2016 Tesla Model S steering problems
86 of the 647 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model S name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). Filed under the same heading: 6 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls. 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 database14 of the 86 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 10 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 30 · 2017: 19 · 2018: 8 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 4
Half of the 62 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the steering problem between 2,000 and 10,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
647 complaints in all about the 2016 Tesla Model S, 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 S 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.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the auto pilot engaged on its own and the contact was unable to turn it off. As a result, the contact crashed into a barrier wall as he was able to place the vehicle back into manuel mode. The air bags failed to deploy.
Here is a thread on the Tesla motors club forum in which several posters provide detailed photographic evidence that the electric steering motor is falling apart due to corrosion.
This is a complaint about the Tesla autopilot. Youtube. Com/watch?v=nvokisddxyw in this video a Tesla employee is demonstrating the autopilot to the passengers. She drives on undivided roads just inches from oncoming traffic with her hands completely off the wheel.
Nachrichten. Youtube. Com/watch?v=x0e5ob5x9ak the driver reports that the steering suddenly locked up. The video shows that the lh front wheel is pushed up and back in the wheel well and that the suspension has collapsed. This side of the car did not hit the pole and is undamaged apart from the collapsed suspension.
We were driving Tesla S northbound on highway 101 going from novato to petaluma, we were on auto steering when the driver (my son) saw the car merging strait on US, he tried to avoid the accident and swung to the left, but because it was on auto steering the steering wheel was blocked/stiff and at first he was not able to move it.
What is on file about the steering
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 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.
- 22V037000 HighJan 27, 2022 · 53,822 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
- 18V204000 HighMar 29, 2018 · 70,421 vehicles
- Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may corrode and fracture causing a reduction or complete loss of power steering assist.
6 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Tesla Model S
Source: the same files- suspension problems 209 complaints
- electrical problems 150 complaints
- cruise control problems 81 complaints
- automatic emergency braking problems 50 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre steering problems common on the 2016 Tesla Model S?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 86 owner complaints naming the steering on this model year (13% of everything owners filed about it), and 6 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls 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 2016 Tesla Model S?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 23V085000, 22V037000, 18V204000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do steering problems show up on the 2016 Tesla Model S?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 5,000 miles; half of them between 2,000 and 10,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
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.