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The U.S. auto safety regulator said the steering wheels in both
vehicles, which had a low mileage, completely detached. The
vehicles were delivered to owners missing the retaining bolt
that attaches the steering wheel to the steering column.
The agency is opening a preliminary investigation to assess the
"scope, frequency, and manufacturing processes associated with
this condition."
The investigation is a first step before NHTSA could demand a
recall.
The agency said it received a complaint from a parent who had
bought a new Model Y five days earlier and was on Route 1 South
in Woodbridge, New Jersey on Jan. 29 "and all the sudden
steering wheel" fell off. "Was lucky there was no car behind and
able to pull on divider."
NHTSA posted a link to a tweet as part of the complaint filing.
The tweet has received more than 2.4 million views on Twitter.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NHTSA said "both vehicles received an end of line repair
requiring removal and re-installation of the steering wheel."
The agency said a "friction fit maintained the connection
between the steering wheel and the column splines during
operation until separation. Sudden separation occurred when the
force exerted on the steering wheel overcame the resistance of
the friction fit while the vehicles were in motion."
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Louise Heavens,
Kirsten Donovan)
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