2016 Tesla Model X Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 12 NHTSA recalls and 417 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
13/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Tesla Model X
The 2016 Tesla Model X shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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12
NHTSA Recalls
12 recalls on record
417
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
59
Crash Reports
4 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Tesla Model X (12)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Tesla dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Seats: Mid/Rear Assembly
If the seat back moves forward in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla service technicians will correct the cable adjustment for the left-side, fold-flat, second row, seat recliner mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November…
🔧 Parking Brake
If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling,…
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact…
🔧 Seats: Mid/Rear Assembly
If the third row seat does not remain in its adjusted position, there may be an increased risk of injury to an occupant in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will replace all affected third row seats, free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2016. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at…
🔧 Electrical System: Adas: Autonomous/Self Driving: Software
Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software
The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace…
🔧 Steering: Electric Power Assist System
Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla Service Centers will replace the steering gear mounting bolts with coated steel bolts, and add a corrosion-preventative sealer to the steering gear motor housing…
🔧 Structure: Body
Trim that separates from the vehicle during use can cause a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and dealers will test the roof trim adhesion, and, as necessary, apply primer, free of charge. The recall began January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla…
🔧 Steering: Automated/Adaptive Steering
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.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
🔧 Electrical System: Adas: Autonomous/Self Driving: Software
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…
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for…
🔧 Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
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.
Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Showing 10 of 12 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Tesla Model X
Based on 417 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Tesla Model X — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2019 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Tesla Model X
Is the 2016 Tesla Model X reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Tesla Model X has 12 recall campaigns and 417 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model X have?
The 2016 Tesla Model X has 12 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Tesla Model X?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Tesla Model X are: Suspension, Electrical System, Structure, Steering. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Tesla Model X safe to buy?
The 2016 Tesla Model X has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 12 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Tesla Model X should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Tesla Model X are: 2019. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2016.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.