DETROIT - U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla's Model Y SUV after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the probe covers an estimated 120,000 vehicles from the 2023 model year.The agency says in both cases the Model Ys were delivered to customers with a missing bolt that holds the wheel to the steering column.
A friction fit held the steering wheels on, but they separated when force was exerted while the SUVs were being driven.The agency says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that both incidents happened while the SUVs had low mileage on them.Low-angle view of the facade of Tesla Motors dealership with logo and sign in Pleasanton, California, July 23, 2018. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) In one complaint filed with NHTSA, an owner said he was driving with his family on Route 1 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, when the steering wheel suddenly came off on Jan.
29, five days after the vehicle was purchased. The owner wrote that there were no cars behind him, and he was able to pull toward the road divider.
There were no injuries."It was horrible experience, I was driving back from mall with family and in middle of freeway steering wheel fell off," said Prerak Patel. "I was on left lane when this happened, I can’t move my car to left or right. "However I was lucky that road was straight and able to stop my car at the divider."Messages were left seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.At first a Tesla service center gave Patel a cost estimate of $103.96 to repair the problem.