On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface corrosion of these ball joints. This may result in a creaking sound coming from the front suspension when steering at low speeds and under high loads. This is exclusively an NVH condition only and does not result in premature failure of the ball joints.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Tesla Model 3 steering problems
critical 51 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
51
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
5crashes
1fire
4injuries
1fatality
What stands out
Owners have filed 51 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.
Among the 7 model years of Tesla Model 3 in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Model 3s describe multiple distinct steering and suspension failures affecting safety and drivability. Ball joint failures dominate the complaints: owners report loud squeaking and creaking when turning, and in severe cases, ball joints separate completely from their sockets, causing the car to rest heavily on one wheel. Some owners attempt DIY lubrication before the part fails entirely. Steering rack failures due to water intrusion are also common, with water entering the steering connector and causing corrosion that disables power steering assist. Owners report steering racks costing $3,000–$5,000+ to replace, even in vehicles that never experienced submersion and sit in mild climates with only occasional rain.
Steering lockup occurs intermittently—wheels become impossible to turn, sometimes requiring multiple power cycles to restore function. Several owners report the vehicle losing all electrical power while driving, simultaneously killing steering, brakes, and propulsion, with one collision reported. Suspension lateral links loosen and separate from the subframe, and upper and lower control arm bushings tear prematurely, often immediately after the warranty expires. Owners are frustrated that some failures match documented recalls but Tesla denies coverage for their specific VINs. Multiple complaints note long wait times for service appointments despite Tesla acknowledging these are known issues.
Same Tesla Model 3 steering reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Ball joint failure and separation
Upper and lower ball joints wear, lose lubrication, and eventually separate from their sockets. Owners report DIY lubrication attempts with WD-40 or lubricant squirted into the rubber boot. Multiple reports of ball joints popping out completely, visible in salvage yard inspections. This can cause wheel instability and potential loss of vehicle control.
When: Variable mileage reported; some failures documented at 35,000–49,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeaking or creaking noise when turning steering wheel; Vehicle pulling to one side; Unstable handling during turns or over bumps; Grinding or popping sensations; Wheel positioned lower than normal (car resting on tire)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of upper and lower control arms and ball joints; costs not consistently reported by owners
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Recall 21V835000 and 23V235000 (front suspension lateral link fasteners); some owners report Tesla denied coverage as recall-related despite matching symptoms
Steering rack failure—electrical and water ingress
Steering rack and wiring harness corrode due to water intrusion, causing electrical faults that reduce or eliminate power steering assist. Water enters the steering rack connector, causing corrosion that disables steering control. Tesla service identifies water ingress as the cause in multiple complaints; owners report high replacement costs despite minimal water exposure (e.g., occasional California rain).
When: Variable; some failures at 40,000+ miles and well beyond 50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard alert: 'Steering assist reduced. Steering may require increased effort'; Loss of power steering assist or complete steering lockup; Vehicle requires extreme force to turn wheels; Lane Departure Avoidance features unavailable; Error messages intermittently appear and clear after power cycle
Codes mentioned: UI_a020
Repairs/costs cited: Full steering rack replacement; repair estimates range from $3,000–$5,000+. Tesla parts number cited: STEERING GEAR - LEFT HAND DRIVE (1188832-00-B) at ~$2,260 plus labor. Water found pouring from connector during service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla performs remote diagnostics and repairs under warranty when within coverage period; beyond warranty, repair is customer-pay. One owner charged $5,000+ and implied water damage was customer fault despite no reported submersion history.
Suspension lateral link fastener looseness and separation
Lateral links attached to the subframe become loose or fully separate from the subframe, causing suspension misalignment and loss of vehicle control. Owners report Tesla service retightening bolts initially without resolving the problem, leading to eventual failure. Some VINs not recognized by Tesla as recall-covered despite matching the failure pattern.
When: Varies; some failures at lower mileage after warning symptoms appear
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal noises from steering or suspension area; Vehicle instability and difficulty maintaining straight line; Loss of vehicle control during evasive maneuvers (e.g., swerving to avoid obstacle); Wheel alignment shifts; Nearly caused collisions due to loss of controllability
Repairs/costs cited: Retightening and inspection of lateral link bolts; eventual replacement may be required. Costs not detailed by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla has issued recalls 21V835000 and 23V235000 for front suspension lateral link fasteners; however, some affected vehicles are not covered despite experiencing identical failures. Service center initially attempted bolt retightening before recommending full replacement.
Upper and lower control arm bushing and fastener wear
Control arm bushings tear and fasteners loosen, causing squeaking and creaking noise during turning or bumps. Some owners report control arms are worn or torn after only 35,000–49,000 miles, well before expected component life. Tesla service confirms the failures but some customer-pay repairs occur after warranty expiration, even though owners consider this a known defect.
When: 35,000–49,000 miles reported; issues often emerge immediately after warranty expires
Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeaking or creaking noise when turning steering wheel left or right; Noise when going over bumps or moving from stop to go; Shaking in steering during bumps; Unsafe handling, especially at highway speeds; Noise described as rusty hinge or grinding sound
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of upper and lower control arms; one owner reported ~$190 cost after warranty. Multiple owners were charged customer-pay despite believing it should be warranty or recall work.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service confirms upper control arm failures are a known issue; some covered under recall (e.g., recall on ~3,000 Model 3 and Y units), but coverage varies by VIN. Some owners out of warranty are charged ~$190 per repair.
Steering wheel lockup and loss of steering response
Steering wheel becomes completely firm or locks in place, making it impossible or extremely difficult to turn. Occurs intermittently, sometimes during low-speed maneuvering or parking. May require multiple power cycles (4–6 reboots) to restore steering function. Some owners report this occurring multiple times; others report it happens while parked but prevents driving out of garage.
When: Occurs at various points in ownership; some instances reported at 33,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes firm or locked solid; Extremely difficult or impossible to turn wheels; Occurs during parking, low-speed driving, or while parked; Car may not restart after locking up; Resolves temporarily after multiple power cycles
Repairs/costs cited: Some cases attributed to water ingress and steering rack corrosion requiring full replacement ($3,000+). Other cases resolve after power cycle with no identified root cause documented by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service has repaired via steering rack replacement when water damage identified. In some cases, Tesla has not diagnosed the root cause and advised that resetting the vehicle resolves the issue.
Vehicle shut-down and loss of braking and steering control
Vehicle loses all or nearly all electrical power while driving, causing simultaneous loss of steering assist, regenerative braking, and propulsion. Screen freezes or blacks out. Occurs unpredictably and creates immediate safety hazard. One owner reports this happened twice within one week in a 5-week-old vehicle, resulting in a collision. Another reports it at 40,000 miles with warning messages but long wait times for service.
When: Variable; one case at 5 weeks old; another case reported at ~40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard screen freezes or blacks out; Loss of steering assist; Loss of regenerative braking or traditional brake assist; Car may accelerate or free-roll unexpectedly; Multiple warning messages: 'Power Reduced,' 'Brakes Disabled,' 'Power Steering Disabled,' 'Front Motor Disabled,' 'Car May Be Free Rolling'
Codes mentioned: Shorted penthouse harness (per one service repair)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported Tesla diagnosed a 'shorted penthouse harness' after 23+ days in service; however, the same issue recurred within two weeks, requiring another 28+ day repair attempt. Other cases attributed to steering rack or wiring failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service has diagnosed shorted penthouse harness and electrical failures; repairs have been attempted but some issues recur. One owner reported Tesla initially could not provide appointment for 1 month despite being told not to drive the vehicle.
Steering knuckle fracture
Steering knuckle breaks in half, as documented in salvage yard photos. Occurs without crash impact, indicating manufacturing or fatigue failure. Often occurs in conjunction with ball joint separation.
When: Variable; documented in junkyard salvage vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete suspension collapse or severe misalignment; No warning prior to failure; Visible break in steering knuckle when inspected
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of steering knuckle assembly required; cost not specified in complaints
Inner tie rod looseness
Left inner tie rod attached to steering rack becomes loose. Detected during service inspection after owners report noise. Tesla recommends replacement of the entire steering rack assembly because inner tie rod is not sold separately.
When: Detected at ~41,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strange noise when turning steering wheel; Noise emanates from steering rack area
Repairs/costs cited: Entire steering rack assembly replacement recommended because inner tie rod comes as part of singular component; specific cost not provided
Synthesized from 51 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
After 3 prior repairs 2 of which were recalls of the front suspension, control arms. I was driving when me and my 3 children’s life’s were almost taken. While driving on the expressway immediate loss of control of the car shaking while driving to work, I stopped immediately thank God no cars around next to me to crash into. We called for a ride and walked off the expressway. Immediately car was…
Had steering trouble with your 2019 Tesla Model 3?
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 2019 Tesla Model 3?
It's a serious issue. 51 complaints have been filed, including 5 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 8,500 and 33,359 miles, with the median around 10,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,500; a quarter make it past 33,359. 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/2019/Tesla/Model 3.
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.