The probe covers an estimated 280,000 vehicles. Five drivers alleged in complaints they couldn't steer the vehicles at all. Seven more cited a loss of power steering that required increased steering effort.
There was one report of a crash but no complaints of any injuries.
The agency says in a document posted Tuesday on its website that loss of steering control can be accompanied by messages to drivers indicating that the power steering assist has been reduced or disabled.
The document says investigators will look into how often the problem happens, manufacturing processes and the severity of the problem.
The probe is at least the sixth started by the agency into Tesla vehicles in the past three years. Investigators are looking into Teslas that can crash into parked emergency vehicles while running on the Autopilot partially automated driving system, emergency braking for no reason, suspension failures, steering wheels that can fall off, and front seat belts that may not be connected properly.
Messages were left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla.
Christine Short, Head of Research, Global Corporate Events at Wall Street Horizon, a TMX Company, breaks down the biggest takeaways from companies’ quarterly results.
TikTok once again finds itself in a precarious position as lawmakers in Washington move forward with a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on the platform.
Bryan West, Gannett’s Taylor Swift reporter, recaps the many, many, theories and Easter eggs Swifties are debating as her ‘Eras Tour’ film comes to Disney+.
‘Our Biggest Fight’ author and Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt, Jr. explains his problem with the internet – and why this Tiktok bill is just a starting point.
Consumer prices in the United States picked up last month, a sign that inflation remains a persistent challenge for the Federal Reserve and for President Biden.
Jayesh Govindarajan, head of A.I. at Salesforce, explains the company's new Einstein copilot, plus other ways it is investing in artificial intelligence.
Altro founder and CEO Michael Broughton shares how his company is bringing both expanded credit access and financial wellness to underserved consumers, plus netting early investments from Tinashe, Quavo, and Jay Z’s Marcy Ventures.