2023 Tesla Model 3 steering problems
87 of the 427 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Tesla Model 3 name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). Filed under the same heading: 2 recalls, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the steering
Source: NHTSA complaint database15 of the 87 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 7 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2023: 53 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 4
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
427 complaints in all about the 2023 Tesla Model 3, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Steering” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Tesla Model 3 steering problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the steering. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
On 7/21/2023, I received an alert saying “steering assist reduced”. I could not turn the steering wheel. Luckily I was parked and trying to back out of my spot. The steering assist came back after getting in and out of the vehicle. Contacted Tesla about this and they told me to monitor the situation.
Steering rack failed. Not able to steer vehicle The consumer stated that the vehicle was repaired
I just read an article on Yahoo Finance detailing steering issues with a few Tesla Model 3 and Model Y's. This issue involves loss of steering completely or loss of power steering. Additionally the screen says "power steering is reduced or disabled". Well, I had this exact thing happen to me. I bought the car on May 6, 2023.
I was driving to work in the morning and there was a sudden jolt and then the steering wheel became very heavy and I had to pull over and stop the car, when I did do it showed me power steering failure and the steering was very hard to control and could not drive straight and kept sway from side to side.
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel stiffened and became difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and the steering assist reduced warning light illuminated and a message displayed “Steering – Increased Effort…
What is on file about the steering
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 25V092000 HighFeb 14, 2025 · 376,241 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again.
- 23V085000 HighFeb 15, 2023 · 362,758 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
NHTSA investigations
- EA24001 Loss of steering controlopened Feb 1, 2024 · closed Jun 25, 2026
- On July 28, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23014) to investigate instances of loss of electronic power-assisted steering in MY 2023 Tesla Model 3 and MY 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles manufactured by Tesla, Inc. The complaints allege a sudden and unexpected inability to turn the steering wheel or an increase in effort required to turn the steering w…
- PE23014 Loss of steering controlopened Jul 28, 2023 · closed Feb 5, 2024
- On July 28, 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-014) after receiving 12 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting loss of steering control in model years (MY) 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Y vehicles. During PE23-014, ODI interviewed complainants, sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Tesla, and convened technical meetings with Tesla that include…
Other systems with a record on the 2023 Tesla Model 3
Source: the same files- automatic emergency braking problems 243 complaints
- cruise control problems 69 complaints
- electrical problems 51 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre steering problems common on the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 87 owner complaints naming the steering on this model year (20% of everything owners filed about it), and 2 recalls, 2 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the steering on the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 25V092000, 23V085000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do steering problems show up on the 2023 Tesla Model 3?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Steering" heading cover?
The steering column, rack, pump and power assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.