2023 Tesla Model S Steering Problems
NHTSA lists 20 Steering complaints for the 2023 Tesla Model S, 18% of all 113 complaints that year, tied to 1 crash and 0 fires. Most owners describe the hard-to-find horn button and steering yoke controls rather than mechanical steering failure. Two related recalls (23V743000, 23V085000) cover steering-linked components.
- Steering complaints
- 20
- 18% of 113
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- —
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical steering symptoms owners report
- Owners report the horn button, moved off the center of the steering wheel to a small side button, is hard to locate quickly in emergencies.
- Some describe near-miss or actual collisions when they could not find or press the horn in time to warn other drivers.
- One owner reported the steering wheel became hard to control and the car wobbled out of its lane at highway speed after error messages appeared.
- Several owners say low-speed maneuvering is difficult because the steering yoke and touch controls lack tactile feedback.
- Owners note the turn signal buttons on the steering wheel are easy to activate in the wrong direction, adding to steering-area confusion.
When 2023 Tesla Model S steering complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 10, 2023, latest Aug 28, 2026.
Steering recalls for the 2023 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. 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. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Steering complaints by Model S model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many steering complaints does the 2023 Tesla Model S have?
- NHTSA lists 20 Steering complaints for the 2023 Model S, which is 18% of the 113 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a steering recall for the 2023 Tesla Model S?
- Yes. Recall 23V743000 covers an incorrect air bag installed with certain steering yoke or steering wheel replacements, and recall 23V085000 covers Full Self-Driving Beta software behavior in vehicles including the 2023 Model S.
- Did the steering issues cause any crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires linked to the 2023 Model S steering complaints.
- What is the main steering complaint owners describe?
- Most sample complaints focus on the horn button being hard to find on the steering wheel, rather than a mechanical steering failure.
- How does 2023 compare to other Model S years for steering complaints?
- The 2023 Model S has an 18% share of complaints tied to steering, the highest share among the years listed, compared to 16% in 2021 and 15% in 2022.