A Tesla automobile dealership in Austin, Texas, Could 31, 2023.
Brandon Bell | Getty Photographs
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration has opened a brand new investigation into Tesla over steering management issues and lack of energy steering in 2023 Mannequin 3 sedan and Mannequin Y crossover utility autos.
The federal car security regulator stated in a discover posted to the company’s web site that it has acquired a dozen complaints from drivers who skilled steering issues of their Teslas, together with one who stated it had brought about a crash. The probe, which the NHTSA referred to as a “preliminary analysis,” might have an effect on as much as an estimated 280,000 autos within the U.S.
The Mannequin Y grew to become the world’s best-selling automobile within the first quarter of 2023, surpassing the Toyota Corolla and others. Tesla’s Mannequin 3 is the corporate’s entry-level car and probably the most reasonably priced electrical automobile it provides.
In 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors that the corporate was capable of rewrite software program so as to swap from one form of chip to a different, when wanted, to deal with semiconductor shortages. A couple of yr later, Tesla voluntarily recalled a few of its Mannequin S and Mannequin X autos over energy steering issues attributable to a flawed software program replace, finally fixing the difficulty with one other software program replace.
Usually, an NHTSA probe will result in an automaker investigating doable manufacturing or design defects and conducting a voluntary recall. The company asks drivers to submit complaints by cellphone or on-line and makes use of these complaints with different knowledge to find out when investigations are wanted.
Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Shares within the electrical car maker have been buying and selling down by about 1.7% on Tuesday morning.
