2015 Tesla Model S Steering Problems

A few times the steering control has shut off while I am driving. Steering failure lasts a few seconds and then returns to normal function. The car makes a VERY loud alarm sound when the steering is inoperable. I have not seen any failure messages on the screen or in the Service menu. I took the car to Tesla for service yesterday. They did some sort of remote scan of the fault codes and told me that there is nothing wrong. They told me to continue to drive the car and record when the steering stops working again. This sounds like ridiculously bad advice to me. While the steering control has always returned in just a few seconds, that does not mean that it will in any future failure. I am concerned about driving this car. Tesla wants $275 an hour to investigate the problem, which also seems ridiculous to me. I have seen that there has been a recall for similar problems in newer Tesla Model S vehicles. It seems logical to me that these problems may be related and deserve additional investigation ... at Tesla's expense.

Steering: While driving today (7/5/2025), all of a sudden and without warning, "driver assist" (power steering) became disabled. Steering wheel immediately became heavy in the sense that it was extremely difficult to turn. Motor: Also, on 02/22/2024, while driving on the freeway at freeway speed, all of a sudden and without warning, the rear LDU (large drive unit) failed and the car became inoperable. At that time, the car had approximately 45k miles on it.

Electric power steering stopped working unexpectedly and making it very difficult to steer and drive safely.

While driving and mid-turn, 2 alerts were announced (park assist not available; steer assist reduced) and I immediately lost the ability to turn the steering wheel (it was 100% stiff) mid turn and was almost t-boned by a vehicle in on-coming traffic. I was able to make the turn widely and pull car to the side while blocking the only lane of traffic. I had ZERO warning and ZERO ability to turn the wheel even into a simple driveway. There was a parking lot near and I couldn't turn the wheel just to turn into it. This almost caused a huge accident which I could have been killed in. Luckily my children were not in the car. If the car can just stop working with no warning, it is not safe to drive in my opinion.

The universal joint that connects the steering to the wheels is exposed to the elements and causes the steering to be difficult and/or stop working.

This is the 3rd time a control arm on the car has cracked. I see tons of people online complaining about the same issue with the fault aluminum control arms. I have no damage and no rust and it just cracked on its on as i was backing out of a parking spot. I could have been seriously injured or my daughter had this happened on the highway. My dad is an issurance adjuster for 30 years and has never heard of any cars control arms cracking on their own. Please help as this is a huge safety issue and it seems Tesla has been putting the blame on the drivers. There was a grinding noise in reverse and the wheel was tilted inward. Multiple control arms have cracked in the car. A car that has no damage or accidents. This car is less than 10 years old and this doesn't happen with any other cars. It's a fault control arm part made out of cheap aluminum.

My car has intermittently given me the alert “steering assist decreased.” When this occurs, the wheel is a little stiff at street speed but drivable, but at very low speed, to park, for example, the wheel becomes nearly impossible to turn. It usually occurs when the car is already in motion. When the alert is not on, the steering is fine. It does seem to be happening more frequently since it first started about a month and a half ago. A Tesla technician looked at it today and stated the steering rack would have to be replaced as the power steering is what is impacted. I understand you already have an investigation ongoing into this problem.

The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the limited steering warning light illuminated, and the power steering was inoperable. The contact was able to take the next exit to find a safe location on the side of the roadway. The contact reset the computer and the power steering became operable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was being inspected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

the steering is hard to steer. I had to replace the i-shaft. It is dangerous to drive when it happens to you, I live in Wyoming and something needs to be done to stop these from going out, this is the second one I have had done since 11/11/21. I-SHAFT STEERING LINK - NON ISOLATOR - LOWER(1030622-00-A)

The issue began during the week of April 10, 2023. I started to experience significant steering wheel resistance in 90 degree intervals. My initial assumption was the power steering was starting to fail. The amount of force required to turn became progressively worse towards the latter half of the week. However, there were no warning lamps or messages indicating there were issues with the car. On the morning of Friday, April 14th after dropping my kids off at school, I was using the vehicle's Autopilot function while turning on an eastbound interstate on-ramp and noticed the car began to veer off course towards the concrete ramp barrier, forcing my to immediately grab the wheel to prevent a collision. It felt as if the wheel was stuck again at one of the 90 degree intervals mentioned above. I've driven this route countless times utilizing the feature and have never had an issue. It's worth noting that the resistance was felt regardless of whether or not the Autopilot feature was turned on. That afternoon I took my vehicle to the local Tesla service center and the representative immediately said it sounded as if the u-joint was going bad. They took the car in and had the part replaced within 24-hours. That evening I browsed numerous forums and learned this is a common issue due to the u-joint's lack of protection and exposure to the elements. I have never submitted a safety complaint before but the fear I experienced that morning combined with the lack of any warning lamps or notifications from the vehicle compelled me to share. I do believe this is a broader issue that needs to be reviewed.

This appears to be a common problem as seen in the forums. But suddenly my steering locks at intervals when turning. Feels like the power steering went out and is very jerky. Requires a lot of force to turn the wheel. Sticks and then is loose. Apparently cause by a steering column or Lower U-joint when exposed to salt roads in northern snow climates. Also it appears Tesla has replaced this part with a covering preventing this from rusting and filling up with dirt and grime. My car does not have this feature. Hopefully the car does not lose steering completely or fail before my next appointment on June 9th. I called roadside assistance and they said to try a reset. That didn’t work.

I have replaced the steering knuckle two separate times I-SHAFT STEERING LINK - NON ISOLATOR - LOWER(1030622-00-A) this makes is hard to steer and is dangerous. Tesla does not have an updated part for this. I have asked

when backing out of my garage, I heard some loud metal breaking sounds from the front of the car on the passenger side. I drove the car a short distance and heard grinding sounds ... at which point I had the car towed. The part that broke was one of the Fore Link Assembly parts (or else the Front Suspension Aft Link Assembly .... the Tesla service department replaced both) .... these are the components that control the direction of the right front wheel when turning. I will upload a picture of the parts that were replaced ... showing the broken part. To the best of my knowledge, there was no apparent precipitating cause for the failure.

The contact owns a 2015 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel stiffened while turning. There was a loud clanking sound while turning the steering wheel. The eMMC center display screen inadvertently turned off while the contact was driving. The eMMC screen was also slow to start up while starting the vehicle. The contact stated that the failures started after receiving the vehicle back from a collision repair shop. The vehicle was involved in a collision where another vehicle had crashed into the driver’s side door. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 115,480.

Today, I encountered what I now know to be a common problem with the U Joint in Steering Rack binding heavily at 45 degree, 90 degree, and 180 degree positions. This resulted in my steering wheel being stuck in position while driving and nearly caused me to crash into another vehicle today as a result. Luckily I was able to unbind the steering but it got really stiff. I drove to a safe area with steering continued to show binding/seizing behavior. I got a profession who inspected the U Joint and found a lot of debris. Teflon lubricant was applied and cleaned to their best ability but the part is really hard to reach and requires removal of the front drive unit for the dual motor cars. The binding is still occurring but not as strongly as before. This is already a flagged item and should be considered a recall. This issue could have killed someone today. The U Joint should have a boot over it and not be exposed to the elements. Posted below is a related bulletin for RWD Model S. I have a dual motor Model S so this issue is not only RWD S. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10177030-9999.pdf The steering U Joint issue is not something to take light hearted. I did not know the steering could potentially bind until it occurred and it was so sudden. With so many occurrences with other owners, there will be an increased chance someone may crash and cause injury to themselves or others. If this happens during a lane change, it can cause the steering to bind and in the wrong situation, a pedestrian can get killed. I beg for the NHTSA to take a deeper look and announce a recall. Please see other owners who have this issue: https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/steering-u-joint-lower-shaft-issue-and-my-solution-so-far.212604/ Thank you. Best Regards, James

While backing out of the driveway I heard a loud crack and grinding noise when turning the wheel to pull out into the street. Upon stopping a checking where the noise was coming I found that the left lower fore link completely sheared/ cracked off and the wheel was up against the back of the wheel well. ***The area where the wheel was backed up against (Completely tore the liner) has the cooling tubing (now leaking) & a high voltage wireline. This could've resulted in serious issues if we were traveling at higher speeds. Tesla has failed to reach out and call back regarding the issue and the vehicle is rendered completely useless/ undrivable. I've owned many vehicles and this is most certainly NOT NORMAL WARE AND TARE! This is a big safety issue and needs to be addressed ASAP. Thank god my family wasn't on the highway or any road above 5MPH when this happened. The damage would've been catastrophic.

PLEASE NOTE: THE VIN OF THE ACTUAL CAR THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS COMPLAINT IS UNAVAILABLE THEREFORE I HAVE USED THE VIN OF ANOTHER TESLA OF THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS SUBMISSION. THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT SUSPENSION FAILURES IN TESLAS. HERE IS A TESLA IN A SALVAGE AUCTION IN ENGLAND. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.CO.UK/LOT/37735131/CLEAN-TITLE-2015-TESL-MODEL-S-P8-WOLVERHAMPTON THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL AND SUSPENSION HAS BEEN WRENCHED OFF. NO AIR-BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED AND THERE IS NO IMPACT DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON THE BODYWORK. PHOTOGRAPHS ATTACHED WITH THIS SUBMISSION SHOW THE BROKEN SUSPENSION AND DETACHED WHEEL. I BELIEVE THAT THE CAUSE OF SO MANY TESLAS HAVING WRENCHED OFF WHEELS IS VERY SIMPLE. CIRCUMSTANCES CAN OCCUR IN WHICH FULL BRAKING IS APPLIED TO A WHEEL BUT THE MOTOR IS STILL AT FULL POWER. THE ELECTRONICS ARE NOT INFALLIBLE. GLITCHES CAN OCCUR. EVEN IF POWER TO THE MOTOR IS SHUT DOWN THERE IS STILL MASSIVE STORED ENERGY IN THE ROTOR OF THE HIGH RPM ELECTRIC MOTOR WHICH ACTS AS A MASSIVE FLYWHEEL. THE SUSPENSION LINKAGES ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE TORQUE WHICH IS THEN APPLIED. IT IS EVEN WORSE IF THE ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL PULSES THE BRAKES BECAUSE THIS THEN GIVES A HAMMER BLOW EFFECT. THIS FAILURE CAN AFFECT EITHER THE FRONT WHEELS OR THE REAR WHEELS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR CASES OF TORN-OFF WHEELS. YOU CAN SEE EXAMPLES HERE HTTPS://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/136377865@N05/ALBUMS/72157719033036968 PLEASE TAKE ACTION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT TESLA IS REFUSING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. *TR

PULLING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE TO CHARGE IT. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE I HEARD A LOUD POP NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL REFUSED TO TURN. ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL RESULTED IN A GRINDING NOISE THAT MADE THE CAR UNDRIVEBLE. AFTER A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, WE NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS SHIFTED BACKWARD AND WAS RESTING ON THE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELL LINER. THE AIR SUSPENSION CONTROLS WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO MOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND INSTEAD WERE LOCKED AT "VERY HIGH".

STEERING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WAS SOMEWHAT UNFAMILIAR TO ME, IT STAYED IN ONE LANE BUT WOULD WANDER MORE THAN I RECALLED. I ASSUMED IT WAS THE STUDDED SNOWTIRES (HAKKEPELLITA) AND PULLED OVER TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURES. I CAREFULLY DROVE ON TO THE SUPERCHARGER, NOTICED AS I BACAKED INTO THE SUPERCHARGER POSITION THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT, AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS COMPROMISED. DROVE HOME CAREFULLY, FOUND THE ELECTRIFIED GARAGE WHICH SPECIALIZED IN TESLA REPAIRS, IN SEABROOK, NH. THE TESLA WAS FLAT-BED TRANSPORTED TO THEM. THEY REPORTED THAT DURING THE MANY WEEKS THEY HAD IT, THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED TESLA CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, I CANCELLED A NEW 2020 MODEL S DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020, AND BOUGHT A NEW LEXUS INSTEAD. I WAS TOO UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE TESLA, AND THAT THE STEERING BOX SHOULD NOT FAIL IN 7,690 MILES SINCE NEW. I FOUND A SERVICE MESSAGE THAT DISCUSSED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE 5 POWER STEERING MOUNTING BOLTS. THEY CAME TO MY HOME TO REPLACE THEM. I LOOKED UP THE 38 PAGE SERVICE BULLETIN AND FOUND SEVERAL WARNINGS IN IT ABOUT NOT TAKING MORE THAN ONE BOLT OUT AT A TIME. SINCE THEY HAD COME TO MY HOME TO REPLACE THE BOLTS, I THEORIZED PERHAPS THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT FOLLOW THE BULLETIN CONTENT EXACTLY. BULLETIN WARNED THAT IF YOU REMOVE MORE THAN 1 BOLT AT A TIME YOU MUST REPLACE THE STEERING BOX. SEE BULLETIN SB-18-32-002 R1 (AND REVISION 2 AND REV. 3) . MINE IS SUBMODEL P85D (AWD) AND PLEASE NOTE FIRST VERSION OF THE BULLETIN AND REVISION 2, AND 3RD REVISION ARE DIFFERENT. THEY REFERENCE SERVICE MANUAL PROCEDURE 32010102 TO REPLACE THE STEERING BOX ON PAGE 4 OF SB 18-32-(001) SEE ALSO: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/POWER-STEERING-FALLING-APART.100951/ WHERE THE STEERING BOX/PS FAILURES ARE DISCUSSED BY TESLA OWNERS.

EARLIER TODAY I SENT IN A COMPLAINT ABOUT STEERING RACK/POWER STEERING QASSEMBLY FAILURE. I MADE AN ERROR ON THE TESLA SERVICE BULLETIN #. IT SHOULD HAVE READ CORRECTLY:SB-18-32-002 R3 JANUARY 11, 2019 (NOT SB-18-21-003) MY ERROR WAS IN SUGGESTING THE TSB LAST 3 DIGITS CHANGED FROM 001, 002, AND 003. THEY ARE ACTUALLY ALL SB-18-32-002 R1 (AND R2, AND R3) SB-18-32-002 R3 JANUARY 11, 2019 THE FINAL TSB HAS VERTICAL LINES ON THE LEFT MARGIN TO IDENTIFY THE REVISED NOTE SENTENCE. ADDITIONALLY, I ERRED IN THE BULLETIN CHANGING FROM 18 PAGES TO 38 PAGES. ALL WERE IN FACT 18 PAGES. REVISIONS ON SB-18-32-002 R3 WERE NOTATED WITH A VERTICAL LINE IN THE LEFT MARGIN. PLEASE ADD THIS INFORMATION TO MY COMPLAINT. ALSO, I CAN FORWARD A COPY OF THE EMAIL SENT TO TESLA ON THIS ISSUE, THAT WAS NOT ANSWERED BY TESLA.