How common are steering complaints on the 2021 Tesla Model S?

NHTSA lists 29 steering complaints for the 2021 Model S, which is 16% of the 178 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a steering recall for the 2021 Tesla Model S?

Yes. NHTSA lists four steering-related recalls touching the 2021 Model S, including one for electronic power assist steering (EPAS) losing power assist on rough roads, one for an incorrectly installed air bag tied to yoke or steering wheel swaps, and two tied to Full Self-Driving Beta software behavior.

What is the main steering complaint owners describe?

Most sample complaints center on the steering yoke design, particularly difficulty turning the wheel in hard turns and trouble locating the off-center horn button, which owners say created near-miss situations.

Did any 2021 Model S steering complaints involve crashes?

NHTSA data shows 2 crashes associated with steering complaints for the 2021 Model S, with no fires or injuries reported.

How does 2021 compare to other Model S years for steering complaints?

The 2021 model year's steering complaints make up 16% of its total complaints, higher than most other years shown, which range from 2% to 18%, with 2023 at 18% being the highest.

2021 Tesla Model S Steering Problems

Steering accounts for 29 of 178 complaints (16%) on the 2021 Tesla Model S, mostly about the steering yoke design, horn placement, and turn-signal controls. Two crashes were linked to this area, and four steering-related recalls exist for this model, including one covering EPAS power-assist loss.

Steering complaints: 29; 16% of 178
Crashes reported: 2
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: —
Related recalls: 4

Typical steering symptoms owners report

Owners report the steering yoke makes hard turns physically difficult because it requires crossing hands, especially in city driving or emergency maneuvers.
Many describe being unable to quickly find or activate the horn, which is a small touch button off-center on the yoke instead of a center-mounted horn, leading to near-miss incidents.
Some report the touch-based turn signal, wiper, and high-beam controls are flat with no tactile feel and get triggered by accident when hands move across the yoke.
One owner reported a recurring rack-and-pinion grinding sound and visible wheel skipping when turning hard left or right, along with a whirring noise from the right front wheel.
One owner reported a power steering malfunction warning stating steering assist was reduced shortly after taking delivery of the car.

When 2021 Tesla Model S steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 3, 2021, latest Oct 20, 2025.

29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2021 to Oct 2025; peak Feb 2022 (4).

Steering recalls for the 2021 Tesla Model S

NHTSA 23V743000Nov 3, 2023Steering194 vehicles
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Model S and Model X vehicles. An incorrect air bag may have been installed when the steering yoke or round steering wheel was replaced with a different style of yoke or steering wheel.
Risk: An air bag that is not designed to function with the replacement steering yoke or wheel may deploy incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-20-005.
NHTSA 23V085000Feb 15, 2023Steering362,758 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Steering:automated/adaptive steering
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation.Â The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Risk: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.Â Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.Â Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.Â Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
NHTSA 22V818000Nov 1, 2022Steering40,168 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Steering:electric power assist system
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.
NHTSA 22V037000Jan 27, 2022Steering53,822 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Steering:automated/adaptive steering
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Risk: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.

Steering complaints by Model S model year

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

20121 (2%)
201329 (6%)
201427 (7%)
201551 (8%)
201686 (13%)
201747 (11%)
201815 (9%)
20194 (9%)
202010 (13%)
202129 (16%)
202221 (15%)
202320 (18%)
20244 (11%)
20251 (17%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are steering complaints on the 2021 Tesla Model S?: NHTSA lists 29 steering complaints for the 2021 Model S, which is 16% of the 178 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2021 Tesla Model S?: Yes. NHTSA lists four steering-related recalls touching the 2021 Model S, including one for electronic power assist steering (EPAS) losing power assist on rough roads, one for an incorrectly installed air bag tied to yoke or steering wheel swaps, and two tied to Full Self-Driving Beta software behavior.
What is the main steering complaint owners describe?: Most sample complaints center on the steering yoke design, particularly difficulty turning the wheel in hard turns and trouble locating the off-center horn button, which owners say created near-miss situations.
Did any 2021 Model S steering complaints involve crashes?: NHTSA data shows 2 crashes associated with steering complaints for the 2021 Model S, with no fires or injuries reported.
How does 2021 compare to other Model S years for steering complaints?: The 2021 model year's steering complaints make up 16% of its total complaints, higher than most other years shown, which range from 2% to 18%, with 2023 at 18% being the highest.