A total of 123,000  Tesla Model S cars are being recalled due to a problem with a power steering component. The recall affects only cars made before April 2016, and does not affect the Tesla Model X or Tesla Model 3.

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Affected customers have been emailed by Tesla. In it, Tesla explained that a review of affected cars had highlighted "excessive corrosion" of power steering bolts on affected vehicles. Were the part to fail, Tesla stressed that the car could still be steered, albeit with the application of increased force.

"This primarily makes the car harder to drive at low speeds and for parallel parking, but does not materially affect control at high speed, where only small steering wheel force is needed," said the Tesla email, which also stressed that the corrosion had only been noted in “very cold climates” thus far.

Affected customers have been asked to book their car in for replacement parts to be fitted; the job is expected to take no more than an hour.

This is the largest recall in Tesla's history, and comes at a time the firm is struggling to ramp up Model 3 production and that questions are being raised over the substantial losses that it is recording.

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