The steering wheel holds a significant role in a car, serving as a crucial component until autonomous vehicles become widespread. Throughout the history of automobiles, people have relied on the steering wheel to maintain the car’s direction, even when other parts may fail. However, this reliability is no longer guaranteed.
Numerous articles on the internet discuss incidents of Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) experiencing steering wheel detachment. While Tesla’s prominence brought attention to this issue, other car manufacturers have also faced similar problems in recent years. Examples include the Chevrolet Cruze in 2011, the Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Fusion in 2018 (a challenging year for steering wheels).
In April 2020, Jason Tuatara became the first Tesla owner to witness his steering wheel detach while driving a brand-new Tesla Model 3. Two other Tesla Model Y owners reported the same issue in 2023, prompting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to launch an investigation.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) revealed that both vehicles were delivered without the retaining bolt that secures the steering wheel to the steering column. In both instances, the steering wheel detached while the vehicles were in motion, even with low mileage. This occurrence is undoubtedly terrifying, and the possibility of it happening to others cannot be ignored.
Recently, a Rivian R1S owner discovered a similar problem. In a video shared on Reddit, user Dirtman1016 showcased a wobbling steering wheel that seemed on the verge of coming loose. This issue suddenly arose as they were leaving for a trip, fortunately near their home and at a low speed, allowing them to stop safely.
This incident marks the first report of a detaching steering wheel among Rivian owners, suggesting that it may not be a manufacturing-related problem. Rivian has generally received praise for its build quality, although it has faced safety-related recalls. In 2022, the EV startup issued a recall due to an inadequately torqued steering knuckle fastener. The recall notice stated that this could lead to excessive wheel camber or, in rare cases, separation, which could affect the driver’s control of the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.
In this instance, it seems that the fastener securing the steering wheel has become loose. Interestingly, Rivian implemented a customer satisfaction initiative last year for certain 2022 and 2023 R1T and R1S vehicles. The initiative was prompted by complaints regarding potential misalignment between the steering wheel and the steering rack. Put simply, the steering wheel was not consistently straight when the vehicle was moving in a straight line. This issue did not impact the driving experience and was purely cosmetic in nature.
As part of the initiative, technicians at the Service Center would remove the airbag to ensure proper alignment of the steering wheel. If misalignment was detected, the steering wheel bolt would be loosened in order to achieve alignment. It is unclear whether Dirtman1016’s R1S had the steering wheel aligned as part of this initiative. If it was, it is possible that the problem he encountered was due to a technician’s failure to secure the locking bolt adequately.
Steering Wheel Loosening
byu/Dirtman1016 inRivian
According to the Source autoevolution.com