Here's another quality control issue for the American EV maker.
Tesla has issued a recall for 137 units of the hot-selling Model Y, manufactured between 2022 and 2023. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents the issue through a report that stipulates a potential issue with the electric crossover's steering wheel.
The investigation was launched in response to complaints from two Model Y owners who reported the steering wheel detaching while on the road. One happened in January of this year when a freshly delivered Model Y had the incident while on the highway, prompting Tesla to replace the car as a “gesture of goodwill” to the inconvenienced customer, but only once the incident had gone viral on social media.
Despite this, Tesla refused to issue a recall, which Nissan did in March when the Ariya faced similar issues.
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It seems like the tide has changed as Tesla agreed to issue a recall. According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, it was discovered that both vehicles were delivered to their owners without the necessary retaining bolt that secures the steering wheel to the steering column. The recall has been prompted by concerns that the fastening mechanism of the steering wheel may not be adequately tightened, leading to potential separation from the steering column.
While the recall report failed to recognize the infamous incident in January, another incident involving a Tesla service technician was documented. The technician noticed the loose steering wheel during a car seat repair on May 4 and promptly reported it. From May 5-19, Tesla conducted onsite quality inspections, reviewing service and production records for the affected vehicle and those from all of its factories.
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Fortunately, there have been no reported accidents related to this issue thus far. Nevertheless, Tesla will be offering free inspections and reinforcement to 137 vehicles. Users can avail of these services at Tesla service centers as needed.
The Model Y has already been subject to several recalls this year. In February, the company was required to issue a recall for nearly 363,000 vehicles due to concerns regarding its Full Self Driving software. Tesla CEO Elon Musk disputed the use of the term “recall” in this context, as the issue could be resolved through an over-the-air software update without requiring physical repairs at service centers. Last year, over 320,000 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y units were recalled due to busted taillights.
All these issues come off the heels of a recent report that the Tesla Model Y is now the best-selling car in the world.
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Keyword: Tesla FINALLY Recalls Model Y For Steering Wheels Falling Off