The 2023 Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover utility vehicle’s steering control issues and loss of power steering have prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to launch a fresh inquiry into Tesla.
In a notice published on the agency’s website, the federal vehicle safety authority stated that it had received 12 complaints from drivers who had steering issues with their Tesla, one of whom claimed it had resulted in a collision.
NHTSA Investigation on 280K Tesla Vehicles
The investigation, which the NHTSA described as a “preliminary evaluation,” may have an impact on as many as 280,000 automobiles in the United States.
In the first quarter of 2023, the Model Y outsold the Toyota Corolla and other models to take the top spot. The entry-level vehicle and most affordable electric car offered by Tesla is the Model 3.
Elon Musk, the CEO of EV manufacturer, told investors in 2021 that the business might update software to switch from one type of chip to another as needed to address semiconductor shortages.
A year or so later, Tesla voluntarily recalled some of its Model S and Model X cars due to power steering issues brought on by a faulty software update. The problem was eventually resolved with a subsequent software update.
An NHTSA investigation often prompts a manufacturer to look into potential manufacturing or design flaws and launch a voluntary recall.
The organization solicits complaints from drivers by phone or online, and then analyses those complaints together with other data to determine when further inquiries are required.
A request for comment from Tesla was not immediately complied with. On Wednesday morning, shares of the manufacturer of electric vehicles were trading lower by roughly 1.9%.
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