Here’s some news that, paradoxically, reflects very poorly on Tesla and its Model Y. Indeed, a few days ago, Toyota engineers praised the Model Y, even going so far as to say that it’s a “work of art,” technically speaking.
Given the reputation of Toyota’s engineers, this is indeed a compliment that the engineers behind the American SUV will surely enjoy.
Forgotten bolt
But ironically, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just announced the opening of a preliminary investigation into the Model Y following two reports of near-new cars whose steering wheel separated from the steering column while the vehicles were moving.
This is indeed a contrast to the recent accolades received by the Tesla Model Y, but the problem highlighted by the NHTSA does not call into question the design and refinement of this model. Indeed, it seems that the two supplied models suffer primarily from an assembly defect at the production stage. Both cars were delivered without a bolt connecting the steering wheel to the steering column.
Tesla is under several investigations
An investigation has been launched “estimate the magnitude, frequency and relevant production processes” to this problem. The agency believes that 120,089 vehicles, the 2023 model year Model Y, could potentially be affected. Now, the incidents that did occur were at low speeds and did not result in injuries.
Keep in mind that Tesla is still under investigation by the NHTSA, particularly regarding the driver assistance systems offered by the manufacturer.
The brand also decided to take the lead by suspending the rollout of its FSD Beta driver assistance software in the United States and Canada while it fixes bugs recently discovered by the regulator.
Source: Auto Plus
Robert is an experienced journalist who has been covering the automobile industry for over a decade. He has a deep understanding of the latest technologies and trends in the industry and is known for his thorough and in-depth reporting.