The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration has opened a brand new investigation into Tesla over steering management issues and lack of energy steering in 2023 Mannequin 3 sedan and Mannequin Y crossover utility automobiles.

The federal automobile security regulator stated in a discover posted to the company’s web site that it has acquired a dozen complaints from drivers who skilled steering issues of their Teslas, together with one who stated it had precipitated a crash. The probe, which the NHTSA known as a “preliminary analysis,” may have an effect on as much as an estimated 280,000 automobiles within the U.S.

The Mannequin Y turned the world’s best-selling automobile within the first quarter of 2023, surpassing the Toyota Corolla and others. Tesla’s Mannequin 3 is the corporate’s entry-level automobile and probably the most reasonably priced electrical automobile it affords.

In 2021, Tesla CEO Elon Musk advised buyers that the corporate was capable of rewrite software program with a purpose to swap from one sort of chip to a different, when wanted, to deal with semiconductor shortages. A few 12 months later, Tesla voluntarily recalled a few of its Mannequin S and Mannequin X automobiles over energy steering issues brought on by a flawed software program replace, finally fixing the problem with one other software program replace.

Sometimes, an NHTSA probe will result in an automaker investigating potential manufacturing or design defects and conducting a voluntary recall. The company asks drivers to submit complaints by cellphone or on-line and makes use of these complaints with different knowledge to find out when investigations are wanted.

Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Shares within the electrical automobile maker had been buying and selling down by about 1.7% on Tuesday morning.