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Tesla defect probe escalates after nearly 2,400 steering complaints — Investigation pertains to an estimated 334,569 Model 3 sedans and Model Y sport utility vehicles

US authorities upgraded an investigation into a possible defect involving Tesla Inc.’s top-selling models after identifying almost 2,400 complaints about drivers losing steering control.

Tesla is poised to increase production at its California car plant and is back in hiring mode, according to an internal email sent days after the company wrapped up a record quarter of deliveries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration escalated its preliminary evaluation of the issue — started in July of last year — to an engineering analysis, according to a notice posted on its website Friday. NHTSA also has been looking into Tesla seat-belt failures, and has kept open an investigation into the company’s driver-assistance system Autopilot to monitor the efficacy of a fix deployed late last year.

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