2021 Tesla Model S Steering Power Steering Recall (22V818)
Tesla, Inc. · 40,168 vehicles · Reported November 1, 2022
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 40,168 2021 Tesla Model S; 2021 Tesla Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole. A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 22V818 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V818000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-22-00-014 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 1, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Tesla Model S; 2021 Tesla Model X |
| Units affected | 40,168 |
| Component | Steering > Electric Power Assist System |
| Safety risk | A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021 Tesla Model S in recall 22V818?
The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Model S with recall 22V818?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Model S shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the electric power assist system, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V818?
Recall 22V818 covers 40,168 vehicles: 2021 Tesla Model S; 2021 Tesla Model X.
NHTSA lists 40,168 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tesla | Model S |
| 2021 | Tesla | Model X |
What is the fix for the Model S steering power steering recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.
When was recall 22V818 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 22V818 to NHTSA on November 1, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as December 31, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2022 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V818000. |
| December 31, 2022 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 47 months ago. If your Model S was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model S is part of recall 22V818?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V818 is open on your Model S, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 22V818000 is open on your Model S, it will be listed there, along with Tesla recall number SB-22-00-014. You can also ask any Tesla dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Model S owners do about recall 22V818?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V818000 applies to your Model S.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Tesla dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the electric power assist system happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Model S owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 220 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 41 of them about the steering.
Since recall 22V818 was reported on November 1, 2022, owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the steering and were received on or after November 1, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related steering issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 220 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 41 of them involve the steering. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Tesla Model S: 179 complaints in total, 29 about the steering
- 2021 Tesla Model X: 41 complaints in total, 12 about the steering
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
4 months after warranty and only 42,774 miles, I am being hit with a massive bill of almost $2,700 from Tesla service in Lyndhurst, OH. This to correct right and left front end basic suspension issues that should not occur. Clearly the front end is not designed to handle the weight of car.
2021 Tesla Model S owner, OH, NHTSA complaint 11660683, filed May 13, 2025
The wrap on the steering yoke is peeling, already had a steering yoke replacement 18 months ago under warranty, and this replacement steering yoke exibiting same peeling issue. Could be a safety grip issue as the yoke portion is more slippery at the peeled section.
2021 Tesla Model S owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11680563, filed August 14, 2025
On October 17, 2025, while using Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode on my 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid, the car failed to stop at two red lights within a three-hour period. In each case, the car attempted to drive through the intersection even though the signal was solid red.
2021 Tesla Model S owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11694506, filed October 20, 2025
Can recall 22V818 make my Model S a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this electric power assist system recall means their Model S qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Steering defects go straight to safety. Under California's lemon law, a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create a presumption after just two repair attempts, if the manufacturer was also notified directly.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2021 Tesla Model S in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case 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.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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.
Has your Model S been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model S recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V818
Did the recall 22V818 fix work?
Since recall 22V818 was reported on November 1, 2022, owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed December 31, 2022.
Is the 22V818000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model S is part of recall 22V818000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
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 recall record 22V818000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Tesla. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.