Tesla Model X

Where it stands out against its peers

• Suspension: more complaints than 98% of 2016 cars — 35% of its 2,085 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 3%.
• Structure: more complaints than 92% of 2016 cars — 13% of its 2,085 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 6%.
• Forward collision avoidance: more complaints than 93% of 2016 cars — 4% of its 2,085 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 1%.
• Back over prevention: more complaints than 90% of 2016 cars — 3% of its 2,085 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 1%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• SUSPENSION — 575 owners reported this, 45 involving a crash, 10 involving a fire
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 175 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash
• STRUCTURE — 145 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash
• STEERING,SUSPENSION — 70 owners reported this, 20 involving a crash
• VISIBILITY/WIPER — 65 owners reported this
• STEERING — 35 owners reported this
• SERVICE BRAKES — 30 owners reported this, 5 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 30 owners reported this, 20 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

1% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 16V192000

  If the third row seat does not remain in its adjusted position, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace all affected third row seats, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2016. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-844-248-3752 or by email at ServiceHelpNA@teslamotors.com. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-16-13-003

• 17V260000

  If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.

• 17V639000

  If the seat back moves forward in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla service technicians will correct the cable adjustment for the left-side, fold-flat, second row, seat recliner mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-13-004.

• 20V062000

  Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts with coated steel bolts, and add a corrosion-preventative sealer to the steering gear motor housing and motor connection bolts. If the mounting bolts are found to be broken or break during removal and cannot be removed, a new steering gear will also be installed. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 15, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.

• 20V710000

  Trim that separates from the vehicle during use can cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

  Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will test the roof trim adhesion, and, as necessary, apply primer, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-20-12-005. This recall has been superseded by Recall 24V615 (SB-24-12-008).

• 21V035000

  The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.

• 21V846000

  Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.

• 21V868000

  A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

  Tesla Service will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-20-007.

26 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2026, still open.

• Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2025, still open.

• Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements

  Audit query, opened August 2025, still open.

• Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2025, closed April 2026.

• FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2024, closed March 2026.

• Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness

  Recall query, opened April 2024, still open.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened June 2023, still open.

• Defect Petition Interlock Request

  Defect petition, opened April 2023, closed March 2026.

• Front seat belt anchor detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2023, closed May 2024.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Autopilot System Driver Controls

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2022, closed April 2024.

• Tesla Passenger Play

  Preliminary evaluation, opened December 2021, closed May 2023.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Autopilot & First Responder Scenes

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2021, closed June 2022.

• Fore Link Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2020, closed August 2024.

• Loss of rearview camera

  Engineering analysis, opened November 2020, closed May 2024.

  Became recall 21V035000.

• Loss of rearview camera

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2020, closed November 2020.

• Sudden Unintended Acceleration

  Defect petition, opened January 2020, closed January 2021.

• Battery Management Software Updates

  Defect petition, opened October 2019, closed September 2021.

• Automatic vehicle control systems

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2016, closed January 2017.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Tesla filed one bulletin about the 2026 Model X.

• Other: 1

• On some Model S and Model X vehicles, the compression gap of the HVAC drain funnel seal is wider than intended, which may cause water ingress. Inspect the sponge area of the HVAC drain funnel for… · March 2026

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.