Preliminary assessment is an alternative way of expressing that the Office of Defects Investigation is evaluating the extent, frequency, seriousness, and production processes associated with a condition. Moving forward to February 2024, PE 23-014 has transformed into an engineering analysis. EA 24-001 states that 334,569 vehicles may be impacted, specifically the 2023 model year Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
According to the summary of failure reports, the federal watchdog is currently aware of 2,388 complaints, including 124 identified through surveys completed by vehicle owners. The remaining complaints consist of 2,264 reports identified through data provided by manufacturers. One accident is linked to this condition, in which a driver of a 2023 Tesla Model Y was unable to complete a turn and collided with another car at an intersection.
The incident was reported to the NHTSA under ID number 11544655. The survey completed by the vehicle owner states that the steering wheel became locked while driving. At that moment, a warning message of “Steering Assist Reduced” and an error code of UI_a020 appeared on the screen. Following the accident, the UI_a020 error code sporadically appeared on the touchscreen located in the center of the vehicle.
ODI acknowledges that approximately one-third of the complaints mention an increase in effort required to turn the steering wheel at speeds below 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour) or during startup. At speeds exceeding 5 miles per hour, half of the complaints claim an inability to turn the steering wheel. The highest reported speed is 75 miles per hour. For those who prefer metric units, that would be equivalent to 120 kilometers per hour.
Some vehicle owners informed the NHTSA that the steering felt “notchy” or “clicky” before or immediately after the incident. However, that’s not all. ODI is aware of over 50 vehicles that had to be towed due to the mentioned concern. Additionally, a number of drivers temporarily resolved the issue by power cycling the vehicle, but the problem recurred until the steering rack was replaced.
For the 2023 model year, Tesla’s part numbers for Model 3 and Model Y steering racks are 1044832-00-A and 1188832-00-A, respectively. An engineering analysis of the suspected steering racks is more comprehensive and time-consuming compared to the initial preliminary analysis regarding allegations of steering control loss. However, it remains uncertain how long it will take for ODI to publish the findings on the NHTSA’s website.
If you have ever encountered the inability to steer and/or the loss of power steering in your 2023 model year Model 3 or Model Y, make sure to submit a vehicle owner questionnaire to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The more information the federal watchdog receives, the sooner EA 24-001 will be completed.
In the previous year, Tesla manufactured a staggering 1.84 million automobiles. Out of this impressive figure, the combined production of Model 3 and Model Y accounted for 1,775,159 vehicles. In terms of deliveries, the renowned electric vehicle maker based in Austin achieved a remarkable 1,739,707 units out of a total of 1,808,581 deliveries. Notably, the Model 3, which has recently undergone an update, is available in the US market starting at $38,990, while the Model Y starts at $43,990.