NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened a preliminary evaluation covering approximately 1.2 million Tesla vehicles — 2018-2020 Model 3 and 2021-2023 Model Y — over reports that the front lower lateral link can detach while driving, potentially causing loss of steering control.
The probe follows 156 owner complaints; a detached link leaves the vehicle undrivable and requiring a tow, and most complaints report no advance warning, though a few drivers noted unusual noises just before the failure.
NHTSA says it is not currently aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities tied to the alleged defect, and this preliminary evaluation is the first step that could lead to a broader engineering analysis or recall.