Tesla just does not seem to be able to stay out of the proverbial pooh-pooh.
Earlier this month it was Teslagate and now a possible recall of vehicles seems to be on the cards.
Reuters reported that US auto safety regulators said that they have opened an investigation into 280 000 new Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles over reports of loss of steering control and power steering.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary evaluation after it had received 12 complaints from owners of 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
One Model 3 driver reported in May that the "car steering felt stuck and the car slid off the road, which resulted in crashing into a tree".
A driver in Alpharetta, Georgia, reported in June that a two-week-old Tesla Model Y was coming out of a shopping centre when "suddenly the steering wheel did not steer. It was hard and I saw the alert. The car went very close to the opposite side of traffic and somehow made it across the road inside the shopping centre."
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is the first step of a formal investigation to determine if the issue poses an unreasonable safety risk. NHTSA will need to upgrade the probe to an engineering analysis before it can demand a recall.
Another recent complaint said a Tesla Model Y that was not yet 30 days old in April was turned on and the "wheel jerked hard right and made a thud" and the screen warned that “Steering Assist Reduced” and displayed an error code.
The driver said the power steering was disabled and told the NHTSA it felt unsafe to steer and added "Tesla moved my service visit from May 2 to May 25 owing to a backlog of parts. They confirmed this is a recently known issue and noted the steering rack might be replaced entirely."
A driver in Honolulu said a week after purchasing a Tesla, the steering wheel began locking up randomly and said it "occurred six times on different dates before we were able to get it to the Tesla service department". The driver said it "currently remains at Tesla for the next 3 weeks while we await a new steering rack/motor".
ZF Aftermarket has named Maic Dressen as Managing Director of ZF Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Sub-regional Head for Sub-Saharan Africa and the DomTom regions. He will lead the company’s South African operations and support its growth across the continent.
Volkswagen has marked 75 years of vehicle production and sales in South Africa with a gala event in Kariega attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, while also revealing the new Volkswagen Tengo, the third model to be built at the local plant. The Tengo will be produced for the South African and wider markets.
BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
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Cars are the ultimate symbol of freedom, independence and individualism. They offer the freedom to ‘go anywhere,’ whenever it suits and with whom one chooses.
Sarah Redshaw
BAIC South Africa used the Festival of Motoring 2026 at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to highlight both its established range and new energy vehicle ambitions. The event marked the first public appearance of ARCFOX in South Africa, alongside the unveiling of BAIC’s X55 Plug‑in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.
When Volvo introduced the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric to South Africa in late 2021, the timing raised eyebrows. The country was enduring a severe power crisis, with loadshedding recorded on 200 days that year.
Three months after launching its off-grid, solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging network on the N3 corridor, Zero Carbon Charge (CHARGE) has confirmed plans to double charging capacity at both Charge hubs.
