2021-2024 Tesla Model S Steering Wheel Recall (23V743)
Tesla, Inc. · 194 vehicles · Reported November 3, 2023
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 194 2021-2024 Tesla Model S; 2021-2024 Tesla Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel. An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V743 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V743000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-23-20-005 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 3, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021-2024 Tesla Model S; 2021-2024 Tesla Model X |
| Units affected | 194 |
| Component | Steering > Steering Wheel / Handle Bar |
| Safety risk | An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2024 Tesla Model S in recall 23V743?
An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2024 Model S with recall 23V743?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during 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 steering wheel and handle bar, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V743?
Recall 23V743 covers 194 vehicles: 2021-2024 Tesla Model S; 2021-2024 Tesla Model X.
NHTSA lists 194 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2024 | Tesla | Model S |
| 2021-2024 | Tesla | Model X |
What is the fix for the Model S steering wheel recall?
Yes. Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge.
Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-005.
When was recall 23V743 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 23V743 to NHTSA on November 3, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 2, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2023 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V743000. |
| January 2, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 35 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 23V743?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V743 is open on your Model S, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2024 Model S vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Model S owners do about recall 23V743?
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 23V743000 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.
- Keep a simple log of any steering wheel and handle bar symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Model S owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 856 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 179 of them about the steering.
Since recall 23V743 was reported on November 3, 2023, owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 12 of them (10%) 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 3, 2023, 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 856 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 179 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.
- 2023 Tesla Model X: 194 complaints in total, 46 about the steering
- 2021 Tesla Model S: 179 complaints in total, 29 about the steering
- 2022 Tesla Model S: 138 complaints in total, 21 about the steering
- 2022 Tesla Model X: 127 complaints in total, 44 about the steering
- 2023 Tesla Model S: 113 complaints in total, 20 about the steering
- 2021 Tesla Model X: 41 complaints in total, 12 about the steering
- 2024 Tesla Model S: 38 complaints in total, 4 about the steering
- 2024 Tesla Model X: 26 complaints in total, 3 about the steering
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
Sometimes while making ordinary and safe traffic maneuvers the Lane Departure Warning system sometimes emits a very loud, distracting, and startling emergency chime. In particular it does this while turning into parking garages or driveways, which are already high-workload moments with high likelihood of nearby pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
2024 Tesla Model S owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11687621, filed September 16, 2025
I have lane departure, avoidance in lane departure assist both turned off in the settings. Despite this, The alarms are constantly going off (Even when I am not departing a lane).
2024 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11590545, filed May 24, 2024
Problem: turn signal based on buttons on the wheel (Tesla removed the stalks) After three months of ownership, I still can't signal in case of emergency, when a fast lane change is required, or when exiting from parking with the wheel turned. Issues: 1.
2024 Tesla Model S owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11605696, filed July 31, 2024
Can recall 23V743 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A steering problem on the 2021-2024 Tesla Model S is the kind of safety defect that California law treats seriously. Fewer repair attempts may be needed for a claim than with a comfort or convenience defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2024 Tesla Model S has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
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 23V743
Did the recall 23V743 fix work?
Since recall 23V743 was reported on November 3, 2023, owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 12 of them (10%) 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 January 2, 2024.
Is the 23V743000 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 23V743000?
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 23V743000 (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.