Last updated: 2026-10-10
Tesla Model 3 Steering Problems
Worn control arms, lost power steering assist, and sudden uncommanded steering drive Tesla Model 3 steering complaints, some ending in crashes.
- Owner complaints
- 356
- Share of all complaints
- 9%
- Crash / fire / injury reports
- 57 / 4 / 27
- Related recalls
- 2
Model 3 steering complaints by model year
The 2018 and 2023 model years have the most steering complaints, at 71 and 83. The 2018 car also has the highest rate per car sold, while 2023 carries the largest number of crash reports. The 2019 and 2020 years sit in the middle, and 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 have fewer. The 2025 count is low partly because those cars have had little time on the road, and 2026 has no complaints yet because it is too new to judge. Older years lean toward suspension wear. Newer years lean toward power steering loss and sudden steering inputs.
- 201871 · 5.1/10k sold
- 201951 · 3.2/10k sold
- 202043 · 2.1/10k sold
- 202124 · 2/10k sold
- 202229 · 1.5/10k sold
- 202383 · 3.6/10k sold
- 202434 · 2.4/10k sold
- 202521 · 1.2/10k sold
- 20260
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under steering. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.
What goes wrong
Steering trouble on the Model 3 comes in two forms. One is front suspension wear you feel through the wheel: clunking, creaking, popping, and pulling to one side. Worn upper control arms are the usual cause in the older cars. The other is electronic. Power steering assist drops out, a "steering assist reduced" warning appears, and the wheel turns heavy or locks. A restart sometimes clears it, but reports say it can return.
The more serious reports involve sudden loss of control. Drivers describe the wheel jerking on its own, seizing mid-turn, or the car spinning on wet roads, often with no warning light. Many of these complaints involve crashes, and several involve injuries. Some happened with Autopilot or Full Self-Driving on, and others with no driver-assist feature in use. A control arm failure caused one wreck, and a wheel coming off was blamed in a fatal crash report. Several cars were towed or totaled, and steering racks and control arms can cost thousands of dollars to replace.
Symptoms owners report
Clunks and creaks when turning
A creak like a rusty hinge, or a clunk or pop over bumps, often traces to worn front upper control arms. Some owners also report squealing, binding, and pulling to one side that an alignment does not fix.
Power steering assist cuts out
A "steering assist reduced" warning appears and the wheel turns heavy or feels locked. A restart can clear it for a while. Some owners say it comes back, and a few cars were towed. Collision avoidance or Autopilot can switch off too.
Sudden uncommanded steering
The wheel jerks left or right on its own at highway or city speed, then seizes or goes heavy. Owners say the car crossed lanes or hit barriers and trees. Some say no driver-assist feature was on, and others had Autopilot or FSD engaged.
Spinning out on wet roads
Several owners say the car suddenly spun or lost steering on a wet highway while driving at a normal pace. In one case the car ahead in the same lane was not affected.
Suspension parts separating
The most serious 2020 reports describe ball joints popping apart, a control arm bolt shearing off the subframe, and a front wheel turned at an angle at low speed. Some owners heard clicking or clunking beforehand.
Sticking turn signal buttons
In 2024 and 2025 cars, many steering complaints are about turn signal buttons on the wheel that stick or ignore presses. Some owners say a replacement wheel did not help and service called it normal.
When the problems start
Control arm noise and replacements show up between about 29,000 and 55,000 miles, sometimes more than once. One creaking arm was heard at about 44,360 miles, just out of warranty. Power steering failure warnings appeared between about 43,272 and 52000 miles in 2020 cars, and as early as 22500 miles in a 2022 car. One 2021 car veered violently at 44,410 miles.
Repairs and recalls
Control arms are the most common repair owners mention, and some had them replaced more than once. One estimate for control arms, bushings, and a steering rack came to nearly $6000. A failed rack cost over $3,000 to replace in a 2021 car, and a water-damaged rack cost over $5,000 in a 2019 car. Federal recall records list two items. Recall 25V092000 covers certain 2023 cars with older software and a power steering circuit board fault, fixed by a free over-the-air update. Recall 23V085000 covers FSD Beta software on 2018 to 2023 cars, also with a free software update. Some owners say service called their faults normal or firmware.
| Model years | Campaign | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 25V092000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress… |
| 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 | 23V085000 | Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta… |
Checking a used Model 3 for steering problems
- Drive over bumps and turn the wheel at low speed with the radio off. Listen for clunks, creaks, or pops from the front end.
- Check for pulling to one side on a straight road. Ask whether an alignment fixed it.
- Ask for records of control arm, tie rod, or steering rack work, and whether the other side was replaced too.
- Look at the dash for steering or power steering warnings. Restart the car and check that the wheel turns normally.
- Confirm with Tesla that recall 25V092000 was completed on any 2023 car and the free software update was installed.
- Press every turn signal button on the wheel several times and confirm each one responds.
2 steering recalls cover the Tesla Model 3. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
Tesla Model 3 Steering Problems: common questions
- Which Tesla Model 3 years have the most steering problems?
- The 2018 and 2023 model years have the most steering complaints, at 71 and 83. The 2023 year also has the most crash reports. The 2025 year has few complaints, but it has had less time to collect them, so do not read that as safer.
- Is it safe to drive a Model 3 with a steering problem?
- It depends on the symptom. A creak or clunk from the front end should be inspected soon, since control arm failures have caused wrecks. A power steering warning, a locking wheel, or sudden pulling is a safety risk. Owners report crashes after these, so stop driving and get it checked.
- Is there a recall for Model 3 steering?
- Federal records list recall 25V092000 for certain 2023 Model 3 cars with software before 2023.38.4. A power steering circuit board can cause loss of assist after a stop. Tesla's remedy is a free over-the-air update. Recall 23V085000 covers FSD Beta software on 2018 to 2023 cars.
- How much does Model 3 steering repair cost?
- Owners report a steering rack replacement at over $3,000 in one 2021 car and over $5,000 in a 2019 car with water damage. One estimate for control arms, bushings, and a rack came to nearly $6000. One control arm wreck caused $8,365 in damage.
- Why does my Model 3 say steering assist reduced?
- Owners report this warning when power steering assist drops out, leaving a heavy wheel. A restart sometimes clears it, but some say it returned. Recall 25V092000 covers a related power steering fault on certain 2023 cars. Have a service center diagnose it, and do not ignore repeat warnings.
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
More on the Tesla Model 3
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