Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Tesla Model X problems

Owners filed 417 complaints about the 2016 Tesla Model X with NHTSA between Mar 2016 and May 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (148).

Complaints
417
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
59
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
32
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension148
  2. Electrical system90
  3. Structure54
  4. Steering44
  5. Vehicle speed control33
  6. Visibility/wiper25
  7. Service brakes18
  8. Forward collision avoidance15
  9. Power train13
  10. Exterior lighting13
  11. Back over prevention12
  12. Wheels12
  13. Engine10
  14. Air bags9

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201641
201759
201812
201920
202095
202171
202247
202337
202425
202510

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

148 reports15 crashes3 fires
“Sudden and catastrophic shearing of the driver side rear suspension arm (control arm). My understanding is all these cars from Tesla have aluminum suspension arms which causes identical and catastrophic failure of the vehicle during driving due to choice of Aluminum instead of stainless steel(SS). Aluminum has an ultimate tensile strength of only 90 MPa while SS can exceed 500 MPa. Since my car got disabled completely (motor gets disconnected from the wheel) I almost lost my life with vehicles coming at high speed from behind. I saw the same control arm failures with Tesla cars including S and 3 and X (like mine) all over the world. Here is an example of a very similar failure to mine on a model 3 in Norway : [XXX] The failure is so similar that even the wheel tilted inwards to the wheel bay just in my case due to the clean shearing of the aluminum bushing on the control arm. I would like to make sure these failures do not continue with Tesla and people's lives are not at risk and thus this report.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2025SuspensionODI 11661421

Electrical system

90 reports12 crashes2 fires3 related recalls
“The contact owned a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 15 MPH from a traffic light, the vehicle was T-boned by another vehicle attempting to run the red light. The contact stated that the other vehicle crashed into the driver’s side front fender panel of the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver’s door was not impacted in the crash. The contact stated that the air bags deployed as needed. However, the contact’s wife was stuck in the vehicle, and unable to exit the vehicle because the doors failed to unlock. The contact stated that the vehicle had lost all electrical functions, causing the doors to remain closed. The contact stated that his wife was unable to move over to the passenger’s side front or rear to exit the vehicle. The contact stated that some pedestrians nearby were able to unlock the door from outside for his wife to exit the vehicle. The contact was concerned that his wife could have been killed if the vehicle had caught on fire or there was some other form of an emergency. The contact stated that his wife sustained a knee injury. Medical attention was not needed at the scene; however, the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2025Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesCrash reportedODI 11652101

Structure

54 reports14 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact’s wife attempted to open the driver’s side rear door however, the door failed to open as intended. The contact’s wife noticed a crushing sound. The driver’s side rear top door glass engaged with the fractured center spine trim and the driver’s rear door top glass simultaneously fractured. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured center roof trim. The contact was informed that the center spine roof trim and the driver’s side rear door glass need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V615000 (Structure); however, additional repairs were not covered under the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 106,900.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2025StructureODI 11639855

Steering

44 reports7 crashes2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal squeaky and clunking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center, where the front driver's side and the passenger's side front upper control arms links and bushings were replaced, and the four-wheel alignment was performed. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was significantly resistant. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center, where the intermediate lower steering column shaft was replaced. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 20-30 MPH and making a right turn, the steering wheel became significantly loose, causing the contact to lose steering control. Additionally, the wheels failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle was perpendicular to oncoming traffic at the time of the failure. The contact parked the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to the Tesla Service Center, where it was being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2024Steering, SuspensionODI 11583309

Vehicle speed control

33 reports19 crashes
“While parking, the accelerator pedal increased in speed without being pressed and the car had a sudden unexpected acceleration and crashed into a column in a parking lot.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2024Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11609053

Visibility/wiper

25 reports
“WHILE LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AT ANY TIME (WHILE IN MOTION, STATIONARY, DAY OR NIGHT), THOUGH MORE PRONOUNCED IN THE EVENING, LIGHTED IMAGES, SUCH A TAIL LIGHTS, STREET LAMPS ETC HAVE A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE AFFECT CAUSING IMAGES ON THE ROAD TO APPEAR MORE BLURRY. THE WINDSHIELD IS THE ISSUE AS NEWER MODELS WITH UPDATED WINDSHIELD HAS ELIMINATED THIS ISSUE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 4, 2021Visibility/wiperODI 11394704
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.