Home · 2017 Tesla Model X P90d · Complaints

What 237 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (237)Crash / fire / injury (25)Electrical system (68)Suspension (57)Steering (36)Driver assistance (24)Speed control (13)Backup camera & sensors (12)Brakes (12)Lane Departure (12)Visibility & wipers (11)Lights (10)

12 of 237 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Feb 14, 2025Brakes

Now I know it's called Phantom or Ghost Breaking. When in cruise control or in autopilot, in certain highway areas from 65 or 70, it breaks down to 25 mph. Cars behind gets dangerously close, as well as the royal scare face I get! There has been two major updates since I bought it, and it still does the same. Since, more or less, I know the highway spots where it happens, I'm ready for it. However, when traveling elsewhere I'm not that lucky. At those high speeds it cam potential cause harm or even death!

NHTSA ODI 11642663

Oct 14, 2024Electrical systemAirbagsBrakes

I had a reoccurrence of Incident 11609414. After the original incident I had my car towed to the service center and "fixed". I paid out of pocket since my warranty did not cover the problem they claimed that caused my issues. 5 weeks later I had the same issue recur, while out shopping. My car would not shift into park, the emergency brake failed, my seat restraint failed, my airbag failed, my ABS failed, my steering assist failed. I had to stay in my car with my foot on the brake until I could get my car towed to the service center. Had I taken my foot off of the brake my car would have moved forward into a coffee shop filled with people.

NHTSA ODI 11619734

Sep 25, 2024Brakes

We parked the car in our drive way. On the next day, car says display a `Park Break Fault` message saying 'Parking break did not release - Driving may result in break damage'. When I push the Park button, car console says 'Parking brake not applied - Vehicle my free roll'. I believe this is the same faulty issue that was recalled in NHTSA Recall No: 17V-260, Manufacturing Recall No: SB-17-33-002. For reference, here is the link to that recall: [XXX] . Our car's model year matches the model year specified in that recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11616399

Feb 16, 2024SteeringBrakesDriver assistance

This is regarding two Tesla recalls: - NHTSA Recall Number: 23V-838; TC2023-657 - NHTSA Recall Number: 24V-051 As noted in both recalls, they are to be delivered via software updates. My car is currently running version 2022.8.10.16 7477b4ff8e78 which is clearly lower than the version required for both recalls. I have taken my car to service as my software version is not updating. Tesla has refused to comply with the recall and update the software version on my car. It should be noted, although irrelevant for the recalls, that my car is still under manufacturer's extended warranty, which we purchased along with the car when buying it new from Tesla.

NHTSA ODI 11572435

Mar 25, 2023BrakesEngineDriver assistance

When autopilot is engaged, the car randomly decelerates on the highway. This has happened multiple times. I have tried to report this to tesla but to no avail. They tell me the following: 1. They are unaware of any issue 2. Then, it is my specific car's problem and not a design issue and they will not fix it without charging me over a $1100 3. When I asked them what the issue is, they said they don't know and want me to provide to the minute detail on when the incident happened. 4. That I should stop using autopilot (which I paid for) because it may be unsafe for me to use. When I point out that their statements are conflicting with each other, they ignore me. I have tweeted about this to Elon Musk as well to NHTSA and I am hoping that someone will notice this and help me get this fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11513784

Jan 19, 2023Speed controlBrakesDriver assistance

Phantom breaking occurs predictably in the same spots along the NJ Garden State Parkway. Most certainly I have noticed it and can easily replicate it around the Toms River exit 80 in both south and north bound lanes. The vehicle will break suddenly and abruptly when enhanced autopilot or self-driving is engaged. It will come to a complete stop if allowed even when there is absolutely no other vehicles or obstacles in front of it which would justify breaking. It has happened during the day and even late at night when the road is void of vehicles. This same behavior also occurs further south on the GSP I believe around exit 50 but I can't recall with precision on that one.

NHTSA ODI 11502670

Jan 2, 2023BrakesDriver assistanceCrash

I was driving my Tesla on left line of I75 Norh with 70 miles speed. It was on autopilot . Without any warning car lost the control and slipped, changed three lines and collide at the right side median .it’s happened on 3 July 2022. I reported the accident to Tesla right away. The accident took place more than 6 months and still Tesla is saying they are studying the car and not giving a clear report. So the repair people doesn’t know how to fix it and I am out of car. Please investigate the case and help me to get a report so that I can fix the car.

NHTSA ODI 11499776

Sep 23, 2022SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

Starting on May 5, 2022, my car has been plagued with numerous errors messages that stated multiple features of my car were malfunctioning/disabled, both while I first got into the car, and also occurring suddenly without any warning while the car was IN MOTION on the road. This included loss of power steering, traction control, stability control, parking brake, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure avoidance . The same problem(loss of all these vital features) has recurred many times on May 22nd, May 31st, July 8th, and most recently, September 14th. Each time I brought the car in to the Tesla service center, they would have absolutely no idea what was causing the same exact issues. At the very first visit, they stated the incorrect-sized tires were likely the culprit. Even after the correct sized tires were put on, the same problems returned weeks later. Another time they replaced the MCU, but again the problem returned. Every time I brought the car in, they would basically return the car with no definitive repairs done as by the time they started working on my car, all the errors had disappeared, and they would declare the car as being "fixed". After 5 visits for the SAME EXACT problem over the past 5 months, it is extremely clear that Tesla has no idea what is wrong with the car, and keeps returning the car to me without permanently solving the problem. At this point, I feel this car should not be on the road as I could lose vital controls(power steering, brakes, etc) all of a sudden with no warning, exposing the passengers inside, and all vehicles and pedestrians around it to serious, life-threatening danger. Despite this grave risk, Tesla has refused to buy the car back even though it still has an active factory warranty, claiming that it is past the two-year buy-back window, and the fact that it already has a lemon title(for a completely different issue) from 2019. It is just a matter of time before a serious accident happens.

NHTSA ODI 11485960

Jun 21, 2022BrakesDriver assistance

Many instances of hard braking in cruise control with no cause. In the last 6 months it’s gotten very bad. It only happened very infrequently before when someone was turning off the freeway it would brake for just a second. Now it is braking hard in an extended fashion and multiple times in one trip. Sometimes we can see some reason, sometimes not. Once, traveling 75 MPH passing a large truck in the lane to my right, the brakes slammed on very hard. Fortunately, I had both hands on the wheel and avoiding crashing into him and the car be him me was far enough back to not hit me. Many other smaller instances, but today doing about 45-50 MPH the brakes slammed on HARD, didn’t release, and I had to steer to the left and hit the accelerator to avoid hitting a biker. I think the Tesla may have been reacting to the biker. I will not use cruise control any longer until it is fixed. It is terrifying and it’s just a matter of time until something really bad happens.

NHTSA ODI 11470344

Nov 27, 2020SteeringBody & structureBrakes

WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED THEN PUT IN REVERSE, THE CAR MAKES A LOUD CRACKING NOISE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS BRAKES THAT WERE CLEANED UP BUT STILL MAKE A LOUD NOISE.

NHTSA ODI 11376715

Aug 19, 2020Brakes

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A MULTIPLE-SYSTEM FAILURE. WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST, LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL, LOSS OF BRAKING ASSIST, AND OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. A RESET OF THE COMPUTER RECTIFIED THE ISSUE, BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY, AND THE SOFTWARE FAILS AGAIN AND AGAIN. IN FAILURE MODE, WHICH COMES ON UNPREDICTABLY, THE BRAKES MAKE A TERRIBLE GRINDING SOUND AND ARE NOT AS EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING THE CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE ONSET OF THESE FAILURES IS USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING AND OCCURS RANDOMLY.

NHTSA ODI 11350295

Aug 5, 2017SteeringBrakesCrash2 deaths

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TESLA AUTOPILOT. HERE IS A FRESHLY UPLOADED VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=0JLLUPSVGJ4 THE OWNER DRIVES HANDS FREE ON AN UNDIVIDED ROAD WHILST USING BOTH HANDS TO EAT A BURGER. THIS IS NOT MERELY A CASE OF STUPIDITY IT IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF THE MARKETING OF AUTOPILOT BY TESLA. THE VERY NAME AUTOPILOT IS DANGEROUSLY MISLEADING, OTHER MAKERS CALL THEIR SYSTEMS "DRIVER ASSIST" OR "LANE-KEEPING ASSIST" THE WIDELY PUBLICISED CLAIM THAT TESLA AUTOPILOT IS 40% SAFER THAN A HUMAN DRIVER IS FURTHER ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OWNERS TO USE THIS IN A DANGEROUS FASHION. DURING THIS VIDEO THE CAR TAKES A SUDDEN SWERVE OVER THE CENTRE-LINE JUST AFTER THE OWNER HAS FINISHED EATING HIS BURGER. THE OWNER THINKS THAT THIS IS ALL A GREAT JOKE. I AGREE, TESLA AUTOPILOT IS A JOKE, BUT NOT IN A GOOD WAY. PLEASE STOP THIS DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT BEFORE MORE LIVES ARE LOST. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTOGRAPH OF A FATAL CRASH THAT HAS JUST HAPPENED IN CHINA. HTTPS://WWW.REDDIT.COM/R/TESLAMOTORS/COMMENTS/6RAUD3/ANOTHER_ACCIDENT_IN_CHINA_INVOLVING_AN_TESLA/?ST=J5Z9ZTCW&SH=61E3B47D IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS FATAL CRASH WAS CAUSED BY AUTOPILOT. PLEASE ASK TESLA TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS AND ASK THEM TO PROVE BEYOND ANY DISPUTE THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT CAUSED BY AUTOPILOT. IT SEEMS THAT AFTER EVERY CRASH TESLA CLAIM THAT THE AUTOPILOT WAS DISENGAGED AT THE ACTUAL MOMENT OF IMPACT. WELL, THEY WOULD SAY THAT WOULDN'T THEY? PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN. DATES OF INCIDENTS ARE AN APPROXIMATION. DETAILS OF FATALITIES ARE AN ESTIMATE BASED UPON THE BLOOD AND BRAINS SPLATTERED OVER THE TESLA.

NHTSA ODI 11012943

Working with the data? Download all 237 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 2017 Tesla Model X P90d verdict →