On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the steering wheel cover material may separate from the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position (Figures 1 and 2). NOTE: The material separation of the steering wheel cover is cosmetic only and does not affect the performance or function of the steering wheel.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Tesla Model Y steering problems
severe 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
5crashes
2injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 26 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.
On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the steering wheel cover material may separate from the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position (Figures 1 and 2). NOTE: The material separation of the steering wheel cover is cosmetic only and does not affect the performance or function of the steering wheel.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗On certain Model Y vehicles, the Front Upper Control Arm (FUCA) to steering knuckle fastener for both LH and RH sides of the front suspension might be loose, or the FUCA to steering knuckle nut(s) might be missing altogether.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the upper steering column bolt may not be installed according to internal specifications, which could cause excessive play between the steering wheel and steering column.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe eight distinct steering and suspension failure patterns in 2020 Model Y vehicles. The most serious: suspension knuckles fracture without impact, causing links to separate and complete loss of vehicle control during normal driving — one owner's vehicle suddenly swerved at 25 mph, hitting a parked car. Front lower lateral link assemblies tear at under 40,000 miles, producing loud creaking during turns. Upper and lower control arms degrade repeatedly, with one owner requiring three separate repairs before 38,000 miles.
Steering racks develop hard spots or complete loss of power assist, with one owner facing a $3,000 repair at 54,000 miles. Multiple owners report the steering wheel suddenly locking up during highway driving, parking, and turns — one locked while backing out of a garage and hit a wall before Tesla field support could intervene. Suspension fasteners vibrate loose and fall off during normal operation, with owners citing inadequate lock-washer design.
Electronic steering assist frequently malfunctions: owners get "Steering assist reduced" warnings and lose all power assist requiring hand-over-hand steering. Camera and sensor failures disable autopilot and lane-keeping features. Full Self-Driving software versions engage sudden swerving and erratic braking even when manually disabled. Some repairs are classified as customer-pay despite matching recall descriptions, while others cannot be verified since no parts are returned to owners.
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Rack Malfunction
Steering rack develops hard spots, stiffness, or complete loss of power steering assist. Owners report the steering wheel becoming extremely difficult to turn, occasional temporary loss of assist that returns after restart, and jerky motion described as bumps in the rack.
When: Occurs across mileage ranges; one reported at 54k miles, one at 39k miles, one during normal highway driving over 45 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn; Loss of power steering assist requiring hand-over-hand effort; Sticky, jerky steering that feels like bumps in rack and pinion; 'Steering assist reduced' warning on display; Hard steering that resolves after powering vehicle off and on
Codes mentioned: Steering assist reduced
Repairs/costs cited: Service estimates $3,000 for steering rack repair; one repair billed at $990 attributed to 'rodent damage to harness'; no parts returned to owner in one case
Front Suspension Knuckle Fracture
Front and rear suspension knuckles fracture, causing complete suspension link separation and loss of vehicle control. Multiple narratives reference brittle fractures in ball joints with no impact damage, suggesting material or heat-treatment defects.
When: Reported in junkyard examples showing failure; recall 21V912000 covers 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle sudden swerve and loss of control during normal driving; Suspension links separate causing reduced stability; Broken ball joints observed with brittle fracture characteristics; Ball joint stem snapped in half with no visible impact damage
Codes mentioned: 21V912000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall action specifies Tesla Service will inspect and replace knuckles free of charge
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla Recall 21V912000 (SB-21-31-004) issued for 2020-2022 Model Y: knuckles may fracture causing suspension link separation and reduced vehicle stability. Notification expected January 18, 2022. Tesla Service to inspect and replace knuckles free of charge. Contact 1-877-798-3752.
Front Lower Lateral Link Failure
Front lower lateral link assemblies tear or become defective, causing loud rattling and creaking noises from the front suspension during steering and backing. Owners report fastener defects contributing to complete link failure.
When: One reported at 39k miles; recalled under NHTSA Recall 21V-835
Symptoms owners cite: Loud rattling and creaking noises from front suspension when steering or backing; Front lower lateral link assemblies completely torn; Compromised front suspension stability and steering control; Creaking sound when making sharp turns or parking
Codes mentioned: 21V-835
Repairs/costs cited: Replaced LH and RH upper control arms; replaced LH compliance and RH aft lower front suspension links; service charges approximately $650 for both upper control arms plus lower links; some owners charged customer-pay instead of recall coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 21V-835 covers abnormal noise and damage caused by defective front lower lateral link fasteners. Repair covered under recall but some owners report being charged customer-pay.
Steering Control Arm Degradation
Upper and lower control arms develop clicking and creaking noises, indicating structural failure or wear. Narratives suggest poor component quality and fastener defects.
When: One narrative states this is a recurring issue; third occurrence reported for one owner at approximately 37,876 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking and creaking noises when turning steering wheel; Squeaking or tearing noises from front suspension; Broken nuts on suspension; Compliance arms and control arms malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Over $750 charged for steering control arm repair; reported as recurring issue requiring multiple repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla staff acknowledged this as a recurring issue; per complaint narrative, Tesla allegedly instructed service employees to tell customers they had 'abused' their vehicle to explain failures
Suspension Fastener Loosening
Nuts and fasteners on suspension components vibrate loose and fall off during normal driving. Multiple complaints reference a forum discussion and lock-washer design inadequacy for this application.
When: Occurring in Model Y vehicles during normal operation
Symptoms owners cite: Vital nuts vibrating loose and falling off suspension; Tie-rod safety concerns due to fastener failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response cited; complaints suggest lock-washer design is inadequate and Nord-Wedge washer would be a low-cost improvement
Steering Wheel Lock-up and Loss of Steering Control
Steering wheel completely locks up without warning during normal driving, including while backing out, merging on freeway, or making turns. Owners report multiple incidents of sudden inability to turn the steering wheel.
When: Occurred while backing out of parking garage; on freeway during exit attempt; while merging; during left turn
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks up completely with no warning; Unable to steer vehicle; Inability to turn steering wheel; Vehicle becomes uncontrollable
Repairs/costs cited: One incident resulted in collision with cement wall; Tesla service unable to unlock steering wheel even after reset attempts; Field Technical Support called in
Autopilot / Lane Keeping Assist Malfunction
Lane keeping assist, automatic steering, and Full Self-Driving features engage unexpectedly or behave erratically even when disabled. Owners report sudden swerving, erratic braking, and lane-keeping features that disable themselves after repeated use.
When: Reported across multiple model years and software versions; FSD versions 12.3.6, 12.5.4, and 12.5.4.1 cited
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden swerving at random times despite autopilot being disabled; Erratic braking with no objects or vehicles in front; Wandering outside center yellow dividing stripes on curvy roads; Failing to yield to oncoming traffic on left turns; Attempting left turn into busy intersection with red light; Attempting to enter two-lane roadway when perpendicular traffic active; System disables lane-keeping assist after multiple triggering events; False Forward Collision Warnings triggered by pedestrians on nearby sidewalk
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Full Self-Driving sold for $8,000+ with acknowledged safety hazards in software versions; disclosures state not to rely on safety features
Steering Assist Electrical / Sensor Failure
Electronic steering assist systems lose power or function due to sensor failure, camera issues, or harness damage. System shows warnings but repairs are difficult to verify.
When: After being parked for 3 hours; intermittent during driving
Symptoms owners cite: 'Steering assist reduced' warning on display; 'Lane departure avoidance features unavailable' warning; Complete loss of power-steering assist; All cameras in vehicle inoperable causing autopilot failure; 'System Failure' tone and screen alert; 'One or more cameras blocked' alert when cameras are not blocked; Red steering wheel image with sharp noise and warning about automatic emergency braking
Codes mentioned: Steering assist reduced, Lane departure avoidance features unavailable, System Failure, Cameras blocked
Repairs/costs cited: One repair billed $990 attributed to 'rodent damage to steering rack harness'; no parts returned to owner; repairs cannot be visually verified
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
This year I was charged $650 to replace both upper control arms, lower suspension links that I now find out was a known quality problem with Tesla. No recalls were issued despite this being a safety concern for drivers since it affects steering. I read that Tesla told service employees to tell customers that they had "abused" their car and that was the reason for the failure. I drive on…
I would hear squeaking/tearing/rattling noises, this was found to be due to malfunctioning/broken nuts and compliance arms and control arms. This happened three times so far, attached are two repairs that was required previously. Per report with Tesla staff, this has been a recurring issue. Per additional Tesla owners, this has been a frequent issue amongst many different Tesla forums. Now I…
Had steering trouble with your 2020 Tesla Model Y?
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 2020 Tesla Model Y?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 26 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 1,786 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2020/Tesla/Model Y.
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.