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2016 Tesla Model X: problems, recalls and fuel economy
NHTSA has 450 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Model X, more than any other Model X year[1][2]. The car also has 12 recalls, so check which ones have been done before you buy[2].
Most reported problems
Owners filed 450 complaints with NHTSA[1]. Of these, 62 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 36 injuries, and 1 death is reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component group.
| Component group | Complaints | Crashes | Median miles at failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension[3] | 151 | 15 | 20,000 |
| Electrical system[4] | 93 | 12 | 50,000 |
| Unknown or other[5] | 89 | 15 | 49,000 |
| Steering[6] | 58 | 8 | 40,000 |
| Structure[7] | 57 | 14 | 8,000 |
| Speed control[8] | 35 | 19 | 2,000 |
| Visibility/wiper[9] | 25 | 0 | 39,000 |
| Brakes[10] | 24 | 6 | 15,186 |
Suspension is the biggest group by a wide margin[3]. In the sample of complaints we read, owners describe broken or collapsed suspension parts, and some describe a wheel coming off the car[3].
In the sample we read for steering, owners write about driver-assist lane keeping and hands-free use. A few describe a broken suspension arm filed under steering[6].
In the electrical sample, owners describe doors that would not close, lock or open as they should. Others say the car surged forward while parking[4]. The structure sample shows the same two themes, door closing and latching trouble and sudden acceleration while parking[7].
Speed control has 35 complaints, fewer than the groups above, but 19 of them mention a crash, more than any other group in the table[8]. Each complaint is one owner's account, so none of these themes proves a cause.
Recalls
NHTSA lists these recalls for the 2016 Model X, newest first[2].
- Roof trim (24V615). Front and center roof trim pieces may have been glued on without primer and could come off, leaving a road hazard. Tesla service tests the glue hold and reattaches trim as needed, free of charge. Cars already repaired under 20V710 need the new inspection and remedy[11].
- Seat belt warning (24V376). The warning light and chime may not work when the driver is unbelted, which fails a federal safety standard and raises injury risk in a crash. Tesla says it will release an over-the-air software update[12].
- Brake warning lights (24V051). The brake, park and ABS warning lights show in the wrong font size, which can make them hard to read. Tesla began rolling out an over-the-air software update, free of charge[13].
- Autosteer controls (23V838). The controls for Autosteer may not do enough to stop drivers from misusing it. Tesla says it will release a software update over the air, free of charge[14].
- Full Self-Driving Beta (23V085). On cars with that software, the system may act unsafely at intersections and may not respond well to speed limit changes. Tesla says an over-the-air update will come, free of charge[15].
- Rolling stop (22V037). A rolling stop feature in the Full Self-Driving Beta software could let the car pass through an all-way stop without stopping. An over-the-air update turns the feature off, free of charge[16].
- Center display memory (21V035). The display's memory chip can wear out. That can cause loss of the rearview camera image, defrost and defog settings and turn signal lighting. Owners should run the 2020 firmware release listed in the recall or a newer one, which warns when the chip nears wear. Tesla replaces the VCM daughterboard with an improved one, free of charge[17].
- Roof trim, earlier recall (20V710). The same missing-primer trim problem, covering the front and spine trim. Dealers test the glue and add primer as needed, free of charge. It has been superseded by 24V615[18].
- Steering motor bolts (20V062). Aluminum bolts holding the power steering motor can corrode and break, which reduces or removes power assist and makes steering harder at low speeds. Tesla replaces them with coated steel bolts and adds a corrosion sealer. If bolts are broken, a new steering gear is fitted. All of it is free of charge[19].
- Second-row seat (17V639). The left second-row seat back may not latch fully because of poorly adjusted recliner cables. That fails federal standards and raises injury risk in a crash. Technicians correct the cable adjustment, free of charge[20].
- Parking brake (17V260). An internal gear in the electric parking brake calipers may crack. The car might not move after release, or might not stay put when parked and could roll. Service centers replace both calipers, free of charge[21].
- Third-row seat (16V192). The third-row seat back may move forward in a frontal crash on cars built between late September 2015 and the end of March 2016. Dealers swap out the affected third-row seats at no cost to the owner[22].
Fuel economy
The 2016 Model X is electric. EPA lists five versions, all with all-wheel drive. Ratings are combined MPGe.
| Version | Combined MPGe | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 60D[23] | 93 | 200 miles |
| 75D[24] | 93 | 238 miles |
| 90D[25] | 92 | 257 miles |
| P90D[26] | 89 | 250 miles |
| P100D[27] | 86 | 289 miles |
The version with the longest range, the P100D, has the lowest MPGe rating[27].
Engine and size
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada and may differ slightly from US cars[28].
- Length: 198 in
- Width: 79 in
- Height: 66 in
- Wheelbase: 117 in
- Curb weight: 5,269 lb
All of these come from one source[28].
How 2016 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 450 | 12 |
| 2017 | 268 | 10 |
| 2018 | 193 | 9 |
| 2019 | 102 | 8 |
| 2020 | 128 | 10 |
| 2021 | 41 | 24 |
| 2022 | 128 | 22 |
| 2023 | 194 | 17 |
| 2024 | 27 | 8 |
| 2025 | 16 | 3 |
| 2026 | 7 | 0 |
The 2016 model year has the most complaints of any Model X year on file, with 450[2]. The next highest is 2017 with 268[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide.
On recalls, 2016 has 12[2]. That is fewer than 2021 (24), 2022 (22) and 2023 (17), and more than 2017 (10), 2020 (10) and every other listed year[2].
Should you buy a used 2016 Model X?
The 2016 Model X has the largest complaint pile of any year, led by suspension reports, so have a shop inspect that area closely[3][2]. It also carries 12 recalls, and several of them describe safety risks if the work is not done[2]. Ask for proof that the roof trim, seat, parking brake and steering bolt recalls were completed, and check the software recalls with Tesla[11][19][20][21][22]. If the inspection and records look good, the EPA range and MPGe figures show what each version was rated for[25][27].[25][27].
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Tesla Model X?
- Suspension has the most NHTSA complaints at 151, followed by electrical at 93[3][4]. These are unverified owner reports.
- How many recalls does the 2016 Tesla Model X have?
- NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2016 Model X[2]. They cover roof trim, seats, the parking brake, steering motor bolts, display memory, a seat belt chime, warning lights and driver-assist software[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].
- What is the MPGe of the 2016 Tesla Model X?
- EPA combined ratings run from 86 MPGe for the P100D to 93 MPGe for the 60D and 75D[27][24][23].
- How far can a 2016 Tesla Model X go on a charge?
- EPA lists range from 200 miles for the 60D to 289 miles for the P100D[23][27].
- Is the 2016 Model X the worst year for complaints?
- Among Model X years on file, 2016 has the most complaints at 450, ahead of 2017 at 268[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 450 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Tesla Model X (62 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 36 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Tesla Model X model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- 151 complaints name the suspension component group (15 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 93 complaints name the electrical system component group (12 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 89 complaints name the unknown or other component group (15 crashes, 1 fires, 12 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 58 complaints name the steering component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 57 complaints name the structure component group (14 crashes, 1 fires, 9 injuries, median mileage at failure 8,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 35 complaints name the speed control component group (19 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 2,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 25 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 39,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 24 complaints name the brakes component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 15,186). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 24V615, filed August 15, 2024: Structure › Body. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 24V376, filed May 28, 2024: Seat Belts › Front › Warning Light / Devices. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 24V051, filed January 30, 2024: Electrical System › Instrument Cluster / Panel. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 23V838, filed December 12, 2023: Electrical System › Adas › Driver Monitoring › Software. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 23V085, filed February 15, 2023: Steering › Automated / Adaptive Steering. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 22V037, filed January 27, 2022: Steering › Automated / Adaptive Steering. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 21V035, filed January 29, 2021: Visibility › Defroster / Defogger / Hvac System. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 20V710, filed November 17, 2020: Structure › Body. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 20V062, filed February 5, 2020: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V639, filed October 12, 2017: Seats › Mid / Rear Assembly. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 17V260, filed April 19, 2017: Parking Brake. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V192, filed April 6, 2016: Seats › Mid / Rear Assembly. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Model X AWD - 60D, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 93 MPGe combined, 200 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Model X AWD - 75D, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 93 MPGe combined, 238 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Model X AWD - 90D, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 92 MPGe combined, 257 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Model X AWD - P90D, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 89 MPGe combined, 250 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Model X AWD - P100D, electric, Automatic (A1), Electricity: 86 MPGe combined, 289 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, MODEL X: length 198 in, width 79 in, height 66 in, wheelbase 117 in, curb weight 5,269 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov