YearToAvoid

2025 Tesla Model 3 Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 25 Steering complaints for the 2025 Tesla Model 3, 21% of the 117 total complaints filed for the year, with 6 crashes and 1 injury reported. There are no related recalls on file for this issue.

Steering complaints
25
21% of 117
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
9,137 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden, unprompted steering commands while Autopilot or FSD is engaged, in some cases turning sharply into another lane or across a divider.
  • Some drivers describe the steering wheel locking or refusing to correct mid-turn, forcing them off the road or over a curb.
  • Several complaints describe the vehicle making an overly sharp or uncontrolled right turn instead of the intended gentle turn.
  • Owners report steering assist, traction control, and stability control all disabling at once, leaving the car harder to steer and control.
  • Turn signal controls built into the steering wheel are reported to stick or fail to register a turn, described by one owner as a steering column connector issue.
  • One complaint describes the steering wheel becoming very difficult to turn at the same time the brake pedal went firm and unresponsive.

When 2025 Tesla Model 3 steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 27, 2025, latest Aug 1, 2026.

2025 Tesla Model 3 steering complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2025May 2025Aug 2025Oct 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2025 to Aug 2026; peak Aug 2025 (4).

Steering recalls for the 2025 Tesla Model 3

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Model 3 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20171 (4%)
  2. 201880 (8%)
  3. 201953 (9%)
  4. 202046 (10%)
  5. 202126 (4%)
  6. 202236 (5%)
  7. 202387 (20%)
  8. 202436 (17%)
  9. 202525 (21%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2025 Tesla Model 3 have?
NHTSA lists 25 Steering complaints for the 2025 Model 3, which is 21% of the 117 total complaints filed for the year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2025 Tesla Model 3?
No. The data shows no related recalls on file for this steering issue.
Have steering problems caused crashes in the 2025 Model 3?
Yes, NHTSA data tied to these steering complaints shows 6 crashes and 1 injury.
At what mileage do steering problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure across steering complaints for this year is 9,137 miles.
Is 21% of complaints for steering a lot compared to other Model 3 years?
It is the highest share among the years listed, above 2023's 20% and 2024's 17%, though earlier years like 2018 through 2020 had more total steering complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.