Tesla has issued a recall for some 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles sold in the US. The issue centers on a potential software glitch affecting the electronic power-assisted steering (EPAS) system. If your Tesla is running a software version earlier than 2023.38.4, there’s a chance that an overvoltage breakdown could overstress certain motor drive components on the printed circuit board.
Here’s the lowdown: While you’re driving above 0 MPH, you might see a visual alert on your car’s display that reads, “Steering assist reduced. Steering may require increased effort.” The system is designed so that steering isn’t impacted while you’re moving. However, if you come to a complete stop, there’s a risk that the EPAS might shut off and stay off even when you start moving again. Even in that scenario, you can still steer manually.
The recall affects about 376,241 vehicles, though only around 1% are expected to have the defect. Tesla’s recall comes on the heels of a regulatory inquiry from a non-US market that raised concerns about the increased manual steering effort required if EPAS fails at 0 MPH. In response, Tesla voluntarily decided to recall affected vehicles globally on January 16, 2025, to keep things clear and consistent for all their customers.
The good news is that Tesla has already been working on a fix. Starting October 19, 2023, affected vehicles in the US began receiving a free over-the-air software update – the 2023.38.4 release – that prevents the overvoltage issue. As of January 23, 2025, 99% of the vehicles in the US have already installed the update. If your car has the updated software, there’s no need to visit a service center; the fix is handled automatically.
Tesla plans to notify its stores and service centers about the recall around January 28, 2025, and owner notification letters will be mailed out on March 25, 2025.
In short, while this recall isn’t linked to any crashes or injuries, it’s a good reminder to keep your vehicle’s software current to ensure it runs as safely as possible.