Some versions of Model S and X front drive unit halfshafts might cause excessive vibrations during hard acceleration at higher ride height settings. This is exclusively an NVH issue and does not otherwise affect steering functionality, braking, or acceleration.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Tesla Model S steering problems
critical 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
5crashes
1injury
4fatalities
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some versions of Model S and X front drive unit halfshafts might cause excessive vibrations during hard acceleration at higher ride height settings. This is exclusively an NVH issue and does not otherwise affect steering functionality, braking, or acceleration.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Long-term exposure to high-corrosion environments might weaken the bolts that attach the power steering motor to the steering rack housing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Long-term exposure to high-corrosion environments might weaken the bolts that attach the power steering motor to the steering rack housing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TESLA MOTORS INC 2014-2015 MODEL S: CERTAIN VEHICLES, WITH THE LH HALFSHAFT, MIGHT CONTACT POWER STEERING HARNESS, RESULTING IN AN ALERT MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. UPDATED 7/14/15.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2014 Model S steering system fails in multiple ways, all rooted in inadequate corrosion protection and fastening procedures. The most common issue is shearing of the three bolts that mount the electric power steering motor to the rack. Owners found 2–3 bolts completely sheared off after hearing clunks and screeches; Tesla used witness marks on bolts, suggesting awareness that fasteners were loose. One owner replaced sheared bolts with hardware-store units and found spare threaded holes—indicating Tesla designed redundancy into the assembly, further suggesting known fastener problems.
The underlying culprit is corrosion. Water and road salt attack the steering motor bolts, rack, and electrical harnesses. Tesla Service acknowledged the design flaw: newer Model S get protective gearing; 2014–2015 models do not. When the system fails, owners lose power steering assist entirely, sometimes intermittently—one reported steering that worked in some road sections and failed in others.
Steering control loss at highway speeds is the most dangerous failure. Owners report the wheel in their hands but the car making sharp turns anyway, veering into guard rails or opposing traffic. One incident at 180,000 miles involved a tunnel collision; the vehicle was totaled and airbags failed to deploy. Another owner had alignment performed multiple times, new tires installed, and all front suspension components replaced—technicians found no fix.
Recalls 18V-204 and 19V-002 address bolt corrosion, but many owners report parts unavailability at dealerships. Some steering control issues confounded service techs, who blamed tires or alignment instead of investigating the actual steering assembly.
Same Tesla Model S steering reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Steering motor mounting bolts shearing/loosening
Bolts attaching the electric power steering motor to the steering rack shear, break, or loosen due to vibration and lack of proper fastening procedure. Owners report finding 2–3 of 3 mounting bolts sheared off, sometimes with witness marks (green felt) suggesting Tesla's acknowledgment of fastener movement concerns.
When: Varies; one owner found failure after sudden loud clunks/screeches; no specific mileage pattern stated
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking and screeching noises from steering assembly; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or unresponsive; Loss of power steering assist; Intermittent power steering failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced with 8mm x 1.25mm, 65mm long bolts from hardware store; original bolts suspected to be aluminum. Tesla issued recalls 18V-204 and 19V-002 for this issue; multiple owners report parts unavailable at dealerships.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 18V-204 (steering) and 19V-002 (airbags + steering bolts); Tesla Service Centers cite bolts corroding from exposure to water and road salt; newer Model S designs include protective gear; parts distribution delays reported.
Steering rack and motor harness corrosion
Steering rack and electrical harnesses attached to the steering motor corrode from exposure to water, snow, and road salt, causing loss of power steering function. Tesla Service acknowledged this as a separate issue from bolt failure but same root cause—lack of protection.
When: Multiple owners report at various mileages; one complaint at unspecified mileage, another at 48,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Warning message 'Power steering was reduced'; Reduced steering responsiveness; Complete loss of power steering assist
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack and harnesses require replacement. Tesla technician stated no preventative maintenance available for 2014–2015 models; newer Model S have protective gear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla Service acknowledges design flaw; newer models have protective gearing; no recall issued for this corrosion issue despite customer requests.
EPAS (Electric Power Assist Steering) electrical failure after hard braking
Electric power steering system fails or throws error codes after sudden hard braking event, likely from electrical surge or component stress.
When: Immediately after hard braking event to avoid collision
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering; Park assist becomes unavailable; EPAS error codes displayed
Codes mentioned: EPAS_W001, EPAS_W002, GTW (code owner could not recall)
Repairs/costs cited: Error codes cleared overnight after vehicle charged; power steering returned without repair. Suggests temporary electrical fault or reset.
Steering hardness (high effort, reduced responsiveness)
Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or less responsive, sometimes intermittently. May be related to software updates or mechanical wear.
When: Varies; some owners report intermittent hardness over time; one complaint dated May 2018 purchase, problem reported later
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel requires excessive force to turn; Steering becomes less responsive at highway speeds; Difficulty compensating for wind and road conditions; Intermittent steering stiffness; Steering changes after OTA software update
Codes mentioned: Recall B1832002, NHTSA Recall 18V-204
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided by owners; Tesla did not respond to owner complaints. One owner noted OTA software update reduced steering responsiveness.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 18V-204 referenced; Tesla did not provide response to customer complaints.
Steering control loss and unintended directional changes
Steering input does not produce expected output or steering becomes completely unresponsive during highway driving, forcing vehicle into unintended lane changes or swerves. Multiple owners report steering wheel in hand but vehicle making sharp turns on its own or steering completely failing to respond.
When: Highway speeds (50–65 MPH); one incident at ~180,000 miles; varies for others
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel does not respond to driver input; Unintended sharp left or right turns despite hands on wheel; Intermittent steering loss (works in some road areas, fails in others); Vehicle veers into oncoming traffic or guard walls; Stability control disabled warning shown; Pulling strongly to left under acceleration, to right under deceleration; Vehicle jumps unpredictably on minor road imperfections
Codes mentioned: Stability Control Disabled
Repairs/costs cited: One owner involved in tunnel crash (180,000 miles); vehicle totaled. Another owner had alignment done multiple times, replaced tires, suspension components, but issue persisted. Technicians found no solution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla Service told one owner the steering issue was a tire problem (contradicted by owner); another owner was told alignment fixes were sufficient despite repeated failures.
Steering assist electrical connector separation
Electrical connector or motor assembly physically separates from the steering rack assembly.
When: While vehicle in driveway (no highway incident); unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering assist
Repairs/costs cited: Occurred in driveway; owner states luckily it happened stationary.
Steering performance change after software update
OTA (over-the-air) software update altered steering responsiveness, making steering less responsive and harder to control.
When: After OTA software update; timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Steering less responsive post-update; Harder to compensate for wind and road conditions; Harder to maintain lane position; Reduced steering feel at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: No repair provided; owner reports ongoing issue post-update.
Steering universal joint wear/stiffness
Steering universal joint deteriorates over time, requiring increased force to turn steering wheel, particularly when exiting turns.
When: Overtime wear; broken front coil springs occurred simultaneously in driveway (same vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel requires excessive force to turn; Stiffness particularly when exiting turns
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair cost or part replacement detailed.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I had a hard braking event to avoid a collision with a vehicle that ran a red light in front of me and immediately lost power steering and was notified park assist was also unavailable. Error codes EPAS_w001, EPAS_w002, and a GTW code I can’t remember. After leaving the vehicle on a charger overnight, the error codes disappeared and power steering returned.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Tesla model s. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v204000 (steering). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Edon prairie Tesla (6801 washington ave s, #110, minneapolis, mn 55439, (952) 944-1373) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy.…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 Tesla Model S?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2014 Tesla Model S?
It's a serious issue. 27 complaints have been filed, including 5 reports involving a crash and 4 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 25,000 and 92,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 92,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Tesla/Model S.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.