2018 Tesla MODEL X

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Tesla MODEL X has 299 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (13% of all complaints), specifically: 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 be. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 47 crash reports 17 injuries

299

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

40 complaints

13%

• 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 BE
• 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
• 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 US

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 13 crashes

“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 BE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

37 complaints

12%

• 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
• 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 ACCEL
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 14 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

37 complaints

12%

• MOST TESLA MODEL X OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF AN ACCELERATION SHUDDER THAT HAPPENS DUE TO A HALFSHAFT ALIGNMENT DESIGN FLAW WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL TESLA SERVICE CENTERS. WHEN IT GETS WORSE DUE TO INACTION / LACK OF RECALL BY TESLA, SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAN OCCUR WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION.
• THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT DANGEROUSLY WEAK SUSPENSION BALL JOINTS THAT ARE USED IN ALL MODELS OF TESLA CARS. HERE IS A MODEL X WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OF SNAPPED BALL JOINT STEMS THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE MODEL 3 COMPLAINT I FILLED AN HOUR AGO. HERE IT IS. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/4333599
• THIS IS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRAGILE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS ON TESLAS. I HAVE HAS TO USE THE VIN OF ANOTHER WRECKED TESLA BECAUSE THE AUCTION LISTING OF THE CAR IN QUESTION DOES NOT PROVIDE THE NUMBER. HERE IS A TESLA FOR SALE BY THE INSURER. HTTPS://WWW.COPART.COM/LOT/52625009/PHOTOS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“MOST TESLA MODEL X OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF AN ACCELERATION SHUDDER THAT HAPPENS DUE TO A HALFSHAFT ALIGNMENT DESIGN FLAW WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL TESLA SERVICE CENTERS. WHEN IT GETS WORSE DUE TO INACTION / LACK OF RECALL BY TESLA, SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAN OCCUR WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

35 complaints

12%

• 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
• 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 PRIO
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

31 complaints

10%

• ON MARCH 1, 2021, WIFE AND I WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 80 HIGHWAY IN OHIO. TWICE THE VEHICLE BRAKED WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND. NO BRIDGES OR OBSTACLES. AND THE ROAD LINES WHERE CLEAR. THE FIRST BRAKING OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE ON RIGHT L
• Since I’ve owned this car in Jan, 2018, the auto driving system seems to think there are obstacles and auto brakes abruptly for no reason. In addition, the car fails to break sometimes when there are cars directly in front of the car.
• Constantly phantom breaks. 30+ times on cruise control (not autopilot) in a 6 mile stretch. Started October 2021, occurs daily on two lane roads

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“ON MARCH 1, 2021, WIFE AND I WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON ROUTE 80 HIGHWAY IN OHIO. TWICE THE VEHICLE BRAKED WHILE DRIVING IN CRUISE CONTROL. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND. NO BRIDGES OR OBSTACLES. AND THE ROAD LINES WHERE CLEAR. THE FIRST BRAKING OCCURRED WHILE WE WERE ON RIGHT L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 299 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: 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 BE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: MOST TESLA MODEL X OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING OF AN ACCELERATION SHUDDER THAT HAPPENS DUE TO A HALFSHAFT ALIGNMENT DESIGN FLAW WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED BY ALL TESLA SERVICE CENTERS. WHEN IT GETS WORSE DUE TO INACTION / LACK OF RECALL BY TESLA, SERIOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE CAN OCCUR WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)