2020 Tesla Model S Steering Problems

The contact owned a 2020 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and attempting to make a left turn, the vehicle lost stability and started to slide sideways and left the roadway. The contact stated that the vehicle left the roadway, slid down a ditch on the passenger side, and crashed into a telephone pole on the passenger side front door. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated, also she said that the road conditions were dry pavement. The contact stated that the police were on the scene and filed a report. The contact stated she was transported to a shock trauma unit by ambulance. The contact stated that she had broken her pelvis and had to have surgery to reconstruct the right side of the pelvis and replace the right hip joint. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,996.

NHTSA ID

11567180

Incident

Dec 31, 2023

Mileage

29,996 mi

Front linkages and half shafts have failed for the second time on the vehicle. They were replaced in Feb of 2022 and now (Nov. 2023) need the replacement again after normal driving conditions. Tesla service center adviser (Briarcliff Road in Atlanta) admitted that these parts fail frequently at this rate and need multiple replacements. If the parts fail, steering would be lost, potentially leading to loss of control of the vehicle. Tesla has published a service bulletin on the issue but charges a very high rate for the service. One service adviser claimed that the VIN of the vehicle does not meet the service bulletin [XXX] , though the service bulletin clearly states that all cars produced between 2014-2020 meet the criteria. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11557149

Incident

Nov 24, 2023

Error message popped on my screen steering might require extra force and shortly after that I lost power steering, cruise control, automatic emergency, braking, forward collision warning land departure etc. Contacted Tesla service to acquire about recalls since I remember reading about it.

NHTSA ID

11545828

Incident

Sep 18, 2023

This is a follow up to my previous complaint about corroded ground connections causing loss of power steering on Tesla Model Y. Having done more research it is certain that this problem affects all Tesla models. Here is a thread on the Tesla Motors Forum. [XXX] "Mar 28, 2023 #1 About 2 weeks ago, while reversing in my driveway, during a hard turn left, I lost power steering and received the service alerts "steering assist reduced" and "park assist unavailable." Took the vehicle to Tesla who diagnosed a $4200 steering rack. Declined the repair and paid only the required $200 diagnostic fee. Did some research online, and discovered the power steering motor ground was corroded, and upon my attempt at removal, it detached from the frame. I taped out a new, relocated, hole and resecured the ground with bolt and washers, I now have power steering again. I am a little upset that not only did Tesla mis-diagnose the problem, I paid them $200 for the bad diagnosis" Other owners chime in to say that the same thing happened to them. These owners are doing DIY repairs that will only fix the problem temporarily. This is an easily fixable problem. The ground connection for all safety critical items should be via a solid copper cable direct to the 12 Volt battery negative terminal and NOT via the car bodywork which has a mix of aluminum and steel that creates galvanic corrosion. Smearing grease on these parts is not a solution. Glitches on the 12 Volt system can also cause random intermittent glitches in all aspects of the car's systems including unintended acceleration. I am qualified in both mechanical and electronic engineering and what I am saying is not some Tesla hating conspiracy theory as has been claimed by some Musk followers. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11543293

Incident

Aug 31, 2023

Please note this is 2nd time in one year my axles being replaced due to vibrations and popping noise. They are also changing this to customer even know they installed wrong design axles previously. This should be still under drive train warranty which is 8 yers and u limited mileage

NHTSA ID

11492982

Incident

Nov 9, 2022

Front shaft shudder and vibration at high acceleration and this worst when it normal height or raise height. Design issues. Tesla know this issue for long time.

NHTSA ID

11449341

Incident

Dec 16, 2020

HERE IS A 2020 TERDSLA IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/39122553?TENANT=US&ROWNUMBER=5 IT IS LISTED AS HAVING BEEN STOLEN. I'M GUESSING THE THIEF DROVE IT LIKE HE STOLE IT. BAD MISTAKE TO DO THAT IN A TERDSLA. THE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. EVERY PART OF THE SUSPENSION HAS SNAPPED. THE CONTROL ARMS, STEERING ARM, STEERING KNUCKLE BALL JOINTS AND EVERY OTHER GIBLET HAS SNAPPED LIKE A CHOCOLATE FROG. I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO UPSET LORD ELON BUT WOULD YOU MIND AT LEAST ISSUING A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE TENT BUILT ELECTRIC JALOPIES. THAN YOU. KEEF.

NHTSA ID

11397458

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING ON 12/19 2020 ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOST POWER IN STEERING WHICH HE HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEN HE CONTACTED THE TESLA DEALER FOR TOW SERVICE FOR HIS CAR .THE CONTACT STATED HIS CAR WAS NOW AT TESLA DEALER AT DEDHAM,MASSACHUSETTE. THE FAILURE MILAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11384348

Incident

Dec 19, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TESLA MODEL S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING FROM HIS GARAGE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED STEERING ASSIST REDUCE, AUTOPILOT SAFETY CONVENIENCE FEATURE UNAVAILABLE AND PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HELPDESK FOR TESLA FOR HELP TO RESET THE SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITH THE SAME PREVIOUS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE HELPDESK AND WAS ABLE TO RESET THE SYSTEM AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TESLA (840 PROVIDENCE HWY, DEDHAM, MA 0202; (781) 471-3001), WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

NHTSA ID

11377510

Incident

Nov 12, 2020

Mileage

3,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ALL SCREENS FROZE AND THE CAR BECAME TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE, THE BRAKES WORKED BUT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 MIN THE CAR REBOOTED AND SYSTEMS CAME BACK ON LINE. TESLA SAYS THE USB MIGHT BE CORRUPTED AND CAUSED THE CPU TO HAVE A VERY HIGH USAGE. TESLA ALSO HAS NOT BEEN GOOD ON SERVICE MAKING ME DRIVE TWO HOURS TO GO PICK UP MY CAR. THEY SEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE CARE FOR THE UNSAFE SITUATION AND WERE VERY CAVALIER ABOUT THE ISSUE. I WORRY THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME.

NHTSA ID

11331735

Incident

Jun 19, 2020

Mileage

2,000 mi