2016 Tesla Model S Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 87about this part
- Share
- 13%of 649 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 5,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 87 complaints about the steering of the 2016 Tesla Model S, 13% of the 649 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 5,000 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 3 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.
“Stiff steering wheel. Sporadically the steering wheel gets extremely stiff and making turns especially minor course adjustment very difficult on both directions. It maybe related to high speed but does happen when I drive about 30 - 40 miles an hour or even slower. It feels very dangerous because I just cannot make a smooth turn.”
NHTSA complaint #11208507, filed 2019-05, 60,000 miles“While pulling my car out of the garage driveway on 1/8/2021, heard a metal cranking noise and I wasn't able to turn the steering wheel to the left. After inspecting the wheel, noticed the front wheel on the driver side was touching/stuck the wheel liner. Scheduled a service appointment with Tesla and took the car to the Tesla service center today, they identified both front forelinks need to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #11387906, filed 2021-01, 27,750 miles“I had my wheel turned and I put the car in park, then I swiped my card to get into my parking garage. After I put the car back into drive my power steering assist failed and it was extremely difficult to turn the steering wheel. There have been multiple reports on power steering assist failures on the Tesla forum while making turns.”
NHTSA complaint #10995278, filed 2017-06, 12,000 miles“We were driving Tesla s northbound on highway 101 going from novato to petaluma, we were on auto steering when the driver (my son) saw the car merging strait on us, he tried to avoid the accident and swung to the left, but because it was on auto steering the steering wheel was blocked/stiff and at first he was not able to move it. It took him couple of seconds to realize it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11004372, filed 2017-07, 1,250 miles“I was backing up slowly, 1-3 MPH, and the front driver tire got buried in the back of the wheel well. I was only turning slightly, and the ground was relatively flat. There was no sound or anything, the car just stopped because the wheel was jammed in the wheel well. I came to find out the lower control arm/forelink had failed. It cracked and separated at the steering knuckle. Tesla was ok about fixing it, thank goodness the car is under warranty or it would have cost thousands to replace both sides for something that should never fail. …”
NHTSA complaint #11391126, filed 2021-02, 60,000 milesRelated 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 S 2016–2023, Model X 2016–2023, Model 3 2017–2023 +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 S 2016–2022, Model X 2016–2022, Model 3 2017–2022 +1 more
- 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…
- 10177030Jun 17, 2020Some Model S and Model X vehicles might exhibit stiff steering due to corrosion at the lower steering column I-shaft U-joint.
- 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.
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 2016 Tesla Model S
211 complaintsOther or unknown
150 complaintsElectrical system
149 complaintsVehicle speed control
81 complaintsBrakes
55 complaintsExterior lighting
49 complaintsForward collision avoidance
39 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
39 complaintsBody and structure
30 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
21 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsFuel system
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 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