2017 Tesla Model S Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/14/2026

46Steering complaints

11%Of all 420 complaints

#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

SUSPENSION107 · 25.5%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM104 · 24.8%

Unspecified / other95 · 22.6%

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL47 · 11.2%

STEERING46 · 11%

Share of the 420 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Tesla Model S overview page.

What owners report

“DRIVING HOME FROM SERVICE ON THE HIGHWAY, WHILE ON A STRAIGHT SECTION, I WAS FORCED TO USE MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN FOR ANOTHER CAR…”NHTSA complaint 11360383 — filed 09/22/2020

“MODEL S HAS LOST RANGE COMPARED TO WHAT WAS ADVERTISED. ALSO MANY PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS THAT CAN CAUSE DIFFICULT STEERING”NHTSA complaint 11267723 — filed 10/10/2019

“BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FORE LINK FAILED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS DAMAGED THE WHEEL, TIRE AND WHEEL WELL.”NHTSA complaint 11220236 — filed 06/15/2019

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Tesla Model S have steering problems?

Steering is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2017 Tesla Model S: 46 of 420 complaints on file (11%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Tesla Model S have in total?

420 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 54 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 23 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.