2022 Tesla Model X Electric Problems And Complaints

Tesla Model X Common Issues

The Tesla Model X has been a fan favorite in the segment dominated by the American gas-fed giants because of its performance and acceleration. With that, it comes with a lot of “Tesla” complaints reported by its owners. People had faced a lot of issues with the suspension, the electrical system, and the transmission. Though the issues were resolved by the dealerships, some of the most commonly faced issues in the EV SUV are:

Electrical issues:

• Backup camera issues: Many 2020 Tesla Model X owners have reported the backup camera failing when the car is put into reverse. The camera shows the guidelines but doesn’t display images of the objects in the rear. This issue affects the rearwards visibility and makes it very difficult to park. 
• Infotainment system issues: The Tesla Model X infotainment system is more like a control panel for all the functions of the SUV. The system fails and blacks out while driving. This causes distraction and conceals crucial information from the occupants. It also disables many associated features that make driving dangerous. Apart from this, many people have reported the control panel to turn yellowish and affect visibility.
• Autopilot issues: A handful of owners of the 2020 Tesla Model X have reported the autopilot feature in their SUV to malfunction. This issue makes the vehicle unresponsive. The drivers had to reset the vehicle by holding down both the scroll wheels on the steering. This process is dangerous and can result in a collision.
• Wiper issues: Some 2018 Tesla Model X owners have reported the windshield wiper to fail. This affects visibility in rainy conditions and also increases the risk of collision.

Mechanical issues:

• Unintended acceleration: There have been numerous incidents of unintended acceleration in the Model X, irrespective of the model year. People report the car lunging forward while being parked. Some complainants have reported this behavior with Autopilot engaged. The issue is reported to Tesla and action is awaited.
• Transmission issues: Many complainants have stated that the Model X blurts out false information when shifted to drive from park. There is an error warning displayed on the screen which enables chimes without any underlying issue. People have also reported rattling in the 2021 Model X whenever the driver floors the pedal.
• Suspension issues: The suspension in the early model years of the Model X has been very troublesome. People have raised a lot of concerns regarding how unreliable the suspension is. Complainants state that a slight hit from the curb at low speeds knocks the wheel right off its place. This causes heavy damage to the SUV. These Model X suspension issues were reduced since the 2018 model year but some complaints still arise regarding the same.
• Weak control arms: The control arms in the Model X have a history of being weak and breaking under stress. This is the reason for a lot of Model X steering failures being reported in the recent past. This issue also adds to the aforementioned suspension issue, if worsened.

Exterior issues: 

• Panel inconsistencies: Many people have reported Tesla panel gaps in their Model X since the SUV was launched back in 2016. The people have raised concerns regarding the quality control of the American carmaker and its products. These panel gaps are visible and are there in many panels around the car. 
• Roof glass detachment: The glass roof on the Tesla Model X is widely reported to come off while driving. Complainants have reported that there is a loud “explosion-like” sound, post which the roof panel comes loose. In some cases, this panel has completely detached and caused a road hazard for the trailing vehicles. 

Interior issues: 

• Features disablement: Many people have reported several interior features to disable. Complainants have reported the climate control switched off without any input. Some other people complain of issues with the seats’ functions.

Safety features issues: 

• Vehicle Speed Control (VSC) issues: The VSC in the Tesla Model X is reported to be faulty and gives out issues while the SUV is moving. Complainants have complained about unintended acceleration while on the move. Some people have also reported instances where the car lunged forward while stationary. This caused it to collide with the objects nearby.

Tesla Model X Recalls

Tesla is one such carmaker that is very active in recalling its vehicles to ensure trouble-free ownership. This statement is accentuated by the fact that the 2016 Model X has been recalled in 2022 for an issue with the electrical system. The SUV sees 13 new recalls issued under its belt. The most recent of these recalls were made on March 18, 2022, with NHTSA Campaign Number 22V169000. The summary of the recall, along with the older ones, is mentioned in the table below:

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Affected Component	Additional Remarks
1.	April 6, 2016	16V192000	Seats	Unintended movement of the third-row seat during a collision increases the risk of injury to the occupants. As such, the affected units do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems".
2.	April 19, 2017	17V260000	Parking Brake	An improperly manufactured internal gear in the electric parking brake calipers may result in gear fracturing and unintended movement during the release or application of the parking brake, increasing the risk of a crash.
3.	October 12, 2017	17V639000	Seats	Incorrectly adjusted recliner mechanism cables might lead to improper latching of the left-side, second-row, rear seat back causing it to move forward in a crash and increasing the risk of injury. As such, the affected units fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages”.
4.	February 5, 2020	20V062000	Steering	Corrosion and fracture of aluminum bolts attaching the power steering gear assist motor to the gear housing may reduce, or cause complete loss of, the power steering assist increasing the risk of a crash.
5.	November 17, 2020	20V710000	Structure	Improper adherence of the front and spine cosmetic roof trim may separate the pieces from the vehicle, causing a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
6.	January 29, 2021	21V035000	Back Over Protection	The eMMC controller in the vehicles is equipped with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory that might not be able to maintain the file system once it reaches lifetime wear. This can lead to the failure of display functions that reduces display, increasing the risk of a crash.
7.	October 29, 2021	21V846000	Forward Collision Avoidance	The forward-collision warning (FCW) or the automatic emergency brake (AEB) may unexpectedly activate due to a communication error with the vehicle’s operating software version 2021.36.5.2, increasing the risk of a crash.
8.	November 9, 2021	21V868000	Airbags	Tearing of the driver's airbag cushion during deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
9.	January 27, 2022	22V037000	Electrical System	The vehicle may travel through a stop sign due to “rolling stop” feature in the Full Self-Driving (Beta), increasing the risk of a crash.
10.	February 1, 2022	22V045000	Electrical System	Inaudible seatbelt chime during start-up increases the risk of injury in a crash. This also fails to comply with FMVSS Number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection”.
11.	February 2, 2022	22V050000	Electrical System	The defrosting performance might decrease due to a software error in the ECM and affect the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
12.	February 4, 2022	22V063000	Electrical System	Obscured Pedestrian Warning System (PWS) sounds to increase the risk of a crash. This also fails to comply with FMVSS Number 141, “Minimum Sound Requirements for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles”.
13.	March 18, 2022	22V169000	Back Over Prevention	Delay in the display of the rear view image on the screen reduces rearward visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Which model year of the Tesla Model X should you avoid?

The Tesla Model X has been on a very shaky journey since its launch back in 2016. The SUV has been subject to a lot of criticism due to its advancement and the lapse in proper quality control. Considering this factor, one should avoid the 2016 and the 2017 Tesla Model X due to the recurring issues in the SUV. Some of the issues can be ignored but the others are rather serious and payable by the customer. 

Should you go for the 2022 Tesla Model X?

The 2022 Tesla Model X has improved leaps and bounds with good reliability on offer. The SUV isn’t the perfect one out there and has already been recalled 4 times. The carmaker rolls out frequent OTA updates that also act as an improvement in the software. The Model X is a very charming offering with a greener footprint than the other SUVs in the segment. If one wants to go for a used Model X, consider the 2018 model year and above to avoid most of the issues the SUV’s owners had to deal with.