Is It Safe To Put An Aftermarket Steering Wheel On A Tesla?
“Here are three things that I got for my heavily modified Tesla that I now regret getting."
A Tesla Model 3 owner who is enthusiastic about modifying his vehicle shared three products he purchased for his car that he says he could’ve gone without buying.
The Golden Tesla (@the_golden_tesla) regularly posts content pertaining to his car on TikTok, including the significant upgrades and accents he’s incorporated. While he’s clearly passionate about a lot of the changes he’s made to his EV, this recent video shares some items that may’ve ultimately been a waste of money.
Aftermarket Tesla Yoke Steering Wheel
The influencer begins his video by stating: “Here are three things that I got for my heavily modified Tesla that I now regret getting. The first one is this beautiful white yoke steering wheel with carbon accents,” he says, showing off the bespoke component to the camera. Judging by the design and description he gives in his clip, it looks very similar to this $159 unit on Amazon. Following this, the influencer explains his reasoning for purchasing the product in the first place. “After trying out the one in the Model S, I thought it would be a good idea to get one for my 3 as well,” he tells viewers.
“I do think it still looks amazing and I might change my mind at one point, but I just don’t love it more than I love my custom wheel that I have currently with the gold accent and the carbon fiber that matches my car,” he explains.
The Tesla Umbrella
“The second one is the official Tesla umbrella. Again, the quality and build of this product is phenomenal,” the TikToker tells viewers.
He demonstrates unclasping the velcro strap of the black umbrella, along with its carbon fiber accented stalk and its red inner tubing. As it turns out, the Tesla enthusiast’s regret about purchasing the umbrella has nothing to do with its functionality but rather the climate of the area he resides in. “I live in Arizona and it rains, like, three days out of the year. So let’s just say I’m not utilizing it very much. It does block the sun, but I just look ridiculous doing that,” he says.
He did concede he was ultimately able to find one use for the product: “I did use it to provide shade when we were working on the car outside.”
Model 3 Performance Seats
The third, and most expensive, product shown in the video was a pair of custom seats. Unfortunately, they didn’t arrive in the best condition. “I was so excited about getting those, the new shape, the extra comfort, the cooling feature, the support it had. But unfortunately the quality I received from the seller was just not up to my standards. And I don’t like installing subpar products on my car, and on my page, that’s just not me,” he tells viewers at the end of the clip.
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Folks who replied to his clip didn’t seem to appreciate the aesthetic choices the black-and-gold Tesla owner implemented on his ride. One person remarked, “I need to bleach my eyeballs.” Another took issue with the fact that he decided to purchase a Tesla, period. “No.1 should have been buying a Tesla,” they said.
Should You Install An Aftermarket Steering Wheel On Your Tesla?
Many modern automobiles are outfitted with steering wheels that have controls integrated into their steering columns. The driving experience of a Tesla is tightly integrated into the vehicle’s software, so it’s understandable why many would wonder if changing their steering wheel will void their Tesla’s warranty.
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As this blog points out, making any changes to a vehicle that potentially inhibit a service center’s ability to effectively perform repairs could put one’s warranty in jeopardy. These words of caution were echoed by Tesmag, which writes that “unauthorized modifications or the installation of non-Tesla parts can void the warranty, particularly when those modifications interfere with core safety and vehicle systems.”
Moreover, the outlet specifically mentions steering wheels in its writeup about warranty-voiding modifications. Tesmag states that certain aftermarket steering wheels could adversely affect how the car functions, as well as the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.
The write-up explains that since these delicate systems are deeply intertwined with Tesla’s steering wheels, aftermarket components not properly calibrated to interact with Tesla’s software may not just leave folks footing the bill for seemingly unassociated repairs down the line but also could leave them unable to properly interact with Tesla’s driving systems.
Tesmag warns folks interested in aftermarket steering wheels to ensure that they are compatible with Tesla’s “Airbag and Safety Systems.” If they aren’t, then airbags may not properly deploy in the event of a car accident.
Can You Replace Your Tesla Steering Wheel?
Tesmag says original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part replacements provide a “minimal” risk of one’s warranty voiding, especially if the parts are installed at a Tesla Service Center or officially accredited/recognized Tesla mechanic/shop.
One Redditor documented the process of their own OEM steering wheel swap on the site’s r/TeslaLounge sub. They put a 2024 Model 3 steering wheel on their 2023 Model 3 and said that they were able to get the unit on with minimal work. In fact, as they show in pictures, the connector brackets are identical, but they did say the part’s scroll wheels don’t work with their car.
Other users who replied to the Reddit post speculated that deeper software configuring, or even “recoding the AMD chip” in their vehicle’s onboard computer, could allow for this functionality on the newly installed wheel.
The Tesery blog says folks who are interested in installing aftermarket parts, including steering wheels, should “ensure the selected steering wheel is compatible with [their] specific Tesla model and has the necessary controls integrated.” Additionally, consulting with “Tesla or a professional before making any changes” will help to curb any potential post-installation headaches.
InsideEVs has reached out to The Golden Tesla via email for further comment.
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