Major Problems with Tesla Model X Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Tesla Model X to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Tesla Model X complaint overview

226 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2016–2020
Most recorded categories SUSPENSION (90), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (42), BODY (37)
Highest recorded count 138 in 2016

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Tesla Model X FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Tesla Model X

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Tesla Model X.

Model Year	Complaints
2020 Model X	1
2019 Model X	9
2018 Model X	38
2017 Model X	40
2016 Model X	138

Worst 3 Tesla Model X complaints

2017 Tesla Model X UNKNOWN OR OTHER Victims: 100

2016 Tesla Model X SUSPENSION Victims: 4 Mileage: 30000 miles

2016 Tesla Model X BODY Victims: 3 Mileage: 5000 miles

Browse Tesla Model X complaints by category

Problems with SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and BODY are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Tesla Model X owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
SUSPENSION here is a model x in the salvage yard. it is almost brand new but the front suspension has fallen...	90 ~ 12034 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL our 5 day old tesla x while entering a parking stall suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated at high speed on its...	42 ~ 5534 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE falcon doors not closing rear driver seat electrical dead warning light blocking backup camera reading rear seats not in place...	37 ~ 6410 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER falcon doors not closing rear driver seat electrical dead warning light blocking backup camera reading rear seats not in place...	36 ~ 6628 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM falcon wing doors would not close. i tried multiple times to get the door to close and lock and all...	25 ~ 10102 miles
STEERING i am not owner but am filing on behalf of chinese owner who had accident in montana at 2am 7/09/2016....	23 ~ 12076 miles
SERVICE BRAKES here is a freshly uploaded video of an owner using autopilot hands free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro4dhfcuyeo at 2:10 into the video he...	13 ~ 6688 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER this is a complaint in the interest of public safety. here is another defect in the tesla model x which...	12 ~ 1115 miles
AIR BAGS our 5 day old tesla x while entering a parking stall suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated at high speed on its...	11 ~ 3328 miles
WHEELS i was going up by driveway waiting for my garage door to open. i took my foot off the accelerator...	9 ~ 11319 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL autopilot safety hazard creating a crash with me and my son. on july 25th 2016 at 4:30am i was involved...	8 ~ 10383 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM on july 8th 2016 at 9:37 a.m. while slowly pulling into a parking space at creekwood dog park in bradenton...	7 ~ 8683 miles
POWER TRAIN attempted to merge onto a freeway from a stop signed parallel entrance. after a vehicle in the freeway lane had...	6 ~ 5584 miles
ENGINE attempted to merge onto a freeway from a stop signed parallel entrance. after a vehicle in the freeway lane had...	6 ~ 7187 miles
SEATS falcon doors not closing rear driver seat electrical dead warning light blocking backup camera reading rear seats not in place...	3
TIRES defective tire: on 2018 tesla model x - 4201 miles 4 months old rear tire: continental cross contact lx sport...	2 ~ 4225 miles
STRUCTURE the eye bolt the 2016 tesla model x that is use to load a tesla on to a tow truck...	2 ~ 3900 miles
CAMERA > SENSING SYSTEM > BACK OVER PREVENTION tl* the contact owns a 2017 tesla model x. while operating the vehicle the backup camera malfunctioned and caused the...	1 ~ 5000 miles
CONTROL MODULE > ADAS > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM audio warning glitch in tesla model x. scenario is that the car is in park with the passenger's door and...	1 ~ 13000 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES defective tire: on 2018 tesla model x - 4201 miles 4 months old rear tire: continental cross contact lx sport...	1 ~ 4170 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2016 tesla model x. at various times the automatic doors would open. the vehicle was...	1 ~ 17000 miles
EQUIPMENT the eye bolt the 2016 tesla model x that is use to load a tesla on to a tow truck...	1
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING > FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE i was driving my tesla model x ev home and there were no problems. when i pulled into the driveway	1
VISIBILITY 2016 tesla x. consumer writes in regards to middle head rest obstructing view when trying to use rear view mirror.	1
SEAT BELTS here is a discussion about the dangers of the rear seats in the model x: https://forums.tesla.com/forum/forums/concern-about-head-injury-third-row-seating snip**the third row seats...	1 ~ 1000 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY my tesla model x has severe windshield secondary image separation (ghosting). the lights of oncoming cars have triple images that...	1 ~ 12000 miles

FAQ

What year Tesla Model X is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 5 years, Tesla Model X models of 2020, 2019, 2018 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Tesla Model X?

Tesla Model X models of 2016 and 2017 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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