2023 Tesla Model 3 Steering Power Steering Recall (25V092)
Tesla, Inc. · 376,241 vehicles · Reported February 14, 2025
Tesla, Inc. is recalling 376,241 2023 Tesla Model 3; 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles. 38.4. The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again. 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 25V092 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V092000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | SB-25-00-004 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | February 14, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Tesla, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2023 Tesla Model 3; 2023 Tesla Model Y |
| Units affected | 376,241 |
| 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 2023 Tesla Model 3 in recall 25V092?
38.4.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Model 3 with recall 25V092?
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.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the electric power assist system.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V092?
Recall 25V092 covers 376,241 vehicles: 2023 Tesla Model 3; 2023 Tesla Model Y.
NHTSA lists 376,241 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tesla | Model 3 |
| 2023 | Tesla | Model Y |
What is the fix for the Model 3 steering power steering recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2025. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-25-00-004.
When was recall 25V092 announced?
Tesla, Inc. reported recall 25V092 to NHTSA on February 14, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as March 25, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 14, 2025 | Tesla, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V092000. |
| March 25, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 19 months ago. If your Model 3 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Model 3 is part of recall 25V092?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V092 is open on your Model 3, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V092000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Model 3 owners do about recall 25V092?
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 25V092000 applies to your Model 3.
- 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 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 3 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,593 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 297 of them about the steering.
Since recall 25V092 was reported on February 14, 2025, owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 6 of them (7%) 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 February 14, 2025, 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 1,593 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 297 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 Y: 1,166 complaints in total, 211 about the steering
- 2023 Tesla Model 3: 427 complaints in total, 86 about the steering
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
As I entered the parking lot I disengaged FSD by taking over the steering wheel. When it can to navigating into the parking spot I gently push the accelerator and the pedal disappeared from under neath my foot as the car accelerated forward hitting the car to my right.
2023 Tesla Model Y owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11634083, filed January 4, 2025
While driving heard a noise from front end. As I turned right the steering wheel turned left in opposite direction. I heard something fall and found a bolt that fell off the car control arm. I managed to get the car back to my garage and called Tesla service.
2023 Tesla Model Y owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11641831, filed February 10, 2025
3/5/2024. Upon startup, car does not have power steering. Error code UI_a020 on screen and steering wheel very difficult to move as car reverses. Put car back into park and arranged for alternate transportation.
2023 Tesla Model Y owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11646817, filed March 6, 2025
Can recall 25V092 make my Model 3 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 3 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 2023 Tesla Model 3 in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Model 3 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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 3 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Tesla Model 3 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V092
Did the recall 25V092 fix work?
Since recall 25V092 was reported on February 14, 2025, owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 6 of them (7%) 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 March 25, 2025.
Is the 25V092000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Model 3 is part of recall 25V092000?
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 25V092000 (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.