A probe has been opened into Tesla Model Y vehicles by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to reports of the steering wheel completely detaching, Reuters reports.

A preliminary investigation has been opened into 120,000 Tesla Model Y vehicles after two reports were received of the steering wheel falling off while driving. According to the NHTSA, the vehicles in the two incidents were 2023 model years with low mileage.

One complaint was from a parent in New Jersey, who had just bought the vehicle in late January. Only five days later, as it was being driven down Route 1 South in Woodbridge, New Jersey, “all the sudden” the steering wheel fell off.

The New Jersey parent took to Twitter to recount the incident, having stated they were “lucky there was no car behind and able to pull on the divider.” 

The vehicles were reportedly given to consumers while missing “the retaining bolt that attaches the steering wheel to the steering column.” 

The NHTSA said the steering wheels came off “when the force exerted on the steering wheel overcame the resistance of the friction fit” of the vehicle that “maintained the connection between the steering wheel and the column splines” until it was separated during operation.