2016 Tesla Model X problems
NHTSA has received 691 complaints about the 2016 Tesla Model X, and 22% of them involve suspension. Next are electrical system (13%) and steering (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 691 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 117 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 63 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 32,000 miles 396 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 156 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 62 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 87 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 61 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 23 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 396 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 32,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 20,000 miles (104 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 117 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 63 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2016 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 9 model years of the Tesla Model X with enough data (483 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 12 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I am making this complaint in the public interest The car I am complaining about is mangled and burned and the VIN is unavailable so I have used a dummy VIN to file this complaint. This car has just shown up in the wreckers yard. [link removed] It is almost certain that the occupants have been severely injured or killed. 2016 model Teslas are notorious for suspension breakages. The front RH tire has a deep gouge over the entire circumference.
Here is a report of a tesla model x crash in china. [link removed] (google will translate) the owner reports that the car suddenly slammed into the concrete centre divider, spun 180 degrees and collided with another car. The drivers airbag failed to deploy resulting in very serious injuries. The rear seat occupants were unable to open the falcon doors. The emergency door release is not obvious to occupants and requires them to reach up behind the speaker grill to find the pull.
Here is a model x in the salvage yard. [link removed] it has done only 3000 miles. The front suspension has fallen apart and the wheel has been completely sliced in half. Airbags have not deployed. There is absolutely no damage to the bodywork that would indicate the sliced wheel was the result of a collision. This is a clear cut case of mechanical failure. Please investigate.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that the display screen went blank while driving at various speeds without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and the display screen functionality returned; however, the failure recurred soon after restart. The contact then received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting).