There are 4 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2016 Tesla Model Xin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light and activating the air conditioning, the computer system was stuck or frozen for a moment. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted independently, and the computer was buffering when the light turned green, and the vehicle hesitated before responding and driving as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently began to stall. The warning message " Front Motor Disabled" appeared on the instrument panel. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred several times while driving. The dealer was notified of the failure and arrived at the contact's residence to diagnose the vehicle. The dealer diagnosed that the motor had failed and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for repair. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of the repair. The contact also stated that the steering wheel was making abnormal sounds while driving. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V062000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.
IN JUNE OF 2020, THE ENTIRE POWER/ELECTRONIC SYSTEM IN MY 2016 MODEL X FAILED (AT 73K MILES), LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE (AND EVEN UNABLE TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL FOR TOWING). I HAD IT DRAGGED ONTO A TRUCK AND TAKEN TO A TESLA SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAILED MCU. THE FAILURE, I WAS TOLD, IN RARE CASES CAUSED A FAILURE ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THEY REPLACED THE MCU AND CHARGED ME $1400. TESLA HAS SUPPOSEDLY OFFERED A REFUND ON THE REPAIR TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAD THE PART FAIL (WHILE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH FAILURE), BUT HAS NOT INCLUDED MY VIN IN THEIR DATABASE OF IMPACTED VEHICLES. THE COMPANY IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING MY CAR WAS ONE OF THE VEHICLES IN THE RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE CLEARLY HAPPENED. HOW CAN I HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT? IS THERE ANY WAY THE NHTSA CAN HELP?
ATTEMPTED TO MERGE ONTO A FREEWAY FROM A STOP SIGNED PARALLEL ENTRANCE. AFTER A VEHICLE IN THE FREEWAY LANE HAD JUST PASSED AND THERE WAS ADEQUATE SPACE BEFORE THE NEXT VEHICLE, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM THE FULL STOP. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FOR ONLY A VERY BRIEF PERIOD, ENOUGH TO GET IT INTO THE LANE AT MAYBE 10MPH BEFORE THE ACCELERATION CUT OUT COMPLETELY AND A VEHICLE COLLISION WARNING AND AUDIBLE ALERT APPEARED ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. THERE WAS NOT ACTUAL COLLISION THREAT PRESENT AND I TRIED PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPEATEDLY TO AVOID BEING HIT IN THE REAR BY THE NEXT VEHICLE COMING FROM BEHIND AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME CHANGED LANES AND WENT AROUND ME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE WARNING WENT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY TO FREEWAY SPEED. THIS SAFETY FEATURE SEEMS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS: * IT INCORRECTLY SENSES THAT A COLLISION WILL OCCUR WITH ACCELERATION IN SOME INSTANCES * IT DISABLES USER CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (ACCELERATION) * IT DISABLES THAT CONTROL FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME EVEN AFTER THE FALSE THREAT IS NO LONGER DETECTED * IT ALLOWS SOME MOVEMENT BEFORE DISABLEMENT CREATING A SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN HARM'S WAY WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO SAFELY ACCELERATE AWAY FROM AN IMPENDING ACCIDENT. HAD THE VEHICLE NOT MOVED AT ALL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN INCONVENIENCE BUT NO RISK * THERE IS NO ABILITY IN THE CURRENT SOFTWARE TO DISABLE WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE UNSAFE FUNCTIONALITY INTENDED FOR SAFETY * THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION TO INDICATE THAT THE CAR HAS THIS UNUSUAL FUNCTIONALITY I HAVE DISCUSSED THE ABOVE ISSUES WITH TESLA MOTORS SUPPORT AND THEY HAVE REVIEWED THE DATA LOGS FOR THE VEHICLE AND BELIEVE IT IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AND THAT THIS BEHAVIOR IS AS INTENDED BY DESIGN. MY INITIAL VEHICLE POSITION IS IN YELLOW IN THE IMAGE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026