The US Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration has opened a probe into Tesla’s 2023 Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y after a number of complaints concerning the automobile’s steering controls.
A “preliminary analysis” of the issue started on July 28, in line with a submitting on the administration’s web site. Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y homeowners have submitted a dozen complaints associated to lack of steering management and energy steering, with 5 studies indicating an incapacity to steer the automobile.
The investigation will look into the difficulty and decide if it impacts the estimated 280,000 Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y autos. Each fashions are entry-level EVs, with the Mannequin 3 beginning off at a little bit greater than $40,000 and the Mannequin Y beginning at simply over $47,000.
Tesla did not instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the investigation.
This is not the primary inquiry the NHTSA has launched into Tesla. The company has opened greater than 40 particular crash investigations into accidents suspected of being linked to the carmaker’s self-driving software program, Autopilot, with the newest crash taking place in mid-July. Final 12 months, the NHTSA upgraded its investigation into Autopilot, transferring a step nearer to launching a recall, and the company is ready for up to date solutions from Tesla. The NHTSA final 12 months additionally regarded into studies of “phantom braking” — Tesla autos randomly slamming on the brakes when Autopilot was engaged. The company has but to publish outcomes from that investigation.
Tesla continues to dominate the EV automobile market within the US. Nonetheless, the corporate has been accused of overestimating its autos’ driving ranges and of hiding complaints concerning the ranges. A Reuters investigation discovered that the corporate has used algorithms to show an aggressive variety of miles a automobile can drive on a single battery cost, whereas additionally having an inner crew devoted to canceling service requests by automobile homeowners who had complaints.