2020 Tesla Model Y Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 26about this part
- Share
- 9%of 283 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 1,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 26 complaints about the steering of the 2020 Tesla Model Y, 9% of the 283 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 1,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“Driving south on i5 in sacramento at 55-60 MPH with auto-steer engaged, the car suddenly veered to the left. To avoid sideswiping the car in that lane I steered to the right. The system tried to steer to the left again, but I forcibly steered to the right.. Swerving back and forth, this continued for about 50 yards until I was able to bring the car under control. Fortunately, no one was in the right lane or I would have collided with it. This may have been caused by the absence of lane markings in a construction zone.”
NHTSA complaint #11366001, filed 2020-10, 750 miles“Automatic vehicle hold disabled. Regenerative braking disabled. Traction control disabled. Stability control disabled.steering assist reduced. I was turned 360 degrees when trying to turn left. Car was sliding during drive.”
NHTSA complaint #11396845, filed 2021-02, 4,932 miles“While driving on the freeway was unable to steer. It has happens multiple times. Once on the freeway while I was trying to exit, I suddenly couldn’t steer. Another time, I was merging when again I could not move the steering wheel. The third time was when I was in the middle of making a left turn. All these situations were incredibly dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #11613660, filed 2024-09“Steering became difficult to turn to the right with the wheel sticking to the right when trying to turn or drive the vehicle. Tesla claims we had some kind of a large impact. Maybe a pothole. Tesla claims well this is a heavy vehicle. Out of no where we had to replace the entire steering rack. I've never had to replace an entire steering rack for a pothole. Seems ridiculous.”
NHTSA complaint #11660602, filed 2025-05“We were driving on a highway and suddenly we got a red steering weel image with a sharp noise and a warning message something about automatic emergency braking disable and we can't use a cruise control feature. I don't feel safe to drive. Tesla can't tell me when it will be fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #11491895, filed 2022-11Related 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 Y 2020–2023, 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 Y 2020–2022, 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…
- 10203342Jul 2, 2021On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface…
- 10184232Nov 12, 2020On certain Model Y vehicles, the Front Upper Control Arm (FUCA) to steering knuckle fastener for both LH and RH sides of the front suspension might be loose, or the FUCA to…
- 10174932Apr 29, 2020On some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, the upper steering column bolt may not be installed according to internal specifications, which could cause excessive play between the…
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2020 Tesla Model Y
108 complaintsOther or unknown
58 complaintsBrakes
37 complaintsVehicle speed control
37 complaintsLane departure
32 complaintsSuspension
31 complaintsElectrical system
28 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
18 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsWheels
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Tesla Model Y
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