The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into Tesla Cybertruck steer-by-wire systems following 47 consumer complaints reporting sudden loss of steering responsiveness at highway speeds.
Complaint Details
The investigation covers approximately 125,000 2024-2025 Cybertruck vehicles equipped with Tesla's steer-by-wire system, which eliminates the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and wheels.
- 47 complaints filed describing momentary steering unresponsiveness lasting 1-3 seconds
- 12 complaints describe complete steering loss requiring emergency pullover
- 5 crashes reported with 2 minor injuries attributed to the defect
- Most incidents occur at speeds above 60 mph during lane changes
Tesla's Response
Tesla stated that its telemetry data shows no systemic steering failures and that reported incidents may relate to driver confusion with the variable-ratio steering feel. NHTSA's preliminary evaluation will determine whether a formal defect investigation and potential recall are warranted.
