2023 Tesla Model 3 Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

83Steering complaints

20.2%Of all 411 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL107 · 26%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING95 · 23.1%

STEERING83 · 20.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL64 · 15.6%

Unspecified / other56 · 13.6%

Share of the 411 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2023 Tesla Model 3 overview page.

What owners report

“I took delivery of the Tesla Performance Model 3 on June 15th, 2023. Two weeks later, the car is giving me issues. Today while driving…”NHTSA complaint 11530026 — filed 07/02/2023

“Car steering felt stuck and slid off the road which resulted in crashing into a tree. Tesla features did not help stay in the lane…”NHTSA complaint 11520831 — filed 05/07/2023

“Power steering failure. Vehicle became extremely difficult to turn while moving. Was unable to turn wheel while stopped. Restarted car and power steering came back…”NHTSA complaint 11520582 — filed 05/05/2023

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2023 Tesla Model 3 have steering problems?

Steering is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2023 Tesla Model 3: 83 of 411 complaints on file (20.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2023 Tesla Model 3 have in total?

411 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 70 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 49 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.