Tesla Model S recalled over steering issue – 123k units

American electric vehicle maker Tesla has issued a worldwide, voluntary recall for 123,000 units of the Model S for potentially defective power steering bolts, in units made before April 2016. This arises from the bolts possibly corroding and failing, and in more extreme cases power steering assistance is lost completely. For the latter, Tesla has not been aware of accidents arising from power steering failure.

“If the bolts fail, the driver is still able to steer the car, but increased force is required due to loss of power (assistance). This primarily makes the car harder to drive at low speeds, and for parallel parking, but does not materially affect control at high speed, where only small steering wheel force is needed,” Tesla said in an e-mail.

Owners of the affected Model S vehicles can still drive their cars while awaiting contact by Tesla, pending availability of replacement parts. Replacement of the power steering bolts will take approximately one hour. Only the pre-facelift Model S is affected by this recall, the company states; the Model 3 and Model X are not affected.

Prior recalls involving the Palo Alto electric automaker’s products involved the Model X for its rear seat locking mechanism, as well as the nearly-all-sweeping Takata airbag recall.

GALLERY: 2017 Tesla Model S

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