Home · 2016 Tesla Model X P90d · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (417)Crash / fire / injury (62)Suspension (148)Electrical system (90)Body & structure (54)Steering (44)Speed control (33)Visibility & wipers (33)Brakes (18)Driver assistance (15)Lights (13)Transmission & drivetrain (13)

6 of 417 complaints match · Brakes · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

May 31, 2024BrakesCrash

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

Feb 2, 2020Body & structureSpeed controlBrakesCrash

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, THE CAR JUMPED A CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK, WENT OVER A CURB, CLIMBED AN EMBANKMENT, AND STRUCK A TREE BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. THE CAR SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAPTURED THE INCIDENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. PHOTOS OF THE SCENE AND THE RESULTING DAMAGE TO THE CAR ARE ALSO ATTACHED. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A ROUTINE TRIP THAT I DRIVE ABOUT 4 TIMES EACH WEEK. WEATHER, TRAFFIC, AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR IN THIS INCIDENT. THE CAR DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11306541

Jan 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakesCrash

PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE THE CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED

NHTSA ODI 11301362

Aug 7, 2018Electrical systemBrakesCrash

THE CAR AUTO ACCELERATED ON A SURFACE STREET AND CRASHED

NHTSA ODI 11118315

Jun 16, 2017Electrical systemSpeed controlBrakesCrash

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE IN FRONT WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TESLA BUT THEY GOT BACK TO US DENYING ANY CAR MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. HOWEVER WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER TODAY SAYING THAT AFFECTED PARKING BRAKE CALIPER MAY CAUSE IN ROLLAWAY AND CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 10995447

Oct 12, 2016Speed controlBrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL X. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10915633

Working with the data? Download all 417 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Tesla Model X P90d verdict →