What 191 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Tesla Model X (all Variants 7psgr)

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The apparent malfunction involved Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) during an autonomous highway lane change. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The vehicle struck lane delineator posts at approximately 70 mph without any observable warning or corrective action. Immediate manual intervention was required to avoid a potentially more serious collision with surrounding highway traffic. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center UNKNOWN. The incident has not been reproduced or independently confirmed. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?** A Tesla Service Request has been opened. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Tesla or any independent investigator. No police report was filed. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** No. There were no warning lights, warning messages, audible alerts, emergency braking, or diagnostic notifications before, during, or after the incident.

NHTSA ODI 11747215

While using Full Self Driving (FSD) for autoparking, the car backed into and sideswiped a pole

NHTSA ODI 11702804

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle attempted to merge near the contact’s vehicle, which caused the passenger front end of the vehicle to collide into a pole. The air bags did not deploy during the incident. The contact also stated that the front driver's door became inoperable, and the contact had to break the front driver's window to be removed from the vehicle. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was provided. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA ODI 11671065

The front passenger heat seat is automatically turned on whenever car is turned on from phone. This time when driving in the evening there was a burning smell for 1 hour which I thought was from the vents. Then the passenger seat started smoking and the fumes were so bad that I could not breathe. No one was in the passenger seat at that time thank goodness. It created a hole in the seat. Tesla will replace the seat under warranty, but service center is 2 hours away.

NHTSA ODI 11643690

Summon mode did not detect a pole where the car parked under a shed and ran into it resulting in damages to the driver’s door and side fender. Contacted Tesla through the app and was only told to take it to a bodyshop.

NHTSA ODI 11634790

Horn button is a safety issue. 2023 TeslaX is dangerous without a center horn. Went into a ditch to avoid an errant truck because I looked down to find the tiny button. Blinker buttons are completely ineffective when making a turn, major safety issue. Need a stalk for blinkers.

NHTSA ODI 11630761

On Oct 2, 2024 while going to school to pick the kids, when my wife was turning right into a parking lot after slowing, my Tesla Model X plaid car acceralated and went into high speed (plaid mode) hitting a tree at top speed even though brakes were applied. Upon research, this looks like sudden unintended accerelation. The car luckily hit the tree on the passenger side and the front right wheel flew to the back seat and all air bags were deployed. The car was totaled. Miracleously, she had minor external injuries but due to the speed of impact with the tree, she was flung forward and after the CT scan, we found that she had VAD with severe damage to both her neck arteries. She was taken to hospital in an ambulance, had a surgery and still has trauma and medical appointments to fully recover. In Mar 2024, there was always a software problem with My car failing to detect the car was open and hit the garage roof with the falcon wing. On another occasion, the car failed to detect my other car when it was too close to it and I had to apply the brakes although the car was to stop automatically. Tesla refused to treat this as warranty even though the car should not move when doors are open. After 6 months, I ended up fixing the car at a Tesla collision centre. After multiple follow ups via email, chats on tesla app and phone calls post the accident on Oct 2, 2024 with Tesla pleading with them to provide the EDR report and address the issue as warranty and not hearing back, I am logging this so that customers are aware of this dangerous flaw that can be fatal. It looks like Tesla wants to delay the case for long so that they can force the customer to accept a low settlement. I was also planning to buy a cyberbeast but not going to anymore.

NHTSA ODI 11629545

Enel X Juice box level 2 charger is shorting and tripping circuit breaker. sparks coming out of the Juice box before shorting breaker. This is a replacement unit received from Enel X in early 2024 as the first unit stopped working

NHTSA ODI 11629043

Description of the Problem: Component/System Failure: On [XXX], while using the Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature of my Tesla Model X, the vehicle experienced severe phantom braking and unexpectedly veered off the road near Rio Vista, Antioch, CA. The failure appears to be related to the FSD system, braking, and steering. The vehicle is currently in Tesla’s possession and available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) Safety Risk: The malfunction put my safety and the safety of others at significant risk. The sudden phantom braking and veering off the road could have caused a serious accident. Fortunately, there were no immediate external damages or injuries, but the incident highlighted a critical safety failure. Reproduction/Confirmation: The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by an independent service center. Tesla has had the vehicle for over three weeks, claiming to conduct a diagnostic check, but has not communicated any findings. Inspection: The vehicle has been inspected by Tesla, but no results have been shared. No inspections have been conducted by the police or insurance representatives as there was no collision or external damage. Warning Lamps/Messages: There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. The incident occurred suddenly and without prior indication of a malfunction. Summary: The incident highlights a severe malfunction in the Full Self-Driving system of my Tesla Model X, posing significant safety risks. Tesla’s lack of communication and failure to provide a loaner vehicle during the extended diagnostic period is unacceptable. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance in addressing this safety concern and ensuring a thorough investigation.

NHTSA ODI 11602998

Car garage door activation software. My Tesla car activated the garage door, opening it while I was getting ready to back into the garage, as it was supposed to do. After I initiated backing into the garage, the Tesla, on its' own, activated the door to close as I was backing into the garage. The garage door came down onto the top of the spoiler on the rear of my Tesla Model X. I did not activate the door opener on the control panel. While backing up, I could not see the door in the process of closing. I have a video of the incident. I contacted Tesla and was told they would not cover the damage.

NHTSA ODI 11586847

The contact owned a 2023 Tesla X. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the contact became distracted by an incoming phone call and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags deployed upon impact and the contact became locked inside the vehicle. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. The police were called to the scene but were unable to assist with the contact's removal from the vehicle. After close to an hour, the contact finally found a latch to unlock the vehicle. The contact sustained a headache as a result of the accident but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a Tesla service center. The contact stated that the forward collision avoidance feature failed to operate as needed which should have prevented the accident. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V862000 (Latches/Locks/Linkage; Electrical System). The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was later totaled without the contact's knowledge. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 11578455

When I pressed the button (lower button near the left side rear seat inside the car) to close the falcon door on left side of the car, The right falcon door accidentally started closing . A person was standing under right falcon door . The door hit the person, injured them and then stopped

NHTSA ODI 11577780

The right falcon door started closing even though a person was standing right under it. ( the right falcon door was triggered by mistake when we closed the left door). The falcon door hit the person on their upper shoulder, injured them and stopped

NHTSA ODI 11577793

The touch sensitive horn button on the right side of the steering wheel is dangerous. It cannot be located and used in time to avoid a collision, and may cause an accident by requiring the driver to take eyes off road in order to look down and locate the small half inch area to press in order to engage horn. This is a DANGEROUS design defect I cannot safely operate vehicle without a Center push horn on the wheel. I have asked Tesla for a replacement to a safer steering wheel and they refuse.

NHTSA ODI 11571323

I was driving the car in stop-and-go traffic on a city street. After another stop, the car in front of me started moving. I pressed on the accelerator with the usual force, but my car took off like crazy. I pressed on the breaks, but the car didn't seem to respond to the brake pedal and ran into a car in front of me. Automatic emergency breaking system didn't engage as well. Luckily, nobody was injured. Had there been any pedestrians crossing the street, they would have been badly injured or killed. This uncontrolled response from the car is very dangerous and I cannot trust it anymore. As a result of this accident, the car in front suffered damage in the amount of a few thousand USD, and my Tesla Model X - $40k.

NHTSA ODI 11567841

The horn button on this steering wheel is so dangerous. I got hit by a car today because it took me too long to find the horn button instead of being able to hit the middle of steering wheel like every other car in the world. Please ask Tesla to fix this.

NHTSA ODI 11565423

In unexpected and unknown circumstances (false sensor detections?), the automated doors and trunk will suddenly reverse direction when opening and rapidly close instead of pausing. This can cause injury with no ability to get out of the way in proper time. I’ve experience cases where the trunk opened then suddenly came down hitting me in the head. Also, have had cases where the falcon wing doors have closed abruptly hitting my 8yr old child rather hard. Only when he started to get pinched in the doors did it stop on pressure. I also have experienced where the automatic closing of the front driver’s door was inadvertently triggered while getting in and catching the edge of the brake pedal. This caused the door so close rapidly and firmly on my leg. Overall, these doors shouldn’t be aggressively trying to close if sensors determine a reason it cannot open. As for the front door, I don’t know what the answer is but it’s dangerous.

NHTSA ODI 11565362

I was the passenger in this Tesla. When we turned the Tesla accelerated and the driver tried to brake but she screamed to me they weren’t working. The Tesla slammed into the back of my parked SUV and pushed my parked car and us through the garage and my car through the back brick wall. We were both at high risk of possibly dying in the car crash. We suffered injurys and still are suffering. There has been a recall on the model Tesla’s brakes I will attach a picture. Some of the questions are unknown because I was the passenger of the car.

NHTSA ODI 11563674

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle in a parking lot, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a supermarket door without warning. The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact was taken to the hospital for a checkup but did not sustain any injuries; no other injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The supermarket door was damaged as a result of the accident. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it remained in their possession. Recently, the contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V679000 (Electrical System; Service Brakes, Hydraulics) which was linked to the vehicle failure. The contact called the dealer about the recall and was informed that the part remained on backorder. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11561295

The contact owned a 2023 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while driving into her driveway, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated, and conversely, with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle failed to come to a complete stop. As a result, the vehicle collided with the rear of another vehicle parked in the driveway, sending the other vehicle careening into the garage. The air bags did deploy. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The occupants transported themselves to an area hospital for treatment; the contact was treated for a broken hand and two broken ribs, and the passenger was treated for bruising and a sprained ankle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V679000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic), but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 11561386

As I drove my Tesla Model X Plaid into my driveway towards the garage to park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated itself (I have FSD but wasn’t using it at that time) and drove into the garage door as it was still opening, slamming and crushing into all the items that were on one side of the garage. When I quickly realized what was going on, I slammed the brakes and made the car stop. My daughter luckily was waiting for me on the stairs of the garage. If she were standing in the garage instead, it would have been fatal. I have already called Tesla about the incident and they said someone will visit and take a look in about a week. This happened on Sunday Sept 17th 2023 around 8 pm. When I bought the car in Dec 2022, as soon as I took the delivery of the car, I have experienced the front driver and passenger windows that kept opening by themselves multiple times. I had called Tesla and they replaced both the doors and it didn’t happen again after that. I asked the technician at the time that if the car can’t control such small things, how can I trust my life with its FSD? He assured me that this was the safest car and had multiple sensors that are constantly monitoring the safety of the car, but in my case I am shocked to see that the sensors didn’t do anything to stop when the car slammed itself into the garage.

NHTSA ODI 11545772

Full Self Driving suddenly speeds up while waiting at red lights

NHTSA ODI 11529862

I recently traded in my 2017 Tesla Model X for a 2023 Tesla Model X. I am concerned the falcon wing doors on the 2023 Model X do not have the same safety features they did on the 2017 Model X, posing greater risk of injury and harm. My 10 year old daughter suffered a concussion when the falcon wing door opened, failed to detect her standing nearby, and hit her on the head. I brought the car into my local Tesla service center where we reproduced the behavior of the falcon wing door. I stood close to the door while a tech and sales representative observed as it hit me while it opened. However, after leaving the car with the service center to be evaluated, Tesla concluded the falcon wing doors were functioning as expected and told us it is our responsibility to stand clear of the doors and that while the doors have sensors, they do not cover all areas around the door. I escalated the claim beyond the service center to an internal Tesla engineering team and received an identical response. I am concerned that Tesla is not willing to reassess the sensor coverage of the falcon wing doors and that these doors could cause more harm. I drove a 2017 Model X for five years and never experienced a safety issue with the falcon wing doors. The doors on my previous Model X would stop if they detected the slightest obstacle. We always felt safe using them. The sensors seem to have changed on the 2023 Model X and the falcon wing doors are far less sensitive to objects and humans. This is very concerning. What is more concerning is Tesla's response indicating they don't intend to do anything about it. The falcon wing doors are heavy and automatic. They aren't manual doors that are easy to control. I believe it is Tesla's responsibility to make these doors as safe as possible and integrate complete coverage with door sensors. I am submitting this complaint in the hopes that it will result in getting Tesla to improve the safety of the falcon wing door sensor system.

NHTSA ODI 11523229