NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation: Steering Wheel Detachment in 2023 Tesla Model Y (PE23-003)
Opened March 4, 2023 · Tesla, Inc.
NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation (PE23-003) on March 4, 2023 into steering wheel detachment in 2023 Tesla Model Y. The investigation is closed on April 24, 2026.
PE23-003 at a glance
| NHTSA action number | PE23-003 |
|---|---|
| Type | Preliminary Evaluation |
| Opened | March 4, 2023 |
| Status | Closed April 24, 2026 |
| Vehicles | 2023 Tesla Model Y |
| Component | Steering > Critical Fasteners |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Resulting recall | None listed |
What is NHTSA investigating in the Tesla Model Y?
From NHTSA’s investigation summary:
On March 4, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23003 to investigate two reports of steering loss on model year (MY) 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles due to the detachment of the steering wheel from the steering column while the vehicle was in motion.
ODI confirmed from Tesla that in both cases, the vehicles were delivered to the owners missing the retaining bolt (P/N 1036655-00-A) used to secure the steering wheel to a splined shaft on the steering column.
Tesla repaired both vehicles under warranty.
ODI further learned that both 2023 MY Model Y vehicles had been manufactured in the first week of January 2023 at Tesla's Austin, TX and Fremont, CA manufacturing facilities, respectively.
Both vehicles had received end of production line repairs (rectification) requiring removal and reinstallation of the steering wheel before release from the factory.
End of line rectification is an offline process manufacturers use to repair any defects found prior to vehicle release from the factory.
It often requires removing and reinstalling unrelated components to access and correct the issue detected during inspections.
This service process usually takes place outside the assembly line's standard quality-control safeguards, introducing the risk of an incomplete or incorrect repair.
On April 28, 2023, ODI sent an Information Request letter to Tesla requesting production data and steering wheel detachment reports for all MY 2022 – 2023 Tesla models; numbers of vehicles undergoing end of line steering wheel removals / reinstallations; information about Tesla's procedures and process controls pertaining to this activity; and Tesla's assessment of the alleged defect.
ODI sent three sets of follow-up questions to Tesla in April, May, and June of 2025 to request a field data update, fleet mileage data, and further information concerning Tesla's rectification processes and its 2023 internal assessments.
ODI's analysis of Tesla's submissions and other relevant data revealed that: – No additional related incidents have occurred in either the subject or peer vehicles. – The subject vehicles suffered their steering wheel detachments below 400 miles of service, indicating that any other vehicles experiencing this issue would have already experienced a steering wheel detachment. – ODI identified additional circumstances indicating that rectification taking place outside of January 2023 do not exhibit missing steering wheel fasteners. – After the recognition of both failures, Tesla applied additional controls on vehicles receiving end of line rectification.
Since this investigation's opening, the subject and peer fleet have accumulated an average of 33,000 miles of service with three vehicles reporting under 500 miles and six reporting no mileage, making the likelihoodof any undiscovered missing steering wheel fasteners extremely low.
Accordingly, no evidence has been identified to indicate that the alleged defect exists outside the two 2023 incidents that prompted the opening of PE23003, and this PE is closed.
The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.
The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
What is a preliminary evaluation?
Preliminary Evaluation is the first stage of a federal defect investigation. NHTSA reviews complaints, crash reports and manufacturer data to decide whether a safety defect may exist. It can close with no action, be upgraded to an engineering analysis, or end with a recall.
Did this investigation lead to a recall?
NHTSA closed this investigation on April 24, 2026 without listing a recall. That can mean NHTSA did not find a safety defect it could prove, or that the manufacturer addressed the issue another way. A closed investigation does not mean owners have no lemon law claim if the problem keeps happening.
Which vehicles are part of this investigation?
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tesla | Model Y |
What are Tesla Model Y owners reporting to NHTSA?
NHTSA’s public database lists 1,166 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this investigation (all components). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
What should owners do?
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for any open recall on your vehicle.
- If you have the problem NHTSA is investigating, take the vehicle to a dealer now and get a repair order, even if the dealer cannot find anything.
- Keep a log of every time the problem happens: date, mileage and what happened. Photos and videos help.
- File your own complaint at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. Owner complaints are what start and expand investigations.
- If the problem keeps coming back, talk to a lemon law attorney.
Recalls on the same vehicles
- 2026 Tesla Model Y Front Suspension Recall (26V558)
- 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3 Headlight Recall (26V507)
- 2026 Tesla Model Y Knee Bolster Recall (26V445)
- 2025-2026 Tesla Model Y Label Recall (26V315)
- 2021-2023 Tesla Model 3 Backup Camera Software Recall (26V283)
- 2025 Tesla Model 3 Fuses Recall (25V690)
- 2026 Tesla Model Y Wiring Recall (25V658)
- 2026 Tesla Model Y Electrical Horn Recall (25V490)
- 2026 Tesla Model 3 Seat Fastener Recall (25V410)
- 2026 Tesla Model Y Windshield Wiper Recall (25V359)
Can a recall or defect investigation make my car a lemon in California?
Not by itself. What matters is whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps your vehicle at the dealer, and a federal investigation or recall is strong evidence that the problem is real.
Under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a manufacturer that cannot fix a warranty defect that substantially impairs a vehicle’s use, value or safety within a reasonable number of attempts may have to repurchase or replace it (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)). Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a reasonable number of attempts after two repairs of a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four repairs of the same defect, or more than 30 days out of service (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)).
An owner who prevails can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA investigation, recall and complaint data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page reports public NHTSA data and is general information, not legal advice. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.