated the issue is “maintenance” and not covered under warranty, despite the vehicle having only 12,890 miles. Tesla also stated the steering rack had “no issues,” but they did not perform any repair on the steering system beyond tightening the loose tie rod nut and charging me for alignment. They also did not explain how a nearly new vehicle could develop a loose steering component. A loose outer tie rod nut should never occur on a new car unless there is a defect or improper assembly from the factory. This poses a significant safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. Tesla did not treat this as a steering safety defect and only attributed it to alignment. They declined warranty coverage and did not fully address the root cause. I am filing this complaint because steering components should not loosen on a 2025 model vehicle, and the situation could have resulted in loss of control or an accident. I want NHTSA to be aware in case this issue appears in other vehicles of the same model year.

I purchased this used Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [xxx] ) from a licensed dealer on July 15th, 2025. The vehicle is still under the original manufacturer warranty. Since ownership, I have experienced a persistent metal-impact noise coming from the suspension and steering area, especially when going over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces, or low-speed turns. The noise sounds like loose metal parts making contact. Tesla service has attempted repairs multiple times, including a recent visit that lasted several weeks. Although some minor issues were addressed, the abnormal metal impact noise continues and has never been fully resolved. The repeated unresolved noise raises concerns about structural integrity and potential failure within components related to steering, wheels, or suspension. While the vehicle remains operable, the issue affects driving confidence, comfort, and concentration. Over time, the repeated metal noise has caused stress and anxiety because I am unsure whether a part will loosen or fail while driving. Since the problem remains after multiple attempts to repair, I am reporting this as a potential safety-related defect. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).