U.S. safety regulators have intensified their investigation into Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), focusing more closely on power steering issues in the company’s vehicles, signaling a potential move towards a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expanded its probe to cover approximately 334,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from the 2023 model year. This comes after the NHTSA initially investigated steering control problems in 280,000 Tesla Model 3 and Y vehicles in July, where some drivers reported difficulty turning the steering wheel.

The NHTSA found 2,388 total complaints related to steering issues, with drivers describing a “notchy” or “clicky” feeling in the steering prior to or just after the incidents. In December, reports emerged about widespread suspension and steering part failures in Tesla vehicles over seven years, based on thousands of Tesla documents. The NHTSA is aware of more than 50 vehicles reportedly towed due to the identified steering condition.

Tesla has not yet commented on the latest developments. On the same day as the NHTSA announcement, Tesla issued a recall for 2.2 million electric vehicles, encompassing nearly all its units in the U.S. The recall is related to incorrect font sizes on warning lights, posing a risk of increased accidents. In pre-market trading, Tesla’s shares (TSLA) are down by 2.04%.