Steering wheel "clicked" mid-turn and now wheel is cocked to the right

[is2scooby]

Greetings All,

I had something weird happen to my Model 3 Performance today. I was taking my local highway on-ramp at speed (turning to the right) and I felt a “click” through the steering wheel. The click felt like it came from somewhere right behind the wheel or in the steering column. I had never felt anything like that before and it was quite odd. After finally entering the highway I noticed that while the car was tracking perfectly straight, the steering wheel is now cocked a few degrees to the right.

The steering wheel has always been dead on straight while driving straight. Also, on AP the blue wheel icon on the screen now shows a couple of degrees clockwise of center.

I submitted a bug report right after the episode and have scheduled a service appointment for this coming week, but I’m interested if anyone has had something similar happen to their Model 3.

Thoughts?

 

[NathanielHrnblwr]

I'd schedule a service appointment immediately. Perhaps something is loose with steering or suspension geometry.

 

[TWANGnBANG]

I’m far from a “sky is falling” kinda guy, but that is something that would really concern me. I would not be driving a vehicle after something like that happened.

Please update with what they find.

 

[is2scooby]

Thank you for your responses. I called my local service center and asked if it was okay to drive the car from now until my appointment on Thursday. The SC employee didn't seem surprised at the description of the issue and told me that I was fine to drive the car. With that being said, I think I'll keep the car in the garage until my appointment anyway. I'll update as more information becomes available.

 

[Daniel in SD]

I'm scratching my head about how this would be possible without some sort of mechanical failure. Hopefully they don't just adjust the tie rods and call it a day.

 

[is2scooby]

Question: Does this seem like excessive steering column play?

 

[Daniel in SD]

Question: Does this seem like excessive steering column play?

Just checked mine and it seems about the same.

 

[is2scooby]

Just checked mine and it seems about the same.

Thank you! My BMW and Evo steering columns seem way more solid so I was wondering if this was the "clicking" I heard when negotiating that high speed turn...

I guess I'll find out on Thursday at my SC appointment. I appreciate the level set.

 

[is2scooby]

Update: I took my car into service and they duplicated the cocked wheel concern, tested other Model 3's and found the steering column "slack" to be normal, and performed a 4 wheel alignment and torqued suspension bolts and steering rack. Steering wheel is straight now.