Home · 2018 Tesla Model X 90d · Complaints

What 141 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model X 90d

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 (141)Crash / fire / injury (29)Suspension (34)Electrical system (26)Driver assistance (20)Body & structure (15)Speed control (15)Brakes (10)Seats (10)Seat belts (8)Airbags (7)Steering (7)

Newest first · 141 complaints · page 6 of 6

May 28, 2019Speed controlBrakesEngineCrash1 injury

A TESLA MODEL X WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED AND SHIFTED INTO GEAR BY A 2 YEAR OLD WHO WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD AND PIN HIS PREGNANT MOTHER BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND GARAGE WALL. APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO SAFETY-INTERLOCKS PREVENTING STARTING OF THE ENGINE, SUCH AS TRANSMISSION IN 'P' OR 'N'. FURTHER, THERE IS A WAND SHIFTER, BUT GEAR SELECTION IS COMPLETELY UNDER SOFTWARE CONTROL. THERE IS NO INTERLOCK SUCH AS WITH A TRADITIONAL PRNDL SELECTOR. THIS IS AN INHERENTLY UNSAFE DESIGN. CIVIL DOCKET DESCRIBING THE ACCIDENT AND TESLA'S RESPONSE ARE ATTACHED. NOTE IN TESLA'S RESPONSE: 1) THEY DO NOT STATE HOW MANY MINUTES ELAPSED BETWEEN DRIVER EXITING THE VEHICLE AND TODDLER ENTERING IT. THEY USE THE VAGUE TERM "MOMENTS." IT COULD WELL HAVE BEEN 10 OR 15 MINUTES. 2) THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT REASONABLY FORESEEABLE THAT A CHILD WOULD MANAGE TO SHIFT A VEHICLE INTO GEAR, WHICH IS PATENTLY FALSE. SAFE VEHICLE DESIGN ABSOLUTELY INCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF UNSUPERVISED CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE CONTROLS.

NHTSA ODI 11210423

May 13, 2019Electrical system

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN THE CAR FROZE FOR OVER TEN MINUTES ALONG WITH ALL AUDIO IN THE CAR. DISPLAYED SPEED AS 67 MILES PER HOUR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME DESPITE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER DID NOT WORK UNTIL RESET IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11207381

Apr 11, 2019Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL X. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. LATER, A SCRAPING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WOULD NOT MOVE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11195603

Mar 1, 2019Crash

WAS PARKING MY 2018 MODEL X ON FEB 1, 2019, IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, HIT THE GARAGE DOOR(CLOSED. NO WARNING FROM SENSOR), WENT THROUGH GARAGE DOOR( VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AFTER HITTING THE GARAGE DOOR), DID NOT SENSE THINGS(LIKE WASHER, DRYER, WATER HEATER, WALL TO MY KITCHEN) IN THE GARAGE DOOR AND FINALLY SMASHED THE WASHER/DRYER BEFORE COMING TO STOP. WASHER/DRYER HIT THE WALL AND DAMAGE THE ENTIRE KITCHEN. NO AIRBAGS CAME OUT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT, MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACKSEAT AND MY SON WAS INSIDE THE HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11183334

Feb 22, 2019Electrical system

2018 TESLA MODEL X, 75D. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MAJOR ELECTRONIC FAILURES. *LD

NHTSA ODI 11175350

Jan 15, 2019Electrical systemCrash

AUDIO WARNING GLITCH IN TESLA MODEL X. SCENARIO IS THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK WITH THE PASSENGER'S DOOR AND HATCHBACK OPEN. CAR IS PLACED IN TO REVERSE GEAR AND THE AUDIO TONE SOUNDS WARNING OF OPEN DOOR AND OPEN HATCHBACK. PASSENGER'S DOOR IS CLOSED BY OCCUPANT AND AUDIO SIGNAL STOPS, ALTHOUGH REAR HATCHBACK IS STILL OPEN. AUDIO TONE IS STILL SILENT IF THE VEHICLE MOVES IN REVERSE GEAR ALTHOUGH THE HATCHBACK IS STILL OPEN. RISK OF POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, BUILDING STRUCTURES, AND PEOPLE NEARBY DUE TO AUDIO TONE SILENCING PREMATURELY. TESLA ACKNOWLEDGES REPRODUCIBILITY OF THE PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE AND THE ENTIRE MODEL X FLEET BUT REFUSES TO NOTIFY CURRENT MODEL X OWNERS PER MY REQUEST. ALSO, SPONTANEOUS SHUT DOWN ON TESLA AUTO PILOT SYSTEM AND VEHICLE MEDIA CONTROL UNIT WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER IS DEPRIVED OF SPEED INFORMATION AND TURN SIGNALLING INFORMATION DURING THE SHUT DOWN. DRIVER UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH LOCAL DRIVING LAWS REQUIRING SIGNALLING WHEN CHANGING LANES AND MAKING TURNS. TESLA SEEMS UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO FIX THESE SAFETY ISSUES. ARBITRATION IN PROCESS PER TESLA WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. LINK TO DOCUMENTING VIDEOS BELOW, ALSO ALREADY GIVEN TO TESLA SERVICE DEPARTMENT: HTTPS://PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL/X2MURK4BIIA5KTPE7

NHTSA ODI 11170234

Dec 13, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

ESSENTIALLY NEW CAR PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. CAR FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT PUT IN PARK, CAR WAS STRUCK IN DRIVE MODE. TONS OF ERRORS AND SAFETY ISSUES. PARKING BRAKE FAILED. AIRBAG AND ABS SYSTEMS FAILED. THIS CAR FAILED ONE MONTH PRIOR ALSO WITH SAFETY ISSUES AT HIGH SPEED AND TESLA SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT CLEARLY NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11161245

Nov 27, 2018Speed controlCrash1 injury

ON NOV 17, 2018 AT 4:50 PM, I WAS DRIVING MY TESLA X SLOWLY WITH AUTO PILOT OFF AND AUTO STEER OFF ON A SURFACE STREET IN SAN CLEMENTE, CA. I WAS TRYING TO DO A U TURN. I VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, THAT THERE WAS AN AREA WHERE CARS WERE NOT PARKED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET AND COULD USE A PARKING DRIVEWAY ON THE RIGHT THAT WILL ALLOW MORE SPACE TO PERFORM THE U TURN. I GENTLY PRESSED THE BREAK TO FURTHER SLOWDOWN AND THEN VEERED A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. I STARTED TO TURN TO THE LEFT WHILE STILL GENTLY PRESSING THE BREAK. AS SOON AS THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL LEFT THE DRIVEWAY AND BEFORE I HAD COMPLETED THE U TURN, THE TESLA ALL OF A SUDDEN, ON ITS OWN SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED TO FULL POWER (A TESLA X CAN GO FROM 0-60 MILES IN APPROX. 4 SECONDS). MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BREAK, I DID NOT MOVE IT AND THEREFORE I DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. THERE WERE NO OBJECTS OBSTRUCTING THE PEDALS. IN A SMALL FRACTION OF A SECOND, THE TESLA TRAVELED AT FULL SPEED TOWARDS THE TACOMA CAR PARKED AHEAD ON THE LEFT (LESS THAN 20 FEET). SOMETHING IN THE TESLA SYSTEM TRIGGERED THE SUDDEN SPONTANEOUS FULL ACCELERATION RESULTING IN THIS COLLISION. THE TESLA HAD MAJOR DAMAGE IN THE FRONT, THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I HAD A MAJOR BRUISE ON MY ABDOMEN AND SEVERAL SMALL BRUISES ON MY CHEST. THE TACOMA SUFFERED DAMAGE IN THE FRONT, MOVED BACKWARDS AND HIT THE CAR PARKED BEHIND IT. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE OTHER VEHICLES. IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE NOT TO A DRIVER'S ERROR BUT TO A TECHNOLOGICAL ERROR WITHIN THE TESLA VEHICLE. I FOUND MORE THAN 60 COMPLAINTS FOR SPONTANEOUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR TESLA VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED TO NHTSA. WHAT THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE IN COMMON ARE THAT VEHICLES ARE TRAVELING SLOWLY TRYING TO PARK OR MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEED WHEN SUDDEN SPONTANEOUS FULL ACCELERATION WAS TRIGGERED.

NHTSA ODI 11154380

Nov 13, 2018Seats

I BROUGHT MY CAR TO BROOKLYN TESLA SERVICE BECAUSE MY DRIVER SEAT STARTED TO ROCKING (ITS MOVING LIKE IT GOT LOOSE) AFTER TECHNICIAN DUPLICATED THE ISSUE, HE SAID IT'S A "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND THAT TESLA SEAT CAN START MOVING AFTER A CERTAIN TIME IF THE DRIVER IS HEAVY. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND I'M SURE THAT LOOSE DRIVER SEAT IS DANGEROUS. IN ADDION THE SEAT HAS METAL BAR ON BUTTOM CUSION THAT IS PAINTFULL FOR "HEAVY" DRIVERS, ALSO A VERY BIG SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY DRIVE IN PAIN AND THIS AS PER TESLA THE SEAT IS DESIGNED THIS WAY.

NHTSA ODI 11151158

Oct 23, 2018Speed controlCrash

WHILE IN A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED AND COMING AROUND A TURN TO PARK, TESLA SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM LOW SPEED TO HIGH SPEED HITTING A POLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS WITHOUT WARNING. SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR. LUCKILY NO PEDESTRIANS WERE NEARBY.

NHTSA ODI 11142282

Oct 10, 2018Tires

DEFECTIVE TIRE: ON 2018 TESLA MODEL X - 4201 MILES, 4 MONTHS OLD REAR TIRE: CONTINENTAL CROSS CONTACT LX SPORT CSI - 275 /45 R20 110V XL BSW TE CAR REPORTED LOSS IN TIRE PRESSURE, TOOK IT TO COSTCO FOR AIR REFILL, TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT SIDE WALL. REFER TO IMAGE ATTACHED. TIRE OR RIM SHOWS NO SIGN OF SIDE WALL HIT OR IMPACT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE TIRE, WOULD LIKE TESLA AND CONTINENTAL TO INVESTIGATE AND REPLACE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11139528

Oct 10, 2018TiresWheels

DEFECTIVE TIRE: ON 2018 TESLA MODEL X - 4201 MILES, 4 MONTHS OLD REAR TIRE: CONTINENTAL CROSS CONTACT LX SPORT CSI - 275 /45 R20 110V XL BSW TE CAR REPORTED LOSS IN TIRE PRESSURE, TOOK IT TO COSTCO FOR AIR REFILL, TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED TIRE HAD A BULGE IN IT SIDE WALL. REFER TO IMAGE ATTACHED. TIRE OR RIM SHOWS NO SIGN OF SIDE WALL HIT OR IMPACT. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE TIRE, WOULD LIKE TESLA AND CONTINENTAL TO INVESTIGATE AND REPLACE.

NHTSA ODI 11139524

Aug 3, 2018

CANNOT OPEN DOORS. LOCKED OUT WITH NO WAY TO ENTER WITH KEYS OR MANUALLY. CAR IS ONLY FOUR MONTHS OLD AND HAD PLENTY OF CHARGE. TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAS NEEDED TO SEND SOMEONE OUT TO TRY AND FIX

NHTSA ODI 11115665

Jul 15, 2018Body & structureSpeed controlBrakesCrash

WHEN SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE CAR ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN JUMPING THE CURB AND SLAMMED INTO A CHAIN LINK FENCE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT DIDN'T RESPOND. MY TEN YEAR OLD CHILD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND THANKFULLY WE ARE BOTH UNHARMED. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT OF THE CAR ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS DURING MY FIRST WEEK WITH THE CAR AND WHEN I WAS SLOWLY DRIVING AROUND A TRAFFIC CIRCLE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN. NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN MISALIGNMENT THAT TIME BUT I WAS VERY SCARED AND CALLED TESLA SERVICE. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS FOR THEM TO RESPOND WITH THE DATA REPORT FROM THE CAR AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED DUE TO THE DRIVER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I ACCEPTED THEIR EXPLANATION AND ASSUMED THAT I WAS INDEED AT FAULT EVEN THOUGH I WAS POSITIVE THAT I DIDN'T PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. I'M INCREDIBLY SADDENED BY THIS SITUATION AS I TRULY LOVED THIS CAR BUT I'M TOO FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. IT'S CURRENTLY AT A BODY SHOP.

NHTSA ODI 11111431

Jun 18, 2018Fire

ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE THAT I JUST READ ON YAHOO FINANCE, THE TELEGRAPH HAS REPORTED TODAY THAT BRITISH TV DIRECTOR'S TESLA BURSTS INTO FLAMES SITTING IN TRAFFIC. ACTOR MARY MCCORMACK HAS SHARED VIDEO OF HER BRITISH HUSBAND'S TESLA CAR SHOOTING FLAMES WHILE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC. HE HAD BEEN DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR ROUTE THROUGH LOS ANGELES, WHEN THE FIRE WAS FIRST SPOTTED BY OTHER ROAD USERS.SHE SAID THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AND THE INCIDENT WAS OUT OF THE BLUE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND AND HIS CAR TODAY. NO ACCIDENT, OUT OF THE BLUE, IN TRAFFIC ON SANTA MONICA BLVD. SHE ALSO SAID, THANK YOU TO THE KIND COUPLE WHO FLAGGED HIM DOWN AND TOLD HIM TO PULL OVER. AND THANK GOD MY THREE GIRLS WEREN'T IN THE CAR WITH HIM. SHERIFF'S LT. WILLIAN NASH IN WEST HOLLYWOOD SAID ON SATURDAY THAT DEPUTIES SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AND THEN FIRE. DEPUTIES REQUESTED HELP FROM FIREFIGHTERS WHO QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. HERE IS THE LINK: HERE IS THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/TECHNOLOGY/2018/06/17/ACTORMARY-MCCORMACK-SHARES-VIDEO-HUSBANDS-TESLA-CAR-GOING-FLAMES/ (LOL)

NHTSA ODI 11102260

May 8, 2018Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TESLA MODEL X. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED OVER A CURB BEFORE CRASHING INTO A CEMENT LIGHT POLE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK, SHOULDER, AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, AN ERRONEOUS WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING TOO CLOSELY TO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS NOWHERE IN THE VICINITY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, INCLUDING SHORTLY BEFORE THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

NHTSA ODI 11092528

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Working with the data? Download all 141 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 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 2018 Tesla Model X 90d verdict →