322 of the 4,327 complaints about the Tesla Model 3 (7.4%) concern Steering, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 1.2× the Steering share across all tracked vehicles.
322Complaints · Steering
7.4%Share of complaints
1.16×vs. all vehicles
56Last 12 months
13.0%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
56 Steering complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 45 in the 12 months before — up 24%.
46 of these reports (13.0%) describe a crash or fire, with 21 injuries and 3 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 25V092000 (2025-02-14, model year 2023).
On July 18, 2026, at approximately 10:00 AM EST, my son was manually driving a 2024 Tesla Model 3 at approximately 26 MPH when the steering suddenly became extremely stiff and difficult to turn.
Steering · 2026-08-07 · ODI 11755390 · Crash
U.S. registered Tesla operating in [XXX]. Full Self-Driving engaged. Dark, nighttime conditions. Vehicle was traveling toward low traffic zones near the edge of [XXX] when the system made a severe mistake. The car went off the main road.
Steering · 2026-07-31 · ODI 11754099 · Crash
Vehicle: 2023 Tesla Model 3 RWD, VIN [VIN]. Since the FSD software update from V12 to V14.1 (Supervised v14.1 Lite) in early August 2026, the vehicle repeatedly issues false 'apply steering wheel force' warnings while my hands are on the wheel, followed by…
Steering · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11768933
Car was in self-driving and struck a piece of concrete. The car was in hands free and was being monitored by me, the driver. This obstruction was in the left side of the lane, about 2" tall, a foot wide and 6" across.
Steering · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769065
I have a model 3 2021 Tesla. I noticed that several times it gives me the alert for steering wheel malfunction when it rains. In these instances the car will completely froze in the middle of the highway.
Steering · 2026-09-29 · ODI 11767844
The vehicle reported an error with steering. I brought the vehicle into tesla service. Upon inspection the connector to the steering rack was heavily corroded from water intrusion and had broken clean off upon removal.
Steering · 2026-09-23 · ODI 11766419
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM Campaign 25V092000 · 2025-02-14 · Model years: 2023
Summary: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Summary: Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
