2014 Tesla Model S Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 27about this part
- Share
- 7%of 367 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the steering of the 2014 Tesla Model S, 7% of the 367 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“We were driving down the highway, and the steering would stop working ( hitting uneven road or switching lanes). I did not have control of the car. Meaning in certain areas of the road, there was absolutely no control. It was as if the power steering completely went out. In another area, it would work somewhat, and then we would hit another area and it would not work at all. When we informed the Tesla service center they replaced the screen ( because it had been melting) but said the steering was a tire issue. I assure you it was not. …”
NHTSA complaint #11408536, filed 2021-04, 21,000 miles“Dear sir, I bought a Tesla car from USA auction and imported it from USA to my home country jordan. I contacted Tesla USA to change the ownership of the car to my account and it is done. I'm driving my car for +2 years now. Tesla USA sent me an email and mail letter stating that my car has recalls. When I visited Tesla jordan to repair the recall; they refused to repair the recalls; claiming that my car is not supported due to old accident history (while the car was in USA);;; even though the accident history is repaired by Tesla USA. …”
NHTSA complaint #11317366, filed 2020-03, 25,000 miles“I bouht the car in may, 2018. And now I have some problems with steering. I feel that steering not working like it should. It getting hard to steer time to time.”
NHTSA complaint #11156377, filed 2018-12, 10 miles“It's about 8:18 on saturday, march 2nd, drizzle. I was driving from freeway 56 west to south highway 5. After merge to 5 freeway, I felt the tires slip, then the car suddenly unintended accelerated and steering wheel failed, car whirled at high speed bump into the left side of freeway guard wall, continued to be accelerated spin crossed four lanes hit on to the right guard wall, spin another half circle then stop on emergency lane. Luckily, no other car was involved, I was not hurt at all, except that the car could not drive. By that time the car show 'stability control disabled' see picture. …”
NHTSA complaint #11185150, filed 2019-03, 83,977 miles“Broken front coil springs occurred while vehicle was sitting in the driveway. It appears the driver and passenger side failed at the same time. Tire came in contact with wheel liner. No previous indication of a problem before failure steering universal joint went over time where the steering wheel would have to be turned with force when coming out of a turn.”
NHTSA complaint #11376504, filed 2020-11, 55,000 milesRelated recalls
- 18V204000Mar 29, 2018Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles equipped with Bosch steering racks. The aluminum bolts that attach the power…Covers: Tesla Model S 2012–2016
Related service bulletins
- 10208328Dec 10, 2021Some versions of Model S and X front drive unit halfshafts might cause excessive vibrations during hard acceleration at higher ride height settings. This is exclusively an NVH…
- 10203323Sep 21, 2021Some versions of Model S and X front drive unit halfshafts might cause excessive vibrations during hard acceleration at higher ride height settings. This is exclusively an NVH…
- 10153425Jan 11, 2019Long-term exposure to high-corrosion environments might weaken the bolts that attach the power steering motor to the steering rack housing.
- 10143008Apr 12, 2018Long-term exposure to high-corrosion environments might weaken the bolts that attach the power steering motor to the steering rack housing.
- 10057889Feb 25, 2015Tesla motors inc 2014-2015 model s: certain vehicles, with the lh halfshaft, might contact power steering harness, resulting in an alert message on the instrument cluster. *lj…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 4 | 11% |
| 2023 | 21 | 18% |
| 2022 | 21 | 15% |
| 2021 | 29 | 16% |
| 2020 | 10 | 13% |
| 2019 | 4 | 9% |
| 2018 | 15 | 9% |
| 2017 | 47 | 11% |
| 2016 | 87 | 13% |
| 2015 | 51 | 8% |
| 2014 | 27 | 7% |
| 2013 | 29 | 6% |
| 2012 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2014 Tesla Model S
133 complaintsSuspension
90 complaintsOther or unknown
83 complaintsExterior lighting
27 complaintsBody and structure
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsEngine
12 complaintsBrakes
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2014 Tesla Model S
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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