WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. safety regulators have upgraded their probe into Tesla vehicles over power steering loss to an engineering analysis - a required step before the agency could demand a potential recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday the investigation covers about 334,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from the 2023 model year.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

NHTSA, which had opened a preliminary evaluation in July into loss of steering control in 280,000 Tesla Model 3 and Y vehicles, said it had identified 2,388 total complaints, with some reporting an inability to turn the steering wheel, while others reported an increase in required effort to turn the steering wheel.

Reuters reported in December that tens of thousands of Tesla owners who have experienced premature failures of suspension or steering parts over at least seven years, citing thousands of Tesla documents.

  • Cornpop@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Just what you want to hear from a company that recently introduced a steer by wire system

    • pandapoo@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      Don’t be an asshole, this is just a minor bump in the rode.

      If anything, it validates Tesla’s stock price because it shows they are very close to a fully wireless steering.

      Of course first gen will still have a chimp in the trunk with the brain implants, but I hear second gen they’ll install a Central American.

  • DaddleDew@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    It’s not a mechanical defect. They just didn’t renew their paid subscription to the steering package.