2022 Tesla Model 3 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 39about this part
- Share
- 5%of 773 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 16,150miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 39 complaints about the steering of the 2022 Tesla Model 3, 5% of the 773 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 16,150 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“No problems prior to today. 22500 miles on vehicle. Delivered Nov 2021. Got in car to drive to work today, and power steering would not work. Error message on the car display stated there was a power steering failure. Put the car in park, waited about a minute, and tried again, and it worked. I see that there is a NHTSA investigation looking into this, so I wanted to let you know about it.”
NHTSA complaint #11550166, filed 2023-10“My wife had a collission on June 25th at 2 30PM CST while she was parking her vehicle in her office parking spot. The car suddenty sped and hit a tree. We suspect it be a misfire in Tesla.”
NHTSA complaint #11747194, filed 2026-06“The car's steering wheel locked unexpectedly, rendering the vehicle undrivable. Additionally, multiple alerts appeared, indicating that the car's hold feature, traction control, and steering assist were reduced. This issue occurred while the car was parked but still running. When I shifted into drive, the car unintentionally rolled backward, forcing me to press the brake pedal to prevent a collision. If this had happened while driving, it could have resulted in a serious accident.”
NHTSA complaint #11629438, filed 2024-12“Louisiana 425 North. Inside lane. Yellow line remained solid on my left. There wer no striped lines for the car to follow to continue straight as we approached on Full self driving. At highway speed the car veered into the turn lane. I immediately took control and prevented encountering the embankment. Dangerous situation. Tesla did what it was supposed to do. Louisiana highway engineers not so much. I have never encountered this in any of the other six states I have driven in. …”
NHTSA complaint #11548278, filed 2023-10“The steering wheel locked up while I was driving. I was driving on a country road and the road didn't have any painted lane stripes and the car got a lane departure warning and the steering wheel pull me hard to the left, I almost got out of the road and on the way of a incoming vehicle, I break and pulled hard to the right and managed to pull to the side. When I got into a complete stop I checked all the settings, I turned off the late departure Assistant and the steering wheel was still locked. …”
NHTSA complaint #11591981, filed 2024-06Related recalls
- 23V085000Feb 15, 2023Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta…Covers: Tesla Model 3 2017–2023, Model X 2016–2023, Model S 2016–2023 +1 more
- 22V037000Jan 27, 2022Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality…Covers: Tesla Model 3 2017–2022, Model X 2016–2022, Model S 2016–2022 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10247387Oct 11, 2023On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the steering wheel cover material may separate from the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position (Figures 1 and 2). NOTE: The…
- 10245512Oct 11, 2023On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the steering wheel cover material may separate from the steering wheel at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock position (Figures 1 and 2). NOTE: The…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 24% |
| 2025 | 27 | 22% |
| 2024 | 39 | 18% |
| 2023 | 88 | 21% |
| 2022 | 39 | 5% |
| 2021 | 28 | 4% |
| 2020 | 47 | 10% |
| 2019 | 54 | 9% |
| 2018 | 83 | 8% |
| 2017 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2022 Tesla Model 3
535 complaintsVehicle speed control
171 complaintsBrakes
169 complaintsOther or unknown
94 complaintsElectrical system
60 complaintsLane departure
45 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
23 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
13 complaintsWheels
13 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsSeats
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2022 Tesla Model 3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology