Tesla Buys Car Back From NJ Man Who Says Steering Wheel Fell Off

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Tesla has now agreed to buy back the car of a New Jersey man who says the steering wheel of his brand-new Tesla fell off last week while he was driving through Woodbridge.

The man is Prerak Patel, who has been tweeting about the incident since it first happened on Jan. 29.

Patel said he and his family were driving home from the Woodbridge Center Mall. Judging by photos he tweeted, it appears they were on Rt. 1. That's when suddenly, and without warning, the steering wheel popped off his Tesla.

He said he had just gotten the car five days earlier, on Jan. 24. It was a brand-new car from the Lawrence/Princeton Tesla dealership.

"Family was excited to receive Tesla Y delivery on 1/24/2023. Was driving on highway and all the sudden steering wheel fall off, was lucky enough there was no car behind and I was able to pull on devider (sic). #SafetyFirst #Fixit #TeslaModelY #help" Patel wrote the day it happened, Jan. 29. He also tweeted @ElonMusk.

"It's really horrific experience on middle of a highway," he later wrote. "I was with family and lucky enough that there was no car behind."

He also said in a subsequent tweet:

"I followed @elonmusk because of innovative ideas and became a fan when he offered a mini submarine to rescue Thai boys from cave.# I request @elonmusk @Tesla investigate this matter and rescue Tesla believers by taking corrective action on basic Safety and QC."

Patel's Twitter thread has so far racked up more than 2 million views; read it here: https://twitter.com/preneh24

This week, Patel gave the update that Tesla has now agreed to buy back the damaged car. He did not reveal how much they are paying.

"My car was bought back by @Tesla and received a loaner Tesla Y till I get a new car," he posted Monday. "I am grateful to all of you for continued support and extending it to media coverage, and the Springfield/Princeton Tesla Devean(GM)’s team."

On Jan. 30, Patel also shared how he was billed $103 to repair the steering wheel from the Lawrence Township/Princeton Tesla dealership, which he refused to pay. The dealership later removed the charge. Patel also said the Lawrence/Princeton Tesla dealership called and apologized for the incident.

"Thank you all for continue support, he wrote. "Also, like to extend my thanks to Woodbridge Police for safeguarding family during this incident."

“I’m not looking for money here, I want to make sure everyone is safe,” Patel told NJ.com this week, adding that he launched the public Twitter campaign simply to make sure people know what happened.

Patel also said he kept tagging @ElonMusk, who took over ownership of Twitter this past fall, but Musk never responded to his Tweets.

Prior Patch reporting on Tesla car crashes in New Jersey:

Self-Driving Tesla Crashes On Rt. 1 In North Brunswick (Feb. 2019)

Monmouth Co. Mom, Toddler 'Nearly Hit' By Driverless Vehicle (March 2021)