What 417 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Tesla Model X P90d

Hi, several alerts have popped up, Regenerative braking unavailable, Park Assist unavailable, Automatic Emergency Braking is unavailable, Traction control disabled, Stability control disabled, ABS (anti-lock braking system) disabled. The odd thing is that the alerts come and go as they please. I can't figure out what it is. Could be software related. Possibly a software update has messed it up?

NHTSA ODI 11663286

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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11661421

My 2016 Tesla Model X has a persistent and dangerous issue with the electronic parking brake. The brake frequently fails to disengage properly, and the car becomes jerky when attempting to move. When the vehicle is parked, a warning appears stating: “Parking brake not engaged. Vehicle may roll,” even when the brake is set. This poses a significant safety risk, especially on inclines. Additionally, the driver-side door latch mechanism has failed again. Tesla previously repaired this exact issue and charged me, but the failure has returned. The door sometimes fails to latch securely or does not open and close properly, creating a safety hazard. These issues have made me concerned about the safety of driving or parking the vehicle. I believe these components should be investigated as potential manufacturing or design defects.

NHTSA ODI 11659202

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 contact’s wife had since started receiving physical therapy for pain in her knee. The contact was unsure if the other driver had sustained any injuries. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652101

I was parking my car at home when all of a sudden there was a violent/sudden drop in the front of my car. I initially thought I got a flat tire, but when I took a look the entire front suspension was shot and dropped as low as possible. The Model X feels and is very unsafe to drive and has a grainding sound like the car is about to fall a part.

NHTSA ODI 11651182

Rear camera lags to appear when the car is put in Reverse. At times when switching to Drive the rear camera image stays on the screen. Sometimes it works as inteneded and sometimes it doesn't. The computer has its moments.

NHTSA ODI 11647280

Wheel tilted in when backing out of driveway turning due to control arm failure

NHTSA ODI 11645648

My 2016 Tesla Model X (VIN [XXX] ) was manufactured in March 2016 according to the sticker on the driver door. My car is experiencing the same issue as the Tesla Service Bulletin #SB-17-33-002 under NHTSA's recall # 17V2600 when putting the vehicle into drive or reverse from park. Tesla is stating they can not perform the service work because there is no recall specifically for my VIN# even though the car is showing the same error messages on the diagnostics screen and showing the same symptoms and failure as the recall and service bulletin. The repair requires the replacement of the parking brake calipers which is a safety issue if not replaced which could result in not properly functioning when needed. The vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle displays warning messages not to drive the vehicle, the parking brake is not released and could cause damage to the brake pads if driven, and to take to the Tesla service center. Tesla is proposing the same repair and solution as the recall / service bulletin and wants to charge me $1,500 for something that should be under the recall, especially since my car was manufactured during the specified timeline of Feb 2016 to Oct 2016 and should fall under the safety issue with the same issue as the recall. This recall needs to include my VIN # and any Model X built during this timeframe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11645449

When shifting into Reverse the rear camera is delayed to be displayed. This to me is a safety concern.

NHTSA ODI 11640970

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.

NHTSA ODI 11639855

To Whom It May Concern, My name is [XXX] , and I am writing regarding unresolved issues with my 2016 Tesla Model X (VIN: [XXX] ). Despite multiple service visits, extensive repairs, and approximately $8,000 in costs, my vehicle remains undrivable and presents significant safety concerns. I initially brought my vehicle to the Tesla Service Center in Richmond, Texas, for motor-related issues. I was informed that mismatched tires and front-end components were contributing to the problem, and repairs were completed. However, the original issue persisted. Subsequent visits for additional repairs also failed to resolve the problem, and new safety concerns emerged. Complicating matters, the Richmond Service Center has since closed, and its staff were terminated. When I contacted the Westchase Service Center, Manager Andrea P. informed me that no resolution or agreement could be reached. I have attached the following invoices for your review: Invoice #[XXX], dated April 26, 2024 Invoice #[XXX], dated November 9, 2023 I am requesting the following: A full review of my service history and unresolved issues. Immediate repairs to address motor and safety concerns at no additional cost. A clear explanation of Tesla’s policies regarding unresolved repairs, especially with closed service centers. This situation has caused financial and personal hardship. I urge Tesla to address these issues promptly to restore my confidence in your brand. Please contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address] to discuss this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11632748

I initially brought my vehicle to the Tesla Service Center in Richmond, Texas, to address issues involving the motor. During this visit, I was informed that mismatched tire sizes and worn parts in the front end were contributing to the problem. The service center proceeded with repairs, charging me for the work. However, the original issue persisted after I picked up the vehicle. Despite multiple follow-up appointments and additional repairs, the problem was never resolved.

NHTSA ODI 11632757

While driving on city streets at very low speeds, error messages starting popping up on the screen "Vehicle may not restart/Service is required". We somehow made it home by restarting the computer and driving home at low speeds. At freeway speeds, this would have been catastrophic. We were able to make an appointment with the Tesla service center and found this to be due to the battery coolant heater to be internally shorted which in turn was because the large rear drive unit had an internal coolant leak. This required a very expensive $8k replacement of the large rear drive unit and the heater. A search in the blogs has yielded this to be a design and manufacturing issue. Specifically the blogs say: "the rear motor used in the early Teslas has a design flaw and will need a very expensive repair/replacement but what does that actually mean? Many Model S and Model X produced between 2012-2020 have the Large Drive Unit (LDU) with the fatal coolant seal flaw where the seal around the rotor shaft will leak coolant into the motor (Reference 1). They will ALL leak eventually. Tesla tried many things over the years to keep this seal from leaking but finally gave up and developed ‘Revision U’ in the fall of 2022 which deletes the coolant from the rotor but maintains the coolant to the inverter, stator and the ‘flyover’ tube cooling the gearbox". This means that the same problem even after the replacement, will happen again soon. I am writing to request you to send out a recall to all owners of these cars, and to have Tesla refund us for the cost of replacement of the drive unit and for Tesla to install the bypass as some aftermarket vendors (Reference 2) have started doing. Reference: 1) [XXX] 2) [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11631654

THERE IS A LEAKING GLUE LIKE SUBSTANCE COMING FROM THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS ALL SAFETY COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS HEALTH AND ENVIORMENTAL CONCERNS.

NHTSA ODI 11630304

The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light and activating the air conditioning, the computer system was stuck or frozen for a moment. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted independently, and the computer was buffering when the light turned green, and the vehicle hesitated before responding and driving as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11628663

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and concern regarding a serious safety incident involving our Tesla Model X. On Feb 25th, while driving on the freeway, the roof of our vehicle unexpectedly detached and fell off. This incident posed a significant safety risk to ourselves and other motorists. We immediately contacted Tesla to report the issue and were shocked to learn that they considered this a non-covered incident and would require us to pay over $600 for repairs. We strongly believe that this is a clear defect in the vehicle's design or construction and should not be the responsibility of the consumer to bear. Despite our repeated attempts to emphasize the dangerous nature of this situation, Tesla has remained unresponsive and unhelpful. We were even denied the option of purchasing the OEM part ourselves at a lower cost and have Tesla fix it. Tesla insisted we bought the same part from them directly for more than double the price. This forced us to get the repair done at a third party. Now, we have received a recall notice for exact the same issue affecting other Tesla Model X vehicles. This further confirms our belief that this is a widespread problem that should have been addressed by Tesla. We contacted Tesla again, yet again they were dismissive stating that they cannot compensate for repairs done at a third party. We respectfully request that Tesla take full responsibility for this safety defect and compensate us for the costs incurred in repairing our vehicle. This includes the cost of the repair and the part. We hope that Tesla will take immediate action to address this issue and ensure the safety of its customers. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

NHTSA ODI 11620711

The car horn does not work. I was charging my vehicle at a supercharger and the supercharger malfunctioned and caused my vehicle to become unable to drive. I had to tow the vehicle to the service center where they had to reset the car so that he could drive again and they had to replace the 12volt battery. Thereafter, I noticed that the horn was no longer working.

NHTSA ODI 11618375

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.

NHTSA ODI 11609053

subframe bolt was broken off without external impact, caused loud noise when driving, and potential safety concern. I suspect the bolt has proper quality control. One year ago, the front suspension(fucas) has to be replaced due to strange noise at low speed.

NHTSA ODI 11608596

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear driver's side control arm failure during slow left-hand turn (~20 mph) from one road to another. A "clunk" noise was heard from underneath the car, like that of a rock striking the vehicle, and then the vehicle reported several errors regarding drive unit failure, brake failure, and stability failure. The vehicle automatically shifted to "P" and would not move. Upon exiting the vehicle, the rear tire was tilted in at a 45 degree angle and the control arm was broken open and a 1.25 inch piece of the control arm was on the road. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The suspension failed at low speed (~20 mph) and in little to no traffic, with no option to move the vehicle to a safer area. Had the failure occurred at any other time (higher speeds, heavier traffic), the danger to life would have been catastrophic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The problem is evident in the broken component dangling from the under side of the vehicle. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The Tesla Service Center - Salem has inspected the issue and stated that they do not have the capability of fixing the issue and that the issue is due to a collision. My Insurance has assessed the issue and determined they will not cover the issue as there was no collision involved in the damage. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warnings, messages, or other symptoms prior to the suspension failure.

NHTSA ODI 11605987

The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle will inadvertently accelerate causing the contact to depress the brake pedal to avoid a collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11593071

On May 30, on a 55 mph highway, my Tesla Model X was traveling at highway speed in thick traffic. The vehicle was using cruise control, but not auto pilot. In other words, the auto steering function was not engaged. A vehicle that the Tesla Model X was following came to a sudden, unexpected stop. I applied the brake pedal with full force. The anti-lock brakes engaged and the brakes began pulsing (normal anti-lock brake behavior). However, while the brake pedal was depressed with full force, the anti-lock brakes stopped pulsing and the brake pads disengaged from the rotors. The car coasted as if the brake pedal was not depressed. The brake failure resulted in a frontal collision with the stopped vehicle. A police report was filed at the scene of the crash. There were no physical injuries and the Tesla Model X was driveable after the incident. However, the car that was struck had significant damage (but no bodily injuries). Because the Model X was driveable, I attempted to recreate the incident 12 hours later. However, as I tested the brakes, they behaved normally. With the fully depressed brake pedal, the antilock brakes stayed active until a full stop of the vehicle. Is it possible that the frontal collision system malfunctioned? As the frontal sensors detected an impending crash, did the car's computer disengage the brakes mistakenly? The car had no warning lights prior to May 30. However, at the exact time of the crash, two codes were registered. (I used the Tesla service mode to access them). One code states the anti-lock brakes were active. The second code registered exactly 2 seconds later and states "Pedestrian safety system fault". There is a police report, but we have not received it yet. I had to check NO in the form because the form would not allow me to move forward unless I uploaded the report. I can upload the police report when I receive it.

NHTSA ODI 11591676

Squeaking noise on the passenger rear side was noticeable when I am hitting the breaks then a thump sound as if I landed on some big pothole occurred. So I drove as slow as I can until we reach home. I inspected the vehicle and to my surprise the control arm had torn and the tires were hanging loose.

NHTSA ODI 11588949

While driving, the roof top trip came off. There was a recall for this problem in 2020 but mine was not part of the recall. Yet the problem was the same and Tesla will not honor their manufacturing defect and repair it.

NHTSA ODI 11586282

Was heading home from SoCal. Started charging the car at Kettleman... Opened the falcon doors to let the kids out and CRUNCH!!! 3 glass panels started cracking. All 3 panels are cracked and broken just by opening the doors. [XXX]. Nothing was on top blocking anything... no twigs, no debris... nothing. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11585933