That’s not a yoke. Tesla Model Y is being investigated for a case where the steering wheel fell off while the car was in motion.
Two recent reports submitted to the safety agency said that “the steering wheel is completely detached from the steering column while driving,” said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). On that basis, the agency opened an investigation according to documents filed last week and posted on Wednesday.
So far, the federal government’s review of the matter remains a Preliminary Inquiry, seeking to “assess the extent, frequency, and manufacturing processes involved in this condition.”
2023 Tesla Model Y – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
According to NHTSA, both vehicles affected so far have been delivered without the bolts that hold the steering wheel to the steering column. It states that both of these vehicles have had end-of-line repairs that require the steering wheel to be removed and reassembled.
No incidents or injuries have been reported with the two cases that the agency is aware of, but it is looking into the possibility that there could be a larger group of vehicles potentially affected. It is unclear whether these two cases include those that have been reported reported by Tesla owner public on social media.
Oddly enough, this isn’t the only vehicle in recent days to come under federal scrutiny for steering wheel disassembly. Sure Nissan Ariya 2023 models are being recalled on a steering wheel pin “may have been improperly tightened or not installed.”
2023 Tesla Model Y – Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
If this results in a recall, where a particular batch of affected shipments can be considered problematic, there will be a lot of vehicles to check. Those checks would have to be done in person as this remediation cannot be done over-the-air. Tesla was recently asked by NHTSA to send over-the-air updates to vehicles with a fully self-driving Beta system for “unreasonable risk to the safety of a motor vehicle.”
The Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle in the world, as well as United States, and even include gasoline-powered models, it is one of the best-selling passenger vehicles in the world. CEO Elon Musk’s 2021 statement that Model Y is on track to become best selling carregardless of fuel, is not too far off.
