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Tesla Model S and X can lose power steering assist

NHTSA campaign 22V818000 · Reported 2022-11-01 · Tesla, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

Serious enough to handle promptly — steering still works but takes much more effort, which the notice says increases crash risk; the car is not on a do-not-drive order.

What's wrong, in plain English

Driving over rough pavement or hitting a pothole can knock out the power assist that makes the steering wheel easy to turn on these Model S and Model X cars. You can still steer, but the wheel becomes much harder to turn, especially at low speeds like parking or tight turns. If it happens suddenly, you may not turn as quickly as you expect. Tesla fixes this with a free software update sent to the car over the air.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm your car is included.
2. Make sure your Tesla is connected to Wi-Fi and install any pending software update — the fix arrives over the air at no cost.
3. If the update has not reached your car, call Tesla at 1-877-798-3752 and reference recall SB-22-00-014.

Affected vehicles (1)

Who to contact

Tesla — official Tesla recall lookup

Customer service: 1-877-798-3752

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Official notice

Component
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Summary
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Safety risk
A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014. (over-the-air software update)

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.