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CNN
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Federal safety regulators are investigating the Tesla Model Y SUV after at least two incidents where owners said their steering wheels came off while the vehicle was in motion.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is considering a 2023 model. In two cases where the steering wheel came off, the cars were delivered to customers without the retaining bolt that secures the steering wheel to the steering column.
The agency’s report did not say if there were any accidents or injuries as a result of the problem.
The NHTSA said the problem could affect about 120,000 vehicles on US roads. This is an investigation, a step the agency takes before issuing a recall order.
In February, Tesla was required to recall nearly 363,000 vehicles equipped with what it calls “its own”.Full self drivingafter the NHTSA determined that it “resulted in an unreasonable risk to vehicle safety due to insufficient enforcement of highway safety laws.”
Among the traffic rules that vehicles violated in FSD were “going straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop-sign controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or entering an intersection during a solid yellow traffic light.” without due care.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has objected to calling it a “recall,” saying it only entails an over-the-air software update that doesn’t require the owner to take cars to service centers for repairs.
But Tesla did order a review last month out of 3,470 2022-2023 Model Y vehicles. Because the bolts in the second row seat back frames were not properly secured, which could have caused the seat belts on those seats to not work properly in the event of an accident.
Tesla has not had a public relations department for several years, and email inquiries to its press office are no longer accepted.
Ramishah Marouf of CNN contributed to this report.