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 ↗2022 Tesla Model 3 steering problems
severe 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
10crashes
1fire
7injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 31 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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the steering system failing in multiple ways. Power steering quits during highway driving or at low speeds, making the wheel too heavy to turn; in extreme cases the steering wheel locks completely and cannot be moved. Several owners describe the vehicle steering itself without input, veering hard left or right and forcing them to wrestle back control. Complaints of steering wheel wobbling or acting "notchy" and difficult to keep in lane are common.
When using Autopilot or Full Self-Driving, the vehicle drifts or actively steers across lane markings into oncoming traffic without warning. This happens on highways where lane definitions are unclear or non-standard—the car fails to recognize double yellow lines or exits and tries to follow what isn't there. Owners report no warning alerts before these dangerous deviations occur.
Several owners also describe the vehicle moving backward when placed in Drive or accelerating when they press the brake pedal at highway speed. One documented case shows symmetric failure of both front lower control arm bushings at only 19,373 miles, far earlier than typical wear patterns.
Service centers have often failed to duplicate failures or identify causes. One owner was told the backward-motion problem was "engineering/software" with no solution offered. Multiple owners report steering failures alongside simultaneous losses of power brakes, traction control, and stability control—dangerous cascading system failures. A few owners have been injured in crashes they attribute to these steering malfunctions.
Same Tesla Model 3 steering reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of steering control and power steering failure
Steering input becomes unresponsive or the vehicle steers itself without driver input, sometimes accompanied by inability to control vehicle direction. Power steering fails abruptly during driving or at speed, making the wheel very heavy and difficult to turn. In severe cases, steering wheel locks in a fixed position.
When: Reported across various mileages (4,400 to 50,000 miles); incidents occur both during active driving and at low speeds. Some occur shortly after service visits.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes unresponsive to driver input; Vehicle steers hard left or right without driver command; Steering wheel locks in place and cannot be turned; Power steering fails suddenly; wheel becomes very heavy to turn; Steering wheel wobbles and then acts normal again; Heavy, notchy steering; difficult to stay in lane; 'Steering assist reduced' warning message; Steering becomes stiff and unresponsive
Codes mentioned: Steering assist reduced, Power steering failure
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports steering rack replacement under warranty. Another owner was told front steering alignment control arm adjustment was needed but failure recurred two days later; mechanic could not duplicate failure on return visit. One owner's complaint documents that full steering console replacement is required due to electrical and hydraulic issues.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Tesla service center in one case examined vehicle with video evidence of backward-driving behavior but could not identify cause; told owner it was an engineering/software problem. Another service center refused to service vehicle, claiming owner 'canceled' appointment (owner disputes this). Some owners report Tesla told them nothing is wrong or could not duplicate failure.
Unintended lane deviation and ADAS/lane-keeping system failures
Vehicle drifts out of lane or actively steers across lane markings into oncoming traffic while in Autopilot or Full Self-Driving mode. Lane-keeping and lane departure avoidance features fail to maintain proper lane position on highways, particularly on roads with irregular lane markings or during turns. System does not provide warnings before crossing double yellow lines.
When: Occurs during highway driving at speeds of 40–75 mph, often on freeway sections with standard or non-standard lane markings. Incident #6 involves PCH with bright daylight and glare conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle veers or drifts across lane lines without warning; Car attempts to cross double yellow lines into oncoming traffic; Unintended lane swerve, diverge, or exit attempts when lane definitions change (e.g., exit ramps, non-standard lane widths); Sudden lane deviation requiring forceful manual steering to avoid collision; No warning chimes, error messages, or 'Take Over Immediately' alerts prior to deviation; Lane Departure Avoidance features unavailable
Codes mentioned: Lane Departure Avoidance features unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: Owner in incident #6 reports attempting 'Clear Calibration' and system resets with no resolution. One owner (#21) reported that Tesla service admitted they did not complete alignment of tires after a tire change, and the automatic lane correction mechanism uses alignment to gauge whether to correct; this led to the car pulling hard to the right and jumping a curb.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Incident #19 owner credits Tesla FSD for doing what it was supposed to do on a particular highway where lane markings were not clearly striped. No other manufacturer responses documented.
Unintended acceleration or reverse motion
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly or moves backward when set to Drive mode. In one case, vehicle accelerated at high speed when driver depressed brake pedal while following another vehicle at highway speed.
When: Reported from December 2022 onward. Reverse-driving incidents occur when car is placed in Drive after backing up (e.g., on driveway or parking situations). One incident (#9) occurred at 4,400 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle moves backward when shifted into Drive; Repeated backward motion even after stopping with brake pedal engaged; Vehicle accelerates instead of decelerating when brake pedal is pressed; Backward motion occurs multiple times on same driveway spot
Repairs/costs cited: One owner provided Tesla service center with multiple videos and timestamps documenting backward-driving behavior in December 2022; service center could not identify cause or propose repair and commented it was an engineering/software problem. Owner (#5) states service center said nothing could be done and refused to service vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service center in incident #5 told owner the backward-driving problem was an 'engineering and/or software problem' but offered no repair or solution. Incident #3 owner reported issue with video examples to Tesla repair center; they examined it but did not find cause, and behavior recurred after visit.
Multiple system failures and loss of power assistance
Simultaneous or cascading failures of steering, braking, traction control, stability control, and parking brake systems. Vehicle loses power steering and power brakes while at highway speed, accompanied by multiple warning messages and loss of regenerative braking capability.
When: Incident #8 occurred while driving at 70 mph; incident #16 at 75 mph with failure mileage approximately 5,300 miles. Incident #13 documents confirmed case at unspecified mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering assist reduced; Traction control disabled; Stability control disabled; Parking brake functions degraded; Power steering failure; Power brakes failure; Regenerative braking not working; Speedometer reads 0 while driving at highway speed; ABS pulsating when brakes applied; Multiple error messages on touchscreen simultaneously
Codes mentioned: Steering assist reduced, Traction control disabled, Stability control disabled, Parking brake functions degraded, Left front fender camera blocked or blinded, Autopilot safety/convenience features unavailable
Repairs/costs cited: Incident #13 owner states full steering console replacement is required due to electrical and hydraulic issues in steering system and battery system. Incident #16 owner was diagnosed with needing front steering alignment control arm adjustment; repair was performed but failure recurred two days later, and mechanic could not duplicate failure on return visit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer responses documented for these cases.
Lower control arm bushing premature wear and failure
Visible tearing and separation of rubber bushing material from inner metal sleeve on both left and right front lower control arms in symmetric, bilateral pattern. Failure occurred at mileage well below the commonly cited wear range, suggesting accelerated failure mode.
When: Incident #15 identified at 19,373 miles on April 25, 2026; well below the 40,000–70,000 mile range commonly cited for this wear pattern on Model 3.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible tearing of front lower control arm bushings on both sides; Rubber bushing material separated from inner metal sleeve; Bilateral failure in identical pattern on left and right sides
Repairs/costs cited: Third-party tire shop inspection documented with photos. Vehicle scheduled for Tesla service center evaluation under remaining factory warranty.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
At low/no speed, turning the steering wheel to the extreme left or right produces a low-end creaking noise as if something is rubbing.
Had steering trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Tesla Model 3?
It's a meaningful issue. 31 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 31 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 21,675 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/2022/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.