Tesla is recalling more than 376,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. due to a potential power steering problem that could increase the risk of a crash. According to a recall report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on February 19, the affected vehicles may experience a loss of power steering assistance under certain conditions.
The recall applies to certain 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that were manufactured with a software version prior to 2023.38.4. Tesla stated that the issue occurs when the vehicle comes to a stop and then accelerates again, potentially triggering an “overstress condition” in the printed circuit board for electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS).
NHTSA warned that losing power steering assist could make steering more difficult, particularly at lower speeds, increasing the chance of an accident. However, Tesla emphasized that the problem has not resulted in any reported crashes, injuries, or deaths.
The recall affects a total of 376,241 vehicles, but Tesla reassured customers that its design prevents the loss of EPAS while driving above 0 mph.
The company also noted that manual steering remains available even if power steering assistance is lost when the vehicle is stopped. Despite believing that this does not pose an unreasonable safety risk, Tesla decided to issue a recall to prevent confusion among customers after a regulatory decision in a non-U.S. market called for a remedy.
Tesla began rolling out a free over-the-air software update to fix the issue in October 2023. As of January 23, 2025, 99% of the affected vehicles in the U.S. had already received the update. Owners do not need to take their vehicles to a dealership and can expect to receive official recall notifications in the mail by late March.
