WASHINGTON: The U.S. Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced Wednesday that it will begin a preliminary study of 120,000 2023 Tesla Model Ys after two reports of steering wheels falling off while driving.
The U.S. motor vehicle safety agency said the steering wheel was completely off in both low-mileage vehicles. The vehicle was delivered to the owner missing the fixing bolt that attaches the steering wheel to the steering column.
The agency has initiated a preliminary study to assess “the extent, frequency, and manufacturing processes associated with this condition.”
This investigation is the first step before NHTSA requests a recall.
The agency said it had purchased a new Model Y five days ago and received a complaint from a parent who was driving Route 1 South in Woodbridge, New Jersey on Jan. 29 that the steering wheel suddenly came off. There were no cars and we were lucky to be able to pull the divider.”
NHTSA posted a link to the tweet as part of its complaint. This tweet has been viewed by him over 2.4 million times on Twitter.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“Both vehicles underwent final repairs that required the removal and reinstallation of the steering wheels,” NHTSA said.
The agency said, “The friction fit maintained the connection between the steering wheel and the column splines until they separated. While the vehicle was in motion, the forces applied to the steering wheel overcame the resistance of the friction fit. Sometimes there was a sudden separation,” he said.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/us-opens-tesla-probe-reports-steering-wheels-fell-3334296 US launches investigation into Tesla over reports of steering wheel coming off