Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2016 Tesla Model X
NHTSA data on file today
The 2016 Tesla Model X has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 420 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V615000 Missing Primer May Cause Roof Trim Separation NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V376000 Seat Belt Warning System Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V051000 Incorrect Font Size on Warning Lights/FMVSS 105 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V838000 Autopilot Controls Insufficient to Prevent Misuse NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V085000 Full Self-Driving Software May Cause Crash NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V037000 Vehicle May Fail to Stop at Stop Sign NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V035000 Center Display Can Lose Rearview Camera Image NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V710000 Missing Primer may cause Roof Trim Separation NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V062000 Reduced/Loss of Steering Assist NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V639000 Second Row Seat Backs may Move in a Crash NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V260000 Parking Brake may not Release or Fully Apply NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V192000 Third Row Seat may Collapse Under Load NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 148 complaints
- Electrical System 90 complaints
- Unknown or Other 84 complaints
- Structure 54 complaints
- Steering 44 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 33 complaints
Of the 420 complaints on file, 59 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 420 complaints, owners report 32 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2016 Tesla Model X has a below-average reliability rating due to a high number of complaints and recalls. Suspension and electrical issues are particularly concerning, given the volume of complaints and recurring recall items. The vehicle has been subject to multiple recall campaigns, many related to safety-critical systems, indicating a pattern of defects that impact both safety and ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| suspension | 60,000–90,000 miles | $500–$2,000 | very common |
| electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | common |
| steering | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$1,800 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Brake fluid replacement
- Battery coolant flush
- Tire rotation and balance
- Cabin air filter replacement
- Drive unit maintenance
- High voltage service check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Sudden suspension noise
- Loss of steering assist
- Frequent electrical faults
- Warning light activation
- Unresponsive touchscreen
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2016 Tesla Model X at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.