Tesla's Loose Steering Wheels Prompt Model Y Recall
» Posted August 30, 2023 • Resources | Share This Post
Another day, another new safety concern for Tesla and anyone who drives its luxury electric cars.
The automaker is recalling less than 150 Model Y sport utility vehicles over missing bolts in steering wheel columns. That could cause the steering wheels to come off, even while cars are in use, a frightening proposition for drivers and anyone else on the road with them.
“The steering wheel on Model Y vehicles is attached to the steering column using a fastener,” Tesla said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Manufacturing and service records suggest that there may be a correlation between certain manufacturing record characteristics and the fastener being installed but not torqued to specification.”
“If an improperly torqued fastener allows the steering wheel to disconnect from the steering column, the driver may lose steering control, which may increase the risk of a collision,” Tesla added.
The recall covers certain 2022 and 2023 Model Y SUVs, which were built between June 2022 and May 2023.
Tesla planned to notify owners of recalled vehicles via mail by the end of June, it told NHTSA. The company is asking owners to bring their SUVs to authorized dealers for inspection and repair.
“Tesla Service will inspect affected vehicles for proper torque of the fastener that secures the steering wheel to the steering column,” the company said in the defect notice. “If an improperly torqued fastener is found during the inspection, Tesla Service will install a new fastener and torque it to the correct specification.”
Tesla Defects and California Owners’ Rights
Tesla has been plagued by defects and malfunctions in recent years.
Its cars are by far the most recalled, more than any other brand, according to a recent study.
Automakers announced more than 400 total recalls last year, covering more than 25 million vehicles. Teslas scored four of the top five spots on the list, price-tracking car search engine iSeeCars.com concluded.
Model Y was the most recalled of any vehicle, projected to have more than 62 recalls. The Model 3 was third, with nearly 57 expected recalls in a 30-year lifetime, followed by the Model X (27) and the Model S (26).
Fortunately, Tesla and other vehicle owners in California do not need to wait around for a recall to get defective vehicles fixed.
The state’s lemon law requires Tesla and other car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces manufacturers to buy back (or replace, in some situations) cars that they cannot or will not fix.
Speak with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you are a car owner or lessor who is stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer today.
