Which Tesla Model S years have the most steering problems?

By count, 2023 leads, but most of its excerpts name a Model Y. The 2021 year is the clearest Model S problem, with a high rate for the number sold, and 2020 also shows a cluster. The 2024 and 2025 years have few complaints mainly because they are newer.

Is it safe to drive a Model S with a steering assist warning?

Owners describe the wheel becoming very hard to turn, and some had crashes or needed a tow. The data does not say it is safe to keep driving. Treat the warning as a reason to stop somewhere safe and have the car inspected.

Is there a recall for Model S steering problems?

Yes. Recall 22V818000 covers loss of power steering assist on 2017-2021 Model S and Model X, with a free over-the-air update. Recall 23V743000 covers a possibly wrong air bag after a yoke or wheel swap on 2021-2024 cars. Check the VIN for current status.

How much does Model S steering repair cost?

Owners report a $387 diagnosis fee, a $2,500 quote for a steering rack out of warranty, $3,000 for a squeak repair, and $5,600 for a steering column. Recall remedies listed above are free. Costs vary, so get a written quote.

Do Autopilot and Full Self-Driving cause these steering problems?

Some complaints involve Autopilot or Full Self-Driving swerving or leaving the lane, especially on 2021 through 2025 cars. Other owners say both features were off. The data does not establish one cause, so assess both kinds of reports.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Tesla Model S Steering Problems

Tesla Model S steering complaints center on sudden loss of power assist, leaving the wheel stiff or locked, with the worst clusters in 2021 and 2023.

Owner complaints: 513
Share of all complaints: 11%
Crash / fire / injury reports: 75 / 8 / 51
Related recalls: 5

Model S steering complaints by model year

The 2023 model year has the most steering complaints by count, though most of its excerpts name a Model Y, so the Model S share is unclear. The 2021 year is the clearest Model S problem, with a high filing rate for the number sold. The 2020 year also has a notable cluster. The 2018 and 2019 years have few complaints. The 2022 year has a low rate but still includes serious crash and fire reports. The 2024 and 2025 years show fewer complaints mostly because they have had less time on the road, so they should not be read as safer.

2018
17 · 5.7/10k sold
2019
11 · 7.6/10k sold
2020
54 · 26.6/10k sold
2021
117 · 101.2/10k sold
2022
46 · 5.1/10k sold
2023
239 · 89.5/10k sold
2024
22 · 13.8/10k sold
2025
7 · 7.6/10k sold

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA under steering. Newer model years have had less time to collect complaints.

What goes wrong

The most common report is a wheel that suddenly gets heavy or locks. A "steering assist reduced" message often appears, sometimes after the problem has already started. Owners describe it happening at parking-garage speeds and at highway speeds. Others report the car pulling to one side on its own, or the wheel turning without the front tires following. Some drivers say a squeak, creak or rattle when turning came first.

This is a safety problem, not a nuisance. Steering is about 11% of all Model S complaints, and many filings in this area involve crashes. Owners report hitting curbs, guardrails, medians, trees and walls, and some reports mention injuries or fire. Several say the brakes failed at the same moment. A few cars were towed after the warning, including one under 20 days old. One caution on the data: for the newest years, many excerpts name the Model Y or Model X, so not every filing describes a Model S.

Symptoms owners report

Power assist drops out

A "steering assist reduced" or "steering assist is reduced" warning appears and the wheel becomes very hard to turn. Owners report it at highway speed and in parking garages. In some cases the warning comes only after the wheel has already stiffened.

Wheel locks without warning

The wheel locks or stiffens with no warning light. One 2022 owner describes about 3 seconds of lockup during a slow right turn. A 2021 owner restarted the car twice before steering returned to normal.

Uncommanded steering movement

The car veers or the wheel moves on its own, sometimes with Autopilot or Full Self-Driving on and sometimes with them off. Reports include pulls toward walls, medians and adjacent lanes, and a wheel that turns without the front tires moving.

Brakes fail at the same time

Several 2021 drivers say braking also failed while the wheel locked. Cars hit guardrails, medians and a semi. One 2018 report adds that emergency braking and stability control dropped out along with power assist.

Suspension links and noises

On 2020 cars, front suspension links and control arms tear or break, with creaking, rattling or tearing noises when turning or backing out. Some owners needed the repair more than once. Some 2019 owners report a loud squeak when turning.

Steering wheel controls fail

The cable harness inside the 2018 steering wheel can fail, disabling the horn, buttons and scroll wheels, and possibly the airbag. Newer reports describe a turn-signal button that works only intermittently, and a horn that is hard to find in an emergency.

When the problems start

Owners rarely give mileage, so the pattern is thin. One 2019 Model S Performance lost power assist at about 5,000 miles. Suspension link and control arm failures on 2020 cars tend to show up near 40,000 miles. A 2021 owner was 4,000 miles past warranty when the lockup happened. A 2025 car needed a tow when it was under 20 days old, so steering faults are not limited to high-mileage cars.

Repairs and recalls

Owners report mixed results at service. A 2021 owner paid $387 for diagnosis, and another was told a steering rack could cost $2,500 out of warranty. A 2019 squeak repair was quoted at $3,000 and a steering column at $5,600. Some 2024 owners say service declined repair because no fault code was stored. Federal recall records list recall 22V818000 for 2017-2021 Model S and Model X, covering loss of power assist on rough roads or after a pothole, fixed by a free over-the-air software update. Recall 23V743000 covers 2021-2024 Model S and Model X where the wrong air bag may have been installed after a yoke or wheel swap. Tesla inspects and replaces the driver air bag free.

Model years	Campaign	Problem
2021, 2023, 2024	23V743000	Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke…
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…
2022, 2023	23V385000	Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Model Y vehicles. The steering wheel fastener may be loose.
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…
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021	22V818000	Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after…

Checking a used Model S for steering problems

Enter the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup and confirm recalls 22V818000 and 23V743000 show as completed if they apply to that car.
Ask whether the steering wheel or yoke was ever swapped for a different style, and confirm the driver air bag was checked.
Drive over rough pavement and slow turns, and watch for any "steering assist reduced" message or sudden stiffness.
Turn the wheel lock to lock while stopped and moving, and listen for creaks, squeaks or rattles from the front end.
Press the horn and every steering wheel button and scroll wheel. Confirm the turn signal works every time.
Ask for service records showing steering rack, column or front suspension link repairs, and any repeat visits for the same fault.

5 steering recalls cover the Tesla Model S. A VIN check shows whether the car you're looking at had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.

Look Up a VIN →