Federal safety regulators are investigating about 1.2 million Tesla vehicles. The concern is a suspension part that can suddenly break while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the failure can cause a driver to lose steering control.
If you own a 2018-2020 Model 3 or a 2021-2023 Model Y, this is worth paying attention to. Most drivers who reported the problem got no warning. A few said they heard strange noises from the front of the car right before it failed.
What NHTSA Found, and What to Watch For
The agency opened its investigation after receiving 156 complaints. Drivers said a part called the front lower lateral link detached while they were driving. That part helps hold the front suspension in place. Once it detaches, drivers lose the ability to steer, and the car needs a tow. NHTSA says it isn’t aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths tied to the issue so far.
This isn’t the first time Tesla has dealt with this exact part. The company recalled about 2,800 Model 3 vehicles in 2021 for a similar issue. It recalled 422 more in 2023. A production problem caused both. NHTSA says the new cases go beyond those two recalls. They don’t appear to share the same cause. It’s a notable gap for a company that keeps pushing ambitious engineering elsewhere, including a steering-wheel-free design for its upcoming Cybercab.
NHTSA hasn’t ordered a recall yet. This is only the first stage of NHTSA’s review process. The agency still needs to figure out how widespread and serious the problem actually is. Tesla hasn’t commented publicly on the investigation.
If you drive an affected Model 3 or Model Y, listen for clunking or knocking near the front end. Loose-feeling steering is also worth checking out. Get it looked at by Tesla service sooner rather than later. Keep an eye out for updates from NHTSA in case this turns into an official recall.