U.S. regulators open investigation into Tesla after steering wheels detached from moving vehicles

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an probe into Tesla aft it received 2 complaints that steering wheels detached successful 2023 Model Y vehicles portion radical were driving. 

The preliminary valuation covers much than 120,000 vehicles, according to an bureau filing. 

Shares of Tesla were down 3% successful premarket trading Wednesday.

Both incidents occurred astatine debased conveyance mileage, and some cars received an extremity of enactment repair requiring removal and reinstallation of the steering wheel. Regulators said the steering wheels came disconnected erstwhile the unit exerted connected them overcame the absorption of the friction acceptable portion the cars were successful motion. 

"Both vehicles were delivered to the owners missing the retaining bolt which attaches the steering instrumentality to the steering column," the NHTSA said.

The probe volition measure the "scope, frequency, and manufacturing processes associated with this condition," the bureau said.

Tesla did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

In 1 ailment filed with the NHTSA, a operator said helium bought his Model Y connected Jan. 24, and that the steering instrumentality fell portion helium was driving it with his household successful Woodbridge, New Jersey connected Jan. 29.

He said helium was "lucky" determination was nary car down him and that helium was capable to propulsion connected the divider, according to a tweet helium included successful the complaint.

In a follow-up tweet, the operator said helium "lost trust" successful Tesla and did not consciousness harmless driving his car home. He aboriginal said the Tesla dealership called him and apologized, and the operator shared a photograph of a replacement Model Y that helium received connected Feb. 23.

The probe into Tesla is simply a archetypal measurement earlier the NHTSA could request a conveyance recall.