Tesla Model Y was investigated by regulators in the United States because the steering wheel fell off while driving.

CTOnews.com, March 8 (Xinhua)-- the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it is investigating Tesla Model Y because two cars lost their steering wheel while driving.

In a new report, NHTSA said it had received two reports of 2023 Model Y vehicles with the steering wheel completely off the steering column while in motion:

The Office of defect investigation (ODI) has been aware of two reports of 2023 Tesla Model Y vehicles with the steering wheel completely off the steering column while in motion. Both cars were delivered to the owner in the absence of retention bolts to secure the steering wheel and steering column (P / N1036655-00mura).

NHTSA has communicated with Tesla and found that both of the affected vehicles had undergone "offline maintenance" and needed to disassemble and reinstall the steering wheel.

NHTSA wrote in the report:

Both cars have undergone offline maintenance and need to be dismantled and reinstalled with the steering wheel. Friction maintains the connection between the steering wheel and the steering column splines, and sudden separation occurs when the force exerted on the steering wheel overcomes friction resistance while the vehicle is driving. Both known incidents occurred when the mileage of the vehicle was low.

The agency is still working with Tesla to determine the scope of the manufacturing problem, which may require a safety recall.

CTOnews.com noted that Tesla has been recalled by NHTSA several times since last year, but most of them have been resolved through OTA updates, leading Tesla fans to complain about the improper use of the word "recall" in these situations. However, the above problem is a manufacturing problem and requires a real car recall, but it is not clear whether any more vehicles have been affected in addition to the two accidents received by NHTSA.