2016 Tesla Model X: Reliability Data

677
Total Complaints
31,570mi
Median Mileage
Suspension
Top Issue
116
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

5,000 25th Percentile
31,570 Median Mileage
57,199 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Suspension
148
Electrical System
91
Unknown Or Other
88
Steering
56
Body
48
Vehicle Speed Control
33
Visibility/Wiper
25
Service Brakes
23
Automatic Emergency Braking
16
Power Train
13

Severity Assessment

116
Crashes
7
Fires
63
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"FALCON DOORS NOT CLOSING, REAR DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL DEAD, WARNING LIGHT BLOCKING BACKUP CAMERA READING REAR SEATS NOT IN PLACE, ALL INSULATION PEELING OFF ABOVE TIRES, BUBBLING PAINT, TRUNK AND SIDE PANELS MISALIGNED SO TILTED TRUNK HOOD AND FINGER GOES IN ONE GAP BUT FINGERNAIL ONLY BARELY IN OTH..."
"FALCON DOORS NOT CLOSING, REAR DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL DEAD, WARNING LIGHT BLOCKING BACKUP CAMERA READING REAR SEATS NOT IN PLACE, ALL INSULATION PEELING OFF ABOVE TIRES, BUBBLING PAINT, TRUNK AND SIDE PANELS MISALIGNED SO TILTED TRUNK HOOD AND FINGER GOES IN ONE GAP BUT FINGERNAIL ONLY BARELY IN OTH..."
"FALCON DOORS NOT CLOSING, REAR DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL DEAD, WARNING LIGHT BLOCKING BACKUP CAMERA READING REAR SEATS NOT IN PLACE, ALL INSULATION PEELING OFF ABOVE TIRES, BUBBLING PAINT, TRUNK AND SIDE PANELS MISALIGNED SO TILTED TRUNK HOOD AND FINGER GOES IN ONE GAP BUT FINGERNAIL ONLY BARELY IN OTH..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Suspension 148 complaints
25th: 5,000 mi Median: 20,000 mi 75th: 47,395 mi
Electrical System 91 complaints
25th: 30,000 mi Median: 50,000 mi 75th: 67,075 mi
Unknown Or Other 88 complaints
25th: 10,128 mi Median: 49,000 mi 75th: 65,000 mi
Steering 56 complaints
25th: 2,000 mi Median: 40,000 mi 75th: 64,956 mi
Body 48 complaints
25th: 1,425 mi Median: 5,000 mi 75th: 25,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 316 NY: 35 IL: 31 FL: 30 TX: 28 NC: 25 NJ: 22 GA: 20 WA: 16 MA: 13

Who Files Complaints?

0.6%
Original Owners
99.4%
Second+ Owners

Tesla Model X — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
201741138
201829355
201916327
202020534
2021589
202218921
202325429
2024324

Active Recalls (12)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Mid/Rear Assembly
Campaign 17V639000 | 12/10/2017
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
Parking Brake
Campaign 17V260000 | 19/04/2017
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.
Mid/Rear Assembly
Campaign 16V192000 | 06/04/2016
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
Software
Campaign 22V037000 | 27/01/2022
Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
Software
Campaign 21V035000 | 29/01/2021
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
Electric Power Assist System
Campaign 20V062000 | 05/02/2020
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
Body
Campaign 20V710000 | 17/11/2020
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
Automated/Adaptive Steering
Campaign 23V085000 | 15/02/2023
FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023.  Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752.  Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
Software
Campaign 23V838000 | 12/12/2023
In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
Instrument Cluster/Panel
Campaign 24V051000 | 30/01/2024
Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Warning Light/Devices
Campaign 24V376000 | 28/05/2024
A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Body
Campaign 24V615000 | 15/08/2024
Trim that separates from the vehicle during use can create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Tesla service will test the roof trim adhesion and reattach the trim pieces as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 14, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-12-008. Vehicles previously repa

Extend Your Suspension Life

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Avoid potholes and speed bumps at high speed
  • Replace shocks/struts every 50,000-75,000 miles even if they seem fine
  • Get alignment checked if the car pulls or tires wear unevenly
  • Don't overload the vehicle beyond its rated capacity
  • Address clunking or bouncing immediately — worn suspension damages other components

Looking for a replacement?

Based on the data above, here are relevant options.

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28