Tesla Model X Complaints (2023)

192 consumer complaints on file.

#11580322March 31, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Horn is not in the center and rather a button. This makes it very hard to hit in an emergency. Please make them replace all past and new steering wheel with this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11579943March 28, 2024
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My steering wheel doesn't have a usable horn functionality. There is a subtle button on the side of the wheel, which isn't even a physical button, and it's very small in size. My wife and I had a few situation already where we couldn't do a horn signal quickly enough and we barely escaped an accident in those cases. The existing horn button is very hard to use, it's placed non-intuitively, it's impossible to find without looking at the steering wheel, and it's very hard to use when the steering wheel isn't positioned straight. All other cars I driven over my lifetime had a horn right in the center of the steering wheel, which is the most obvious and usable placement, given the urgency of the situation when drivers are supposed to use it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11579445March 26, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While operating my vehicle, it is required to use turn signals to indicate turning intention to other drivers. Even after thousands of miles of use, the 'Capacitive touch' buttons on the steering wheel that Tesla has are unsafe, unusable, and infuriating. These buttons are difficult to locate, difficult to engage with and impossible to use quickly or reliably. Every Tesla without turn signal stalks should be recalled. I often press the wrong button, no button, or just have to simply give up on signaling because it is impossible to safely or reliably use the buttons provided. Turn signal stalks are easier, faster, more reliable, and thus safer. Please help end this nonsense by requiring tesla to fix this. thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11578746March 21, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On an occasional basis, and during a critical event, it is imperative that the operator of any vehicle be able to quickly, and reliable use the horn. This is needed to alert other drivers of dangerous situations, or bring attention to those around the vehicle. After driving this vehicle several thousand miles, I have determined that the horn 'button' is not something anyone can commit to memory or use safely when needed quickly in an emergency. Muscle memory of all cars is 'push center for horn'. The 2021-2023 Tesla Model X uses a button that is touch sensitive and nearly impossible to operate quickly or reliable in an emergency situation. Tesla has corrected the issue with the 2024 Model X, however that leaves thousands of cars not repaired. Please require Tesla to correct this asinine oversight.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11578455March 20, 2024
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
The contact owned a 2023 Tesla X. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the contact became distracted by an incoming phone call and crashed into another vehicle. The air bags deployed upon impact and the contact became locked inside the vehicle. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. The police were called to the scene but were unable to assist with the contact's removal from the vehicle. After close to an hour, the contact finally found a latch to unlock the vehicle. The contact sustained a headache as a result of the accident but did not seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to a Tesla service center. The contact stated that the forward collision avoidance feature failed to operate as needed which should have prevented the accident. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V862000 (Latches/Locks/Linkage; Electrical System). The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was later totaled without the contact's knowledge. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577793March 16, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
The right falcon door started closing even though a person was standing right under it. ( the right falcon door was triggered by mistake when we closed the left door). The falcon door hit the person on their upper shoulder, injured them and stopped
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11577780March 16, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
When I pressed the button (lower button near the left side rear seat inside the car) to close the falcon door on left side of the car, The right falcon door accidentally started closing . A person was standing under right falcon door . The door hit the person, injured them and then stopped
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11576406March 9, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The horn in the Tesla Model X is very hard to operate in real world driving environments because it is a haptic button that’s is placed amount other haptic buttons. Several times over the past few months I have been unable to safely operate the horn in situations where another driver was coming into my lane or otherwise I required the use of the horn in an emergency situation. I had to take my eyes off the road in order to look for the haptic button and remember where it was placed. In my opinion, Tesla over-engineered the horn and made it unsafe to operate for the driver
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11576369March 9, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I took delivery of a Tesla Model X Plaid in December. The turn signal and horn buttons on the steering wheel vs. stalks is a major safety concern to me. Finding the buttons, espcially in an emergency situation is next to impossible without looking down to find them. Obviously looking down is the last thing any driver should have to do during an emergency. Please pressure Tesla to do something about this critical safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11576119March 7, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The problem is with the design of the steering wheel. The turn signals are buttons on the left side of the steering wheel, but when you have to signal a turn while on a curve or anytime the steering wheel is not in the original or “home” position it is difficult to signal my turn. And depending on the position of the wheel, the buttons to signal a turn may be upside down or pointing in the wrong direction. Also, the horn is another button and is difficult to reach and find quickly among the other four buttons it is hidden among. The instances I have needed to use the horn to quickly to alert another driver of where I am, I haven’t been able to find the horn button in time. It’s a problem that it isn’t the center of the steering wheel where I instinctively reach for it
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11575806March 6, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Every time I put vehicle in reverse, the main screen display which shows vehicles and objects behind and surrounding the vehicle turns almost completely white. I reached out to Tesla and booked a service appointment and was told that the issue I was experiencing was a result of a software upgrade. When I challenged the service advisor to explain how this was an upgrade, he said there was a issue with the software that had been released and that it would improve over time. It has been about two months now and nothing has improved. The safety features of the car when reversing are severely compromised and yet Tesla is unwilling to sort it out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11575437March 5, 2024
STEERING
Steering wheel does not have a center horn button which is a defacto standard on every car. Sounding horn is by a small button on the side of the steering wheel. It would be difficult or slower to sound the horn in an emergency without a central button.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574596February 28, 2024
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The falcon doors (Model X) has sensors that either permit or prohibit safe and prompt exit of the vehicle. Due to the doors being motorized, the rear passenger presses a button to begin to open the doors. In the case where the passenger feels their safety is compromised, or due to a safety hazard where they need to leave the vehicle - both of my doors have been repaired in total, or individually eight times to no resolve. These sensors are intended to detect (using ultrasonic sensors) whether there’s something blocking the door. It will open a quarter of the way, then stop and the passenger must hold the button for several additional seconds in order to further open the doors. Not only is this sensor defect a safety hazard, but also the delay after pressing the button and holding it is increasing the time it takes to safely and promptly exit the vehicle. One final note is that passengers cannot exit the rear doors (Model X) if the vehicle loses power due to not having a physical latch release like the other Tesla models. The right falcon door had this issue prior to taking and upon delivery. The sales person informed me it was common for this issue and blamed it on the interference from nearby vehicles. Even after six or more repairs, the issues continue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11574352February 27, 2024
SEAT BELTS
On November 29, 2023, my car indicated there was a "Rear left safety restraint system fault", code RCM2_a160. I've taken it in for service 3 times and Tesla has been unable to identify the issue or correct the issue. I have since sent them documentation under the Texas law and they have not responded. The technician advised me that if someone were to be sitting in the left rear passenger seat and I stopped quickly the seat belt pretension would not engage and the passenger would not be properly restrained. Obviously I can not have anyone sit in that seat safely.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11573092February 21, 2024
STEERING
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while accelerating up an incline, an abnormal grinding sound was coming from the steering wheel while making right turns. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Tesla Service Center where the mechanic informed the contact there was no issue with the vehicle and the noise was normal. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11571823February 14, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I would like to report an issue with the Tesla model X, which is present in all but the very most recent versions. The issue is with the horn function, which most would agree is essential for safe and defensive driving, as well as notification and communication while in automobiles. Nearly all vehicles have this function on the steering wheel to be activated with an obtuse press of the center region of the steering wheel or a well-demarcated and palpable (as well as ergonomically placed) button for the thumb on both sides of the wheel. The Tesla model X, and I believe other models as well has a single button press they can just barely be reached with my relatively larger male hands. It is also texturally indistinguishable from the rest of the steering wheel functions. This makes it extremely challenging to activate in an urgent situation. And while the feature can also be activated by pressing your palm on the right side of the steering wheel, the concave shape of this portion means that more often I have activated a different feature of the car, rather than activated, the horn because a more precise hand placement is needed. I have had several near accidents that would have been less close had I been able to more easily reach and activate the horn function. There must be many more people who have suffered injury and property damage or caused such due to this safety issue. It appears they are now manufacturing cars with a more typical center press steering wheel to activate the horn, but this does not solve the issue for the thousands of us stuck with the less safe version.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11571323February 11, 2024
STEERING
The touch sensitive horn button on the right side of the steering wheel is dangerous. It cannot be located and used in time to avoid a collision, and may cause an accident by requiring the driver to take eyes off road in order to look down and locate the small half inch area to press in order to engage horn. This is a DANGEROUS design defect I cannot safely operate vehicle without a Center push horn on the wheel. I have asked Tesla for a replacement to a safer steering wheel and they refuse.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11569368February 1, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I bought a new model X and took delivery on December 23 2023. On January 26, 2024, it stopped working in the middle of the road with 35% battery left. While my wife was driving the vehicle it gave her a sudden warning on the dashboard “pull over safely, vehicle shutting down. Vehicle may not restart.” My wife had no opportunity to pull over and it was in the middle of the road. The car was essentially functionless, she could not activate the hazard lights and became a road hazard. If this were to happen on the highway this could be catastrophic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11567971January 26, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Tesla moved the horn activation from the center of the steering wheel to a tiny button. This is extremely dangerous as the horn often needs to be activated very quickly. The reflex move is to hit the center of the steering wheel but now I am required to look down and find the tiny button to press with my thumb. There have been numerous times that I have not been able to activate the horn in time and have had near collisions as a result of not being able to wan the other driver. This needs to be moved back to the steering wheel center.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11567841January 25, 2024
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was driving the car in stop-and-go traffic on a city street. After another stop, the car in front of me started moving. I pressed on the accelerator with the usual force, but my car took off like crazy. I pressed on the breaks, but the car didn't seem to respond to the brake pedal and ran into a car in front of me. Automatic emergency breaking system didn't engage as well. Luckily, nobody was injured. Had there been any pedestrians crossing the street, they would have been badly injured or killed. This uncontrolled response from the car is very dangerous and I cannot trust it anymore. As a result of this accident, the car in front suffered damage in the amount of a few thousand USD, and my Tesla Model X - $40k.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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