2020 Tesla Model X Long Range Plus

2020 Tesla Model X Long Range Plus

Luxury Electric SUV · AWD

351 mi NCA NACS 250 kW DC 10 recalls 121 complaints · 6.7/10K 8/10 value
65 /100
TrimIndex Score

Based on battery health, build quality, owner data, EPA range, and market pricing

Below average for 2020 EV SUVs (class avg 66)

Personalize this score
Is a low score bad?
Not always. A low score flags items to verify before buying — and often signals stronger value, since heavier discounts already price the risk in. See TrimIndex’s pre-purchase inspection →
Sourced from: NHTSA· EPA· KBB· J.D. Power ·25 Reddit threads ·108 forum excerpts

Last scanned 34 days ago

Buyer brief · 242 words

The 2020 Tesla Model X Long Range Plus packs 351 miles of EPA range and 250 kW fast charging, and with 10 recall campaigns on this make/year, the VIN lookup is the first thing you do.

Score read

A 65/100 makes this a paperwork-and-test-drive decision. Software and driver-assist score is 83/100, but owner feedback score is only 53/100. Owners on Reddit repeatedly cite build quality and owner satisfaction as recurring problems. Treat missing repair records as a price problem, not a footnote.

Is it a good deal?

Bargain Priced well below class for the quality on offer

Used examples are running around $33,587 against a $81,190 original sticker, about 41% of new. A reasonable spot for the score, but condition matters more than the headline number; verify recall completion, battery health, and service history.

Who this is for

✓ Good for

  • Daily commuter ≤50 mi/day, predictable charging
  • Road tripper Long trips, needs DC fast network
  • Family hauler 3+ kids, cargo, towing

✗ Avoid if you are a

No persona-level disqualifiers — fits broadly.

Gotchas

  • Serviceable Recall paperwork has to match the exact VIN.

    Mitigation Use NHTSA and the automaker lookup, then require repair records instead of a verbal promise.

  • Verify Owner feedback is the part to read carefully (53/100).

    Mitigation Read the complaint themes and ask whether this VIN has already had those issues repaired.

Pre-purchase inspection

  • 1 Run the exact VIN through NHTSA and the automaker recall lookup before discussing price.
  • 2 Compare the dashboard range estimate with the EPA 351-mile rating after a full charge.
  • 3 Confirm how much of the 8-year/150,000-mile battery warranty remains and whether it transfers.
  • 4 If road trips matter, run a short DC fast-charge session and watch whether speed tapers normally.
  • 5 Read the complaint themes, not just the count, and ask the seller whether those issues have shown up on this VIN.
TrimIndex Intelligence
Synthesized 1 day ago
121 NHTSA Complaints 6.7 per 10K VINs · near industry average
10 Recall Campaigns
25 Reddit Threads r/ModelX
108 Forum Excerpts avg -0.10 sentiment

VIN status first This model has 10 NHTSA recall records. The exact VIN lookup decides whether the car in front of you is clear.

Complaint context This scan found 121 NHTSA complaint records (6.7 per 10K VINs, near industry average). Read the themes below before treating the raw count as the verdict.

Price anchor Current market range is $33,587-$35,600. Use that range to compare listings for the same trim, mileage, and condition.

Analyzed by TrimIndex Data Engine · Scoring methodology →

Pricing & Market Value

Original MSRP $81,190 When new (2020)
Current Market Value $33,587 – $35,600 Composite from KBB & J.D. Power
▼ 57% below original MSRP
8 / 10
Value-to-Score Ratio
Excellent deal

A65-rated trim trading 57% below MSRP. Higher discounts on higher-quality vehicles score better — this signal is orthogonal to the TrimIndex composite, not part of it.

KBB
Fair Purchase Price
$35,600
J.D. Power
Consumer Verified™
$33,587 Verified Fair Price

Score Breakdown

What matters most to you?

Drag the sliders to prioritize what you care about. Your TrimIndex Score recalculates instantly.

Your Score
65
/100
Battery Health
64
Weight29%
Owner Satisfaction
53
Weight24%
Build Quality
71
Weight18%
Range & Efficiency
64
Weight18%
Software & Tech
83
Weight11%

Vehicle Specifications

351
miles
EPA Range
32.2
kWh/100mi
Efficiency
AWD
 
Drivetrain
Peers in the same budget · higher or similar score

EVs at your price point that match or beat this trim

Price-gated peer set: vehicles within $27.7K–$41.5K market value (±20% of $34.6K). 1 outscore · 5 score within ±2. Mixed across makes — no "spend more, score better" comps.

Higher score Similar ±2
Used-EV incentive finder

The federal $4,000 used-EV credit ended Sept 30, 2025.

But 10 states still run their own used-EV rebate programs — some up to $5,000. Pick your state to see what's available for this trim.

Source & disclaimer
SourceData compiled April 2026 from each state's administering agency.
DisclaimerProgram rules change. TrimIndex is not a tax advisor — confirm eligibility with your state's issuing agency before purchase.
The Financing Room · What Actually Happens

Dealers make ~$9,873 on the average car loan.

After the price is set, the finance manager runs four plays to rebuild margin. Every buyer without a pre-approval is a target. Here's exactly what they run — and what stops each one.

01 · Without pre-approval
+$1,161
Rate markup

78% of dealer loans carry a hidden +1.13% markup above what the lender actually charges. You never see it — it's buried in the contract. · CFPB

With pre-approval ↓
Rate is already locked

Dealer must match or beat your lender — they can't add margin invisibly. The markup play is dead on arrival.

02 · Without pre-approval
+$1,800
"What's your monthly budget?"

Once you answer, they stretch the term to hit your number. Median result: $4K less off the price, 12 more months on the loan. · Industry avg

With pre-approval ↓
One number to negotiate

Financing is done. Only the sale price is on the table — and the dealer knows it.

03 · Without pre-approval
+$1,775
GAP + extended warranty upsell

Back-office F&I profit averages $1,975/vehicle, up 8.5% YoY. These products exist — but dealer markup is 4–10x what you'd pay elsewhere. · Dealership Guy

With pre-approval ↓
You can shop it or skip it

Dealer GAP runs $500–1K. Your insurer sells the same coverage for $100–250 over 5 years. Now you know.

04 · Without pre-approval
+$5,137
Yo-yo / spot delivery

"Your loan fell through — come re-sign." This pulls your APR up +5% on average. It's legal. It works because you've already driven the car home. · Ctr for Responsible Lending

With pre-approval ↓
Financing already closed

A lender commitment letter means the deal is final. "Pending dealer approval" doesn't apply. You can't be yo-yo'd.

You overpay
~$9,873

That's 19 months of your car payment — handed to the dealer's finance department for nothing.

Your cost to get pre-approved
$0

Takes 2 minutes. No obligation to use it — but you'll walk in with all the leverage.

Lock your rate before you go to the lot.
Soft pull only No SSN required Works at any dealer

Pre-approval is a soft credit inquiry — no score impact. FICO treats all auto-loan hard pulls within 14 days as one, so you can still shop rates at the dealer.

NHTSA Recalls (10)

May 2024
Seat Belts — Front — Warning Light — Devices
Campaign #24V376000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Feb 2024
Forward Collision Avoidance — Warnings — External — Pedestrian Alert
Campaign #24V153000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2013, 2018-2021 Model S, 2020-2021 Model X, 2018-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. A factory reset muted the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are muted, increasing the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Jan 2024
Electrical System — Instrument Cluster — Panel
Campaign #24V051000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Dec 2023
Electrical System — Adas — Driver Monitoring — Software
Campaign #23V838000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.

In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Feb 2023
Steering — Automated — Adaptive Steering
Campaign #23V085000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.

FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Oct 2022
Steering — Electric Power Assist System
Campaign #22V818000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.

A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Apr 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance — Warnings — External — Pedestrian Alert
Campaign #22V235000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model Y, Model X, Model S, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Feb 2022
Forward Collision Avoidance — Warnings — External — Pedestrian Alert
Campaign #22V063000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Model S, Model X, Model Y, and 2017-2022 Model 3 vehicles. The Boombox function allows sounds to be played through an external speaker while the vehicle is in motion, which may obscure the Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 141, "Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles."

Pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle if the PWS sounds are obscured, increasing the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Jan 2022
Steering — Automated — Adaptive Steering
Campaign #22V037000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.

Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov
Oct 2021
Forward Collision Avoidance — Sensing System — Camera
Campaign #21V846000

Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.

Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Check VIN status at NHTSA.gov

NHTSA Complaints (121 total · 6.7 per 10K US vehicles · near industry average)

46
Build Quality
42
Safety
19
Battery
10
Software
Severity 1 Cosmetic 2 Minor 3 Repeat Visit 4 Stranding 5 Crash / Injury
Frequency Isolated report Emerging pattern Common pattern
5
Safety Dec 31, 2025

I am a software engineer and owner of two 2020 Tesla Model X (Raven) vehicles. Both exhibit a serious safety defect after installing firmware 2025.44.25.4 with FSD v12.6.4. Vehicle configuration: Model S/X with MCU2 (Intel Atom) and Hardware 3 (HW3). Defect description: When Full Self-Driving (FSD) is engaged, the vehicle intermittently enters a critical failure state while in motion: • The instrument cluster (driver display) suddenly goes completely black • The center screen issues a red “Take Control Immediately” alert with alarms • The infotainment computer performs a watchdog reset and reboots (Tesla logo appears) while the vehicle is traveling at highway speeds This has occurred multiple times on both vehicles. Suspected cause: The 2025.44 software update appears to introduce additional dashcam telemetry writes (speed, steering, FSD state) to the USB device while recording video. On MCU2 (Intel Atom), this creates an I/O and CPU bottleneck that starves display and safety-critical threads, triggering an operating-system watchdog reboot. Disabling Dashcam immediately stops the crashes, indicating a resource-exhaustion condition rather than driver error. Safety risk: During the blackout and reboot, the driver loses all visual feedback from the instrument cluster while being instructed to take control. This creates a high risk of collision, especially at highway speeds or in complex traffic environments. Severity: Loss of driver display and system reboot while driving constitutes a safety-critical defect. This condition could lead to serious injury or death. I request NHTSA investigation into instrument-cluster blackouts and system reboots on Tesla HW3/MCU2 vehicles when FSD and Dashcam are enabled.

Common ODI #11708160
5
Safety Jun 23, 2021

Sudden forward unintened rapid acceleration resulting in personal injury and property damage

Common Crash involved ODI #11422222
5
Safety Oct 6, 2020

I'VE CREATED SEVERAL BUG REPORTS FOR THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM WHICH IS, A VERY REAL DANGER. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES TOWARDS PARKED OR STOPPED CARS, SLAMS ON THE BRAKES WITHOUT EXPLANATION ON THE FREEWAY, BEGINS TO CHANGE LANES ON THE FREEWAY THEN VIOLENTLY SWERVES BACK INTO THE ORIGINAL LANE WITHOUT EXPLANATION. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS. THE EXPLANATION IS "SOFTWARE" AND THEY RECOMMEND "UPDATING THE SOFTWARE" WHEN NEW VERSIONS COME OUT. THE VERSION OF SOFTWARE RELEASED ARE NOT READY TO BE RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. AS A PILOT, I UNDERSTAND HOW AUTOPILOT SYSTEMS SHOULD BEHAVIOR. THE TESLA AUTOPILOT BEHAVES SO DANGEROUSLY IT DOESN'T APPEAR THE SOFTWARE ENGINEERS EVEN BOTHERED TO TEST IT BEFORE RELEASE.

Common ODI #11363208
4
Safety Jun 10, 2025

This is a major safety issue --- we got an error that steering assistance was "reduced" for about 12 hours. Then on [XXX] at around [XXX], we were pulling out of a parked area (after being parked for 2 hours) -- and proceeded to increase speed on [XXX] in Newark, the car steering wheel abruptly LOCKED ITSELF - you couldn't even move the steering wheel. It just locked and shut down completely. We proceeded to do a rest (hitting two scroll buttons) to reset the system over 5-6 times. Each time it takes about 10 mins to complete. It was pure HORROR - sitting on the road with cars just passing by and honking at me behind. I had the hazard lights on, but it was a dangerous situation. I was completely STUCK and immobile. After some time, the steering wheel "magically" started working again. We've dropped the Tesla off at Springfield and they are charging us over $6,000 in damages for this. This is a SAFETY issue (we bought the car in March of 2024) and it's only been 15 months since we've had this used car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Common ODI #11666287
4
Safety Apr 29, 2025

Steering assist reduced. It has been faulty for the past six months and auto pilot doesn’t work. Not repaired as the cost of repair is 5K.

Common ODI #11658020
4
Safety Nov 20, 2024

Eil

Common ODI #11626567
4
Safety Sep 18, 2024

Tesla updated my vehicle with FSD 12.5.2.1 and it is dangerous and should be recalled. The software is too much for my vehicles processor, it frequently freezes for as long as 10 seconds. This loses my speedometer, my signal information, and happened while merging and nearly caused me an accident. The lane keep assist has retrograded significantly, it often goes outside of the painted lines and is in danger of hitting curbs. The processor feels like it struggles to keep up, and the auto steer is unsettled and jerky as it changes its mind. Previous software worked great, Tesla is pushing the software beyond the hardwares capabilities and it’s going to cause accidents. Please stop them.

Common ODI #11615386
4
Safety Mar 24, 2024

ON [XXX], while driving my second Tesla Model X on [XXX] from Carson City back to Reno at the speed of 79 mph on Autopilot, the same sudden loud alarming situation occurred, with 1. park Assist unavailable 2. Steering assist reduced 3. Adaptive ride control degraded 4. Traction control disabled 5. Stability control disabled 6. Lane departure avoidance features unavailable 7. Automatic emergency Braking is unavailable 8. Automatic vehicle hold disabled. I drove to s stop, the car can't park but remained in neutral gear. Can't hard reset. With my prior experience 1 month ago, I changed it into Tow mode several times, finally was able to switch into Park mode then was able to do a hard reset. When I brought in to Tesla, they said it's the SAME problem, steering rack issue. Another $5300 is gone. How can I be so unlucky to be hit with same model, different year, same problem, same driving condition and almost same place on earth, and both out of warranty and I have to pay in full? There must be manufacture defect on this!!!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Common ODI #11579415
4
Safety Mar 12, 2024

I have a 2020 Model X (23k miles) and the warranty just expired 2 months ago. It suddenly developed a loud creaking in the front end. The creaking seems to be related to the movement of the suspension, but I also notice it when I turn either direction. It’s not related to braking except to the extent that the suspension is compressed slightly with braking. From research it may be the control arms and front sway bar. Apparently this is a very common issue with the Model X per Online forums. Absolutely no reason why any of those parts should be failing for everyone unless it was faulty parts/engineering. This should definitely be investigated.

Common ODI #11577239
4
Safety Feb 12, 2024

There were two issues that occurred within months of each other: 1) Power steering failed on several occasions– immediately following a service appointment in which the CV joint/half shafts were replaced and an alignment performed. Tesla implied that the intermediate shaft failed in pure coincidence; this is not the case: intermediate steering shaft failure after 40,000 miles with no warning and no impact is very highly unlikely. 2) suspension and steering components began to fail (Front Aft Suspension Link, as diagnosed by Tesla), causing excessive noise and wear on other vehicle components. Tesla was aware of the manufacturing defect prior to failure, but refused to cover the repairs under the warranty. Both issues caused difficulty steering and distractions while driving at both high and low speeds; losing power steering on the highway can be deadly. No warning signs appeared prior to the component failure in either instance, and "driver abuse" did not occur– though Tesla implies that with every concern. The car is set to the slowest acceleration and gentlest handling settings possible to maintain the longevity of the car's components. Independent mechanics not affiliated with Tesla Motors inspected the car and agreed that the failures were abnormal and not to be expected at such a low milage. The issues that began early into the warranty period were sudddenly no longer addressed once the warranty expired: a clear violation of the MMWA of 1975.

Common ODI #11571675
4
Safety Jan 22, 2024

On [XXX] at [XXX] my 2020 Tesla Model X Long Range Plus suddenly started braking while on the highway. I was driving 75MPH to San Diego from Arizona. There was no vehicles around or in front while using the cruise control. This also has been an issue with our 2023 Tesla Model Y and previous Model 3 while driving to Las Vegas at 70MPH. I really think this is safety concern. Luckily there was vehicles behind us with all incidents that took place. I recently took the 2020 Tesla Model X on [XXX] for the issue and the technician found no issues while driving it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Common ODI #11567396
4
Safety Sep 12, 2023

Brakes will lock up a pre collision will activate in forward and reverse when no objects are present. It is a hazard to operate the vehicle since it will randomly slam in the brakes will driving down the road or reversing out of a parking space. Also electrical issues vehicle will no longer lock or unlock

Common ODI #11544306
4
Safety Aug 14, 2023

Many hard braking incidents Ignores posted speed limits Been close to being rear ended by following cars

Common ODI #11538559
4
Safety Jul 11, 2023

Hello, my Tesla Model X has been bothering my family for 2 years because of the potential hidden danger of the brakes. My other vehicles have never encountered these problems. I don’t know what words to use to express my helplessness and helplessness.

Common ODI #11531734
4
Safety May 27, 2023

repeatedly, i have had my car brake harshly when travelling anywhere from 30-55 mph while using adaptive cruise control. there is nevere anything in the road or a car anywhere nearby to warrant a dramatic braking. the decelertion is harsh and alomst caused someone behind me to hit me on 2 occasions. i have repeatedly told Tesla about this and mostly gotten a nebulous response about "hardware" or 'software" issues and that they are working on it. This is dangerous and hurts when it unexpectedly happens!!

Common ODI #11524187
4
Build Quality Mar 28, 2023

Continental Cross Contact LX Sport tire on my Tesla Model X delaminated at only 15,000 miles causing extensive damage.

Common ODI #11514475
4
Safety Mar 26, 2023

There is a known issue where the ball joints in the steering column wear out prematurely (on all Tesla models) and, if not fixed, can damage the steering column. Example: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/comments/vwrct4/does_anyone_know_why_im_getting_a_very_loud/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=4 If you just Google “Tesla steering wheel squeak,” you’ll come up with plenty of articles about it. Tesla has a tendency to hide or misrepresent ongoing problems, and use its customers as test pilots. Enough is enough!

Common ODI #11514062
4
Safety Sep 16, 2022

Was pulling out of the Starbucks drive thru when the car accelerated quickly on it's own. The brakes also failed. The vehicle only stopped after hitting a tree and a light pole. Very dangerous situation as this occurred in the morning when Starbucks is busy. State Farm insurance is in possession of the car currently. We are awaiting their findings. Police report is also pending. I did not see a warning indicator on the car or any indications of any problems. However, the car had been serviced frequently for different issues with Tesla. After the accident, Tesla offered no assistance regarding finding out if there was a safety issue and said we were on our own.

Common Crash involved ODI #11484959
4
Safety Sep 1, 2022

On 8/16/2022 Tuesday, I went to work at about 10:24 and parked by the road next to mcDonalds to call my husband. I wanted him to take the car to park elsewhere as that spot had no parking starting at 10:30. My husband was not available so I was about to move the car and had my feet slightly touching the brake. At that point the car suddenly accelerated and jumped forward without any control and hit a car that was coming out of mcDonalds driveway. That car was about 15/20 feet away from my car and I hit on the driver’s side. My car was in such speed that it pushed the other car 6 feet on the other side which in turn hit a pedestrian crossing the road. I am 100% sure that I did not press the accelerator and the car moved by itself in such force that I had no chance of controlling it. I’ve asked Tesla to investigate as well

Common Crash involved ODI #11482661
4
Safety Jul 12, 2022

Recurring Phantom braking every drive

Common ODI #11473752
4
Safety Apr 26, 2022

Coolant leak in less then 5 months. Had this same problem in November 2021. Tesla replaced Value no.3. In April 2022 Tesla replaced Value no. 3&4. Very concerned since my warranty is running out soon.

Common ODI #11462392
4
Safety Mar 17, 2022

1) Cruise control randomly resets itself to different speeds. Happens several times daily. I can set it to 55 and 5 seconds later it will reset itself to 80 and accelerate suddenly, or vice-versa. It can change to any speed-either higher or lower than what I've set. Happened yesterday afternoon (3-17). First noted it being a problem 2-28 at about 6 pm MST while driving on 4 lane highway in Colorado, with multiple episodes of randomly resetting speeds itself. Given the rapid acceleration/deceleration of a Tesla, when the cruise control resets itself, the acceleration/braking can be abrupt and significant. 2)Ghost braking has been and remains a problem with this car. It was serviced by Tesla 2-18 and a "chip" was replaced per Tesla. I reported about a dozen incidents of ghost braking to Tesla shortly after picking it up but don't have exact times/days. There are 3 episodes of ghost braking that were truly dangerous. I was driving on the Interstate at 70-75 mph and the car slammed on the brakes for no reason, and it seemed it would have stopped completely in the middle of the Interstate if I hadn't accelerated manually. Speed went from 75 to 50 within 1-2 seconds before I was able to react and accelerate. Twice this happened at about 1-2 am on a completely empty interstate in Nebraska with no one around me at all, but the 3rd time was on a busy highway (I-55) near Chicago. I was nearly rear-ended by another car when this braking occurred. He was able to swerve around me, but was unhappy and made his displeasure known. Even if it didn't directly cause an accident it certainly triggered road rage, which is probably more dangerous than actually having an accident these days. Have told Tesla about it before but they always tell me it's just "software" and will get better with updates I have notified Tesla of these incidents (with written record) but haven't heard back from them. I have a service appointment 3-21-22 to get them to try and address these issues

Common ODI #11457253
4
Safety Feb 17, 2022

While cruise control is activated, the car brakes aggressively for no reason. This has happened multiple times in the last few months. I saw that news articles mention model 3, y and s but this is a model X and it is happening on this model as well.

Common ODI #11452710
4
Safety Feb 2, 2022

While on autopilot or cruise control, the car would suddenly and abruptly slam on the brakes for no reason. There's no traffic or objects to avoid. It was very startling because it could have caused a massive rear-end collision had I not intervened to cancel the autopilot and speed up again.. Because of this, I have stopped using the autopilot feature altogether. I cannot trust it will work properly. I have mentioned it to Tesla and they simply say the software update will solve it. It has not!

Common ODI #11450207
4
Safety Jul 1, 2021

Around 1:50 P.M May 27, 2021, I left my house driving my Tesla 2020 Model X with my son in the front passenger seat to his school. We returned to our home around 2:19 P.M. At our front gate, I slowed down to a close stop as I turned the vehicle into my driveway. Once descending the driveway, my Tesla vehicle suddenly accelerated to an extremely high speed. While I attempted to brake; however, none of the speed controls seemed to work. The vehicle hit my 2009 Toyota Camry parked on the left side of my driveway first, then took out the heavy duty wrought iron fence post and gate door located about 100 ft from my front gate. My Tesla vehicle kept moving at a very high speed and knocked down and damaged all trees, plants, and garden arbors along the vehicle’s path and, then, crashed through the rear wrought iron fences about 200 ft from my front gate. Finally, the vehicle stopped after crashing into two large trees and stop there. My son got injured and was taken to an urgent care facility after the crash. Two of my vehicles including 2020 Tesla Model X and 2009 Camry LE were totaled and a large portion of my backyard, fence and gate were destroyed due to this Tesla crash. This Tesla vehicle suddenly accelerated for no reason, indicating that there must have been something seriously wrong with this vehicle at that time. The resulting skid marks on my driveway discovered after the incident demonstrates that braking was applied even though the vehicle accelerated. I had reported this crash to Tesla on May 27 and followed up on May 29, June 1 and June 3 and have not received a response from Tesla at this time. The investigation shall be performed to find why this Tesla vehicle suddenly accelerated to prevent other Tesla vehicle drivers from similar dangerous incidents caused by the vehicle’s sudden accelerations. I have the videos and photos from the crash. Please let me know should you need this information for the investigation.

Common Crash involved ODI #11423276
4
Safety Dec 12, 2020

ON THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER 11, MY REVERSE CAMERA STOPS FUNCTIONING. AT NIGHT, WHEN I PARK MY CAR IN THE GARAGE, MY FRONT SCREEN (BEHIND STEERING WHEEL) WAS BLANK. SHORTLY AFTER, MY CAR SUDDENLY SELF-ACCELERATED WHILE I WAS PARKED. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR SMASHING THROUGH MY GARAGE WALL, CAUSING LOADS OF DAMAGE IN THE ROOM OPPOSITE OF THE WALL. SOME DAMAGE INCLUDED: A BROKEN WOODEN BAR, SHATTERED GLASSES & LIQUOR BOTTLES, AND DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF MY TESLA. THIS CAR WAS NEWLY PURCHASED, WITH A MILAGE OF SIMPLY 40 MILES.

Common Crash involved ODI #11383233
4
Safety Oct 24, 2020

HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL X IN THE JUNKYARD HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37336502?ROWNUMBER=125 THE FRONT WHEEL HAS GONE ALL WHOMPY BECAUSE THE TOP BALL-JOINT HAS POPPED APART. THIS CAR HAS ONLY TRAVELLED 4000 MILES SINCE BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE TESLA TENT. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE BALL HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH WEAR AND TEAR TO ALLOW IT TO POP APART. IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT THE BALL-JOINT WAS MADE BY STONED MONKEYS AT THE LOCAL ZOO. WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH OF AN ASK FOR YOU TO TAKE THESE WRETCHED JUNK-HEAPS OFF THE HIGHWAYS? HAVE AN EXCITING DAY. REGARDS KEEF

Common ODI #11366249
4
Build Quality Aug 25, 2020

UPON ACCELERATING THE FRONT END BOUNCES AND VIBRATES UNSAFELY. TESLA IS AWARE OF THE FAULTY DANGEROUS DESIGN, YET THEY CONTINUE TO SELL THEIR MODEL X WITHOUT DISCLOSING TO PURCHASER. ADDITIONALLY, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT NEW FRONT HALF AXLES WILL ONLY TEMPORARILY SOLVE THE ISSUE. THE BOUNCE HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP OR OFTEN WHEN ACCELERATING FROM ONE SPEED TO ANOTHER. THE BOUNCE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APRIL BUT REPEATED REPAIR REQUESTS TO TESLA HAVE BEEN REFUSED.

Common ODI #11351368
4
Safety Jun 30, 2020

I WAS THE FOURTH VEHICLE IN LINE AT A BANK DRIVE THRU AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME MOVED UP IN LINE, I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT TWO VEHICLES AND THEN WENT OVER A CURB INTO A PARKING LOT AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES, WHICH RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INVOLVING FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

Common Crash involved ODI #11337072
4
Safety Jun 30, 2020

I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY 99 NEAR CHOWCILLA, CALIFORNIA IN MY TESLA MODEL X WITH UNDER 7,000 MILES ON AUTOPILOT AND THERE WAS NO CARS IN ANY DIRECTION NEAR ME. THIS FREEWAY WAS A STRAIGHT LINE WITH NO BENDS OR CURVES. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 75 MPH IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON AUTOPILOT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATE VERY AGGRESSIVELY FOR NO REASON. THE TIRES SCREECHED AS THE CAR'S SPEED SUDDENLY CAME TO A NEAR STANDSTILL AT THE SPEED OF 10-15 MPH. THE DRIVER ([XXX]) TOOK MANUAL CONTROL AND DROVE THE CAR WITHOUT ANY POTENTIAL FATALITIES. IF THERE WAS A CAR OR TRUCK BEHIND US, WE WOULD HAVE DIED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE DECELERATION WAS NOT AS SUDDEN AS THIS LIFE THREATENING OCCURRENCE. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

Common ODI #11337068
4
Safety Mar 20, 2020

AT APPROXIMATELY 6:18 PM ON 3/21/2020, I WAS DRIVING MY BRAND NEW 2020 TESLA MODEL X (7 MILES STARTING ODOMETER) HOME FROM TAKING DELIVERY OF IT (!), AND AFTER 20 MILES OF MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING, I WAS NEARING HOME AND STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT (WITH SEVERAL CARS STOPPED AHEAD OF ME). AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF SITTING DEAD-STOPPED, THE CAR VIGOROUSLY ACCELERATED WITH NO ACTION ON MY PART, AND I HAD TO TURN THE CAR HARD TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A FULL-ON COLLISION WITH THE STOPPED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FORTUNATELY, TO MY RIGHT THERE WAS A CURB AND THEN AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND SO I WAS ABLE TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY. BOTH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE WERE FLATTENED, AND THERE WAS SOME VERY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER, AND TO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. (I HAD LEFT ENOUGH DISTANCE WHEN STOPPING AT THE LIGHT IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND THEIRS AND I ALSO SOMEHOW REACTED VERY QUICKLY GIVEN HOW IN SHOCK I WAS.) THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVE-ABLE BECAUSE OF THE FLAT TIRES, AND SO I CONTACTED TESLA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE TESLA FACILITY FROM WHERE I HAD JUST ORIGINATED. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE SALES PERSON BECAUSE -- YOU KNOW -- I HAD LITERALLY JUST PURCHASED THE CAR. SOMEONE ELSE ON THE SALES TEAM ANSWERED THE PHONE. MY SALES PERSON CALLED ME BACK SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AND I EVENTUALLY SPOKE WITH THE SALES MANAGER AROUND 7:45PM. ALL FOUR OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS (3 SALES, 1 ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE REP) SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF: "WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF A VEHICLE DOING THIS BEFORE." THANKFULLY I THOUGHT TO GOOGLE THE ISSUE, AND AN ARTICLE IN CAR & DRIVER ABOUT YOUR PENDING INVESTIGATION POPPED UP. SO I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE PROBABLY GASLIGHTING ME PER SOME SCRIPT FROM LEGAL, WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT FEELING AFTER YOU SPEND $103,000 ON A CAR.

Common Crash involved ODI #11318912
4
Safety Jan 16, 2020

THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED WHEN PARKING THE CAR IN A MALL PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO PARK THE CAR, IT DID NOT FIT SO I WENT REVERSE A COUPLE OF FEET AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. THE CAR WENT OVER THE TIRE STOPPERS AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT CRASHED AGAINST A POST. THIS WAS 100% THE CAR'S FAULT, I AM SURE I DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE CLAIM WITH TESLA AND THEY ARE REVIEWING THE DATA. I SAW THE NEWS THAT OTHER CARS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEM AND I WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS WELL. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

Common Crash involved ODI #11300090
3
Battery Nov 27, 2025

My 2020 Tesla Model X experiences severe vibration, shaking, and rattling during acceleration, especially between about 20–45 mph and at higher suspension settings. The vibration is strong enough to affect steering stability and safe control of the vehicle during acceleration and lane changes. Tesla has already replaced the front half-shafts twice under warranty for this same problem, but the issue has returned again. This is a known defect documented by Tesla in Service Bulletin SB-21-39-001, which describes excessive front drive unit half-shaft vibration during acceleration and defines the repair with updated components. The latest revision of this bulletin (R3, dated January 19, 2024) explicitly adds “Customer Pay billing” instructions. Despite this, my local Tesla Service Center in Tempe, AZ (Supervisor: Lewis Holguin) refused to apply the SB-21-39-001 Customer Pay billing and instead charged full retail for the repair. On 11/28/2025, I was billed $1,694.86 out of pocket to replace both front half-shafts again (invoice shows approx. $1,046 in parts and $564 in labor). I have documentation showing that other Tesla customers with the same defect were billed only $350 under SB-21-39-001, which demonstrates that Tesla does apply a discounted bulletin rate in some cases. In my case, they refused to honor it even though this is a repeat failure of the same known defect and the prior warranty repairs did not permanently fix the problem. This is a repeat driveline/suspension defect that affects drivability and safety under acceleration. The shaking and vibration make it difficult to maintain stable vehicle control, especially during highway merging or lane changes. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate recurring front half-shaft failures and vibration/shudder issues on Tesla Model X vehicles and Tesla’s inconsistent handling of this known defect and service bulletin.

Common ODI #11701961
3
Safety Aug 1, 2025

On or about 20Jun2025: Tesla Driver Assistance Features - After the most recent 2025.20.3 softball update and installation my safety feature of the blind spot monitoring doesn't chim when a car is in my blind spot the car will show red in the font display but the sounds are now inoperable

Common ODI #11677957
3
Software Mar 31, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the self-driving mode disengaged unintendedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla Service Center, where it was diagnosed that the self-driving system had completely failed. The Service Center determined that the self-driving computer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

Common ODI #11652136
3
Battery Nov 19, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle was making an abnormal sound. The contact stated there was a grinding and whining sound coming from the vehicle while driving approximately 30 MPH and the sound was constant. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front-end half-shaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.

Common ODI #11626341
3
Software Aug 21, 2024

See attached document for complaint

Common ODI #11610116
3
Software Jun 3, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that upon activating Smart Summon, the vehicle turned directly towards a vehicle parked to the left at an undisclosed speed, resulting in a crash before that contact was able to cancel Smart Summon, after which the vehicle came to a complete stop. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. A Police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000.

Common Crash involved ODI #11592440
3
Software May 7, 2024

Since Tesla did a recent software upgrade for the autopilot, the car on a single carriageway drives very close to the right side, and fairly frequently drives over the white line on the right side (i.e. departing from the travel lane). The car used to sit in the center of the lane. The problem does not occur on the highway where it still travels in the center of the lane. The problem occurs when autopilot is used on [XXX] in New Hampshire, southbound from Wakefield to Rochester, NH. Autopilot has to be disengaged to correct the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Common ODI #11587754
3
Battery Mar 10, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while the vehicle was plugged into the home charging station, an app message was received that indicated that the vehicle had no charging power. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the home charging station electrical cables connecting to the home had malfunctioned causing the electrical wiring to become burnt and charred. The home's electrical wiring was also damaged during the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 53,000.

Common ODI #11576672
3
Battery Dec 19, 2023

On December 9th, 2023 my 2020 TESLA Model X accelerator pedal broke off while accelerating up a hill. This caused the vehicle to stop and become undrivable on a blind curve uphill. This caused a significant safety risk to me and other drivers. The vehicle had to be towed with police assistance to block traffic due to where the vehicle became inoperable. I had to pay out of pocket about $500 for the repair plus $450 in towing expenses.

Common ODI #11561075
3
Battery Aug 5, 2023

I was traveling from Texas to South Carolina and unfortunately decided to take my Model X, which was a bad idea to buy after the worst experience my family had gone thru. During my trip I stopped at supercharger in Cottondale, Alabama while my car was in starting My Model X broke and couldn’t start due to some technical problem with the car (car is still in factory warranty). The called road side assistance and was shipped to service center. 2/7 I am still lingering in middle way off my home or destination. I tried calling service center but no answer and mailbox is also full couldn’t leave voicemail. After trying multiple times (15-18times) finally I was able to speak with someone. 3/7 I was told by Service Super at Fayetteville, GA that car cannot be fixed and they have not started diagnosis and I have to wait for minimum 10days. I told him my situation that I am traveling with my 2 kids ( 6yr & 8yr) and as I am in middle of my trip and not at my home town. 4/7 It’s hard for me to keep waiting for the car and ask him he can help me get the car fixed on priority giving the situation I am in. The Supervisor was not able to arrive on any agreement. I also told him to get the car fixed and ship to Texas since the car was having mechanical 5/7 problem and under factory warranty. I didn’t expect the answer what I got from Tesla service center and was told no. It’s hard to believe that Tesla didn’t care about customer service and after paying such a huge price they don’t care about its product. 6/7 I wanted to bring to Tesla attention and wanted to get some resolution. I am still here with my family and 2 young kids in Atlanta waiting for my car far away from home with zero support from Tesla. #tesla 7/7

Common ODI #11536740
3
Safety Jul 25, 2023

I drive a 2020 Tesla Model X long range plus. I bought it new and now have about 50,000 miles on it. Over the years, I have experienced quite a few phantom breaking incidents when the car was in auto pilot (self steering mode). Most of these were fairly minor in nature and not much of a concern. This July I drove the car to Colorado and back and had innumerable severe phantom breaking events. In the past the breaking would be fairly gentle and a tap on the accelerator would return the car to the preset speed. In July, the car was essentially “slamming on” the brakes and required an aggressive press of the accelerator to disengage the breaking. It felt like the car was going to come to a stop in the middle of the highway. I was cruising about 70 mph and would say that by the time I could get to the accelerator the speed would be down to about 60 mph. None of these events created any problem with other vehicles, but they were disturbing, nonetheless.

Common ODI #11534627
3
Safety Jun 9, 2023

I have driven this vehicle approximately 28,000 miles. I am the original (and only) owner. When using the cruise control the car will break suddenly and aggressively for no apparent reason on the open road. This has happened more than a dozen times. I cannot say what percentage of my driving is done with adaptive cruise control functioning but I would suspect well less than 30% of the 28K miles. On several occasions I surmise it my be related to oncoming vehicles in their normal lane. Fortunately, these episodes have not resulted in any collisions to date.

Common ODI #11526357
3
Safety Mar 19, 2023

On multiple occasions (between 6 and 10) while driving east and west on interstate highway 80 between Reno and Salt Lake City the vehicle executed a phantom braking maneuver while autopilot was engaged. I was east bound on 2/2/23 and 2/24/23 and west bound on 2/7/23 and 3/5/23, i.e., these events occurred on multiple days in multiple locations. On no occasion was there any danger of collision with another vehicle or other obstacle. In fact, the braking was most likely to occur as my vehicle topped a rise in the highway followed by a gental downgrade with no other vehicle or turn in the road for at least a mile ahead. The braking was very hard and caused my vehicle to slow by at least 10 mph before I could react. On one occasion, I immediately accelerated to return to the posted highway speed of 80 mph and the vehicle twice more braked hard after I accelerated back to highway speed. Had there been a vehicle behind me, it's likely I would have been rear-ended on multiple occasions. The problem has not been independently verified (though I understand the NHTSA has received many similar reports). The vehicle has not been inspected. There was no warning that the vehicle was going to brake hard though I recognized the circumstances in which it was likely to occur and was prepared to accelerate to counteract the effect. The section of I-80 in which these events occurred is lightly traveled and if Tesla autopilot should be flawless, it should be flawless there! Another source of autopilot phantom braking is flashing lights next to the road warning of animal crossing or prison zones. However, in this case, the braking is gentle and not a hazard. In contrast, 2022 when driving the same section of I-80, phantom braking, as described above, was much less of a problem but flashing lights prompted the vehicle to brake hard. It appears Tesla has fixed flashing light-related problem.

Common ODI #11512898
3
Battery Mar 12, 2023

The contact's wife owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing electrical failures. The contact stated while his wife was starting the vehicle, a message indicating a low-battery voltage was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown Tesla Service Center, where it was diagnosed that an electrical malfunction was causing a constant drain on the battery while the vehicle was turned off. The battery was replaced twice within two years. Additionally, the contact stated that while his wife was driving 25-30 MPH, messages indicating that the ABS, the Automatic Brake Hold, the regenerative brake, and the power steering was inoperable were displayed. Additionally, the vehicle jerked, causing the contact's wife to lose control of the vehicle. The contact's wife depressed the brake pedal and veered to the side of the road. The contact's wife notified the manufacturer of the failure and was instructed to reboot the vehicle. The contact's wife was able to drive to her nearby destination. Upon performing a diagnostic test remotely, the manufacturer informed the contact's wife that she could drive to the nearest Tesla Service Center located 60 miles away through the braking features had failed. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.

Common ODI #11511527
3
Safety Feb 15, 2023

Sudden acceleration

Common Crash involved ODI #11507642
3
Battery Nov 26, 2022

The rear back doors will not open. The car's computer says an obstacle is detected however there is no obstacle in the way of the doors. (I have a video to prove my claim) the safety of my passengers in the rear seat are at risk as they can not exit the car through the rear door. I have had the vehicle inspected by the dealer (Tesla) however they said they can not recreate what has happened. The warning light "obstacle detected" appeared however there was no obstacle in the way. After rebooting the car's computer it still happened. I was able to drive the vehicle to another location and try the back doors and then they finally opened. I feel the back doors should open any time and any place when the car is in park.

Common ODI #11495060
3
Safety Jun 6, 2022

When I'm using the driving assistance on the highway, and I'm doing like 60 or 70 mph, all of a sudden the car brakes to 45mph if it (falsely) thinks we are in a construction zone I believe. I have almost gotten in 3 accidents because the car suddenly brakes hard on its own, without me braking.

Common ODI #11467935
3
Safety Jun 2, 2022

When using any driver assistance function (autopilot, adaptive cruise control, or autopilot with navigation), phantom breaking is common and terrifying. I am scared to use the systems now because of how unpredictable phantom breaking can be and how jarring (and unsafe it could be) when it happens.

Common ODI #11467357

Showing top 50 of 121 complaints (sorted by severity, most recent first). Full records available via NHTSA ODI search.

What Owners Are Saying

▲ +0.85Build Quality

"Review of a Model X Raven by German Autogefühl. Interesting findings - He is impressed with the quality progress!! Autogefühl has made a new second review of the updated Model X Raven. He is really impressed with the quality of the updated version. He's saying theres is no build quality difference between this new Tesla model X Raven, and the German luxus cars! - And that is a big thing! He is always very fair and unbiased in his reviews - take a look at the review of the ID3 to see how hard he is going after the bad software..."

— r/teslamotors · 2026
▲ +0.80Satisfaction

"NEW TESLA MODEL X OWNER Getting my 2020 Model X tomorrow and I’m excited ash. Anything I should expect as a first time Tesla owner and any recommendations I should do to the car itself?😂 It’s a 2020 white exterior, white interior, 6 seater with only 30k miles. Got for 58,500$"

— r/ModelX · 2026
▲ +0.75Satisfaction

"Tesla Model X P100D hauls over 2,000 lbs like a champ I was inspired by the positive feedback my last post got (from the road trip I did) and wanted to share this too... I just bought a camper but the X's hauling limitations are 5,000 lbs, so my options were limited. I decided to buy an A Liner LXE 2021 because it's relatively cheap ($20k) and has all the things two people (and two dogs) would need (including a shower and toilet) and it weighs a cool 1,900 lbs. (\~2,200 fully loaded with our stuff). I was super impressed with the Tesla's ability to haul it (without charging mid-trip), especially given the +/- 4k elevation gain between Boise (2,730′ elevation) and Stanley (6,253′ elevation). On the way back (128 mile trip), I used \~190 miles of my battery. In other words, I made it with 80 miles left on a 270 mile charge. Someone asked for more pics so here... ​ Me driving the thing out of the dealership A Liner popped open The camping setup Inside!"

— r/teslamotors · 2026
▲ +0.65Build Quality

"Nov 28, 202281Fremont > jb401 said: > > I have owned both cars. The Model Y is more practical but the ride is harsher (perhaps less so with the new suspension). I have 19" wheels on my MYP and it does help, also makes the steering more direct. > > The LRP Xs are rock solid build wise as are the FWDs and the ride is silky smooth. Really depends on your use cases. For me: I prefer the X but have to admit the Y is more useful in most day-to-day situations if you have to haul stuff or fold seats. > > > Click to expand... Jan 15, 20202,7364,190SoCal Model Y is the volume leader. A pretty normal car (taking EV out of it) with a nimble, but firm ride. Does everything pretty well, but they are everywhere. Model X (especially Raven) is a more upscale car, with sophisticated air suspension. Large for a city car, but right at home in the suburbs or countryside. The new and used car markets are in transition right now. Difficult to tell which will hold their value best. Mar 1, 2020205288Chicago, IL"

— Teslamotorsclub · 2026
▽ 0.95Build Quality

"Goodbye Tesla (Long Story) I’ve been an EV enthusiast for quite some time and have even had the privilege of working with some major players in the space, including Lucid and Rivian. So I’m very familiar with EV products, charging infrastructure, build quality, and the all-important cost equation. My first Tesla was a leased 2020 Standard Range Model 3. As we all know, it’s a great little car that serves its purpose—but it also leaves plenty to be desired in build quality, luxury, size, and overall style. My most recent Tesla was a brand-new 2024 Model 3 Performance with just 8,000 miles on it. There were a few initial hiccups—Tesla had to adjust the steering column, and the dealer somehow installed the wrong tires on a staggered Performance setup—but since it wasn’t purchased directly from Tesla, I won’t fully blame them. That said, I was still kidding myself. Yes, it’s quick. Yes, HW4 is solid. But the same shortcomings were still there. And no matter how fast it is, it’s still a Model 3—even in Performance trim. Reality check: I have two kids—one in a booster and one still rear-facing—so I had absolutely no business daily-driving a Model 3 Performance. My wife does own the Etron SUV version so the kiddos mostly ride in that. I’ll occasionally take them to school and when we go out but there mainly in her SUV. But the deal was good, curiosity won, and I wanted to see if I could make it work. Before that, my daily was a 2019 C63 AMG, my heart has been in Germany for a while. I owned both cars outright, which gave me the freedom to experiment. Over the years, I’ve owned plenty of sport sedans, mostly European, so compromises don’t go unnoticed. Looking for more space, I had what I thought was a great idea: buy a used 2020 Tesla Model X directly from Tesla. I did my Reddit research—some horror stories, but mostly happy owners—so I felt confident. That confidence lasted about five minutes. The moment I drove off the lot here in Las Vegas, I noticed steering wheel vibration and grinding/crunching noises when turning. Turns out Tesla’s “multi-point inspection” isn’t exactly exhaustive. A service appointment quickly revealed bad front half-shafts. Add in cosmetic issues like a squeaky second-row motor and creaking trunk struts, and things were already off to a rough start. The half-shafts were replaced, but the vibration persisted. Trunk struts were scheduled for mobile service, and I immediately booked a second appointment. That’s when the advisor casually told me, “Honestly, you should just buy a Model Y—there are so many problems with the X.” I wasn’t sure whether to appreciate the honesty or file a complaint. Eventually, it was discovered that the wrong tires were installed front and rear, supposedly causing the vibration. They swapped them, balanced and aligned everything, and even replaced the front passenger wheel. In my 36 years of buying cars, I can confidently say this was the worst CPO experience I’ve ever had. Tesla absolutely droppe"

— r/ModelX · 2026
▽ 0.90Build Quality

"“A Mistake in a Tesla and a Panicked Final Call: The Death of Angela Chao” Wall Street Journal article loosely implying that the gearshift on a 2020 Model X (Raven) caused this person to crash into a pond and die. I’ve seen people mess up gear selection in the Raven Model X stalk myself, but I feel any car with a stalk is like this (particularly when driving an unfamiliar vehicle) and dislike them for this reason. Of course, the stalk became history with the Model S/X Refresh in 2021. And now Highland Model 3 has dropped it, and Model Y will soon too. I am glad for this change. Full article found here, relevant excerpts below. “The night was chilly and very dark, with no moon, so rather than walk, Chao got in her Tesla Model X SUV for the four-minute trip back to the house. The account of what happened to Angela Chao that weekend is based on interviews with people close to Chao and her family, county officials who were briefed on what happened or were there, as well as reviews of law-enforcement documents. Within minutes of saying her goodbyes, she called one of her friends in a panic. While making a three-point turn, she had put the car in reverse instead of drive, she said. It is a mistake she had made before with the Tesla gearshift. The car had zipped backward, tipping over an embankment and into a pond. It was sinking fast. Could they help her? Over the next several hours, her friends, then the ranch manager and his wife, and then paramedics, and firefighters and sheriff’s deputies rushed around and tried to break the windows, find an escape hatch or any way to get Chao out of the car. Somehow an executive who made her living on the sea was drowning in a stock pond within sight of her home.”"

— r/ModelX · 2026
▽ 0.80Battery

"Switched from Tesla X to R1S -- Detailed comparison I still have a 2020 Tesla Model X LR and just added a 2025 R1S Standard. When I was considering the R1S, I searched but did not find a comprehensive and objective comparison of the two vehicles. For Tesla MX owners considering switching, here are my thoughts. First, some background to help you contextualize my experience: **TL;DR:** Software experience is far better for Tesla. Hardware / build quality is far better for Rivian. For my near-term needs, the Tesla Model X is better. But over time, the R1S's larger size will be the deciding factor and I'll have to make do with the Rivian's shortcomings. **Background: Experienced Tesla owner, new R1S owner.** Owned Model X for 5 years as the daily driver so I know it extremely well. I hate how many problems my Tesla has had -- for example, my HV battery has been replaced 3 times (yes, THREE times). Owned the R1S for 2 months so I don't profess to be a R1S expert. But it is my exclusive daily driver. I am hoping to I find all the quirks before taking it out for summer road trips. **My use case: Full-size 3-row EV as kid hauler.** I have 3 young kids. Must-haves for a new car were 1) a full-size, usable third row as the kids grow, and 2) an electric vehicle since I have a home charger. Rarely used the MX third row given how tight it is; main usage was to separate the kids and minimize fighting. Nice-to-have was to have large hauling capacity, in order to move kids stuff and large items for home/business needs. Also considered the Lexus TX plug-in, Kia EV9, Audi Q7 e-tron, VW Buzz, and gas minivans (primarily Sienna, Odyssey, and Carnival). Not the focus of this post, but happy to share my thoughts on these alternatives if you have a similar use Now, a detailed comparison of the two vehicles. **DRIVING EXPERIENCE** * **Manned driving experience: R1S >MX**. Good steering wheel weight. Responsive handling and adjustable drive modes (snow, sand). Acceleration and regenerative braking are pretty similar for both vehicles. Road noise is far lower in the R1S, so I don't need to blast the music how I did in the MX. * **Self-driving experience: MX > R1S all around, but R1S will not nag you to death.** R1S's self-driving (Highway Assist) only works on the highway and is far limited to Tesla's autopilot. The latter will switch lanes on its own, allows speed/aggressiveness adjustments, and works when you are not on the highway. That said, Tesla autopilot nags incessantly and requires you to regularly jiggle the steering wheel, even when you are on a completely straight stretch of highway for miles and miles. Rivian Highway Assist nags far less but is also less accurate -- it disengaged for a section of highway that was being repaved with poorly visible lane lines. **CONTROLS** * **Physical controls: MX > R1S.** The Tesla buttons and scroll wheels were customizable and had various functions. The R1S right buttons are only used to adjus"

— r/Rivian · 2026
▽ 0.80Software

"Why is the navigation system in the Tesla such a POS? I am visiting an area and through pure luck of having arranged a ride share, my ride that I get to take twice a day is a Tesla model X Signature. I will admit I knew very little about these cars other than gawking at them online and glancing over their specs, but getting to ride in one a lot I am a huge fanboy now, sadly out of my financial reach though, but something to aim for, it is an amazing vehicle and I have to say the gull wings have spoiled me for anything else. However as much as I am wowed by the giant flat panel in the dash, I am extremely unimpressed and dissapointed by how just incredibly terrible the navigation system is. Google maps on my iPhone is far superior, what gives? This is an extremely expensive, luxury car designed by Musk and a team of people that I would assume would want nothing but perfection in such a vehicle. It is extremely slow, when it draws the Navigation route you can actually see it draw, if you go off route, it takes a long time to catch up, redraw and reroute. If you do the pinch and zoom or expand it is very temperamental, does not respond quickly and takes a long time to redraw, especially when zoomed in. There are almost no navigation details to help guide you, unlike on my phone I get names of all the shops and things around me, I get 3D buildings, I get all kinds of very useful, little things that I don't even have to select as extras or layers in google maps to help guide me. When you type in an address, it has no idea where you are and might first suggest a place with a similar name in a different state or not give you the closest of two locations. It never has remembered any of our past locations even though we are going to the same place every day we have to type in the entire address, it never comes up as a history. Even though the driver of the car is logged in. Granted I know nothing about the cars systems but I figure since I see the drivers name at the top of the flat panel and it has recognised her key, that must mean it should be able to remember her driving history, no? Seems logical. One of the things I really find useless is that we have a longish trip everyday, thus the navigation route on the screen is long, but as we drive it and get into town where there is lots of buildings and turns, the map does not zoom in, it stays zoomed out showing this long route and the giant arrow for the car just wiggling around where all the turns are at. You have to manually zoom in to see the route up close. A driver should not have to do that. Every GPS I have every seen, gives the driver the forward view, turn by turn directions, so the GPS looks like the windshield as if you were driving or you can switch to the overhead view and see the whole route. I could go on and on with problems it has, but in short, it's a very poor system and the driver is constantly frustrated by it. The Tesla us supposed to be all about safety, but thi"

— r/teslamotors · 2026

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The read 2020 Tesla Model X Long Range Plus · Score 65/100 · 8/10 value · 10 recalls, 121 complaints (6.7/10K VINs) across 25 Reddit threads.

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