NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
This page covers 26 recalls and 38 owner complaints for the 2021 Tesla Model X.
Steering is the standout complaint category for the 2021 Model X, with owners describing a range of issues from intermittent heavy-steering warnings to complete, sudden loss of steering control while driving. Several owners report the wheel locking up without warning, requiring them to pull over and restart the vehicle before steering function returned. Suspension draws the next cluster of complaints, though owners describe symptoms rather than a clear single failure pattern. Lane departure and Autopilot-related behavior also comes up repeatedly, with owners reporting the system disengaging unexpectedly or behaving erratically. A smaller number of owners describe the touchscreen shutting down mid-drive, which they say also disabled door operation and navigation simultaneously. The steering lock-up complaints are the most consistent thread, with multiple owners describing the wheel suddenly becoming unresponsive at varying speeds.
38
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Tesla Model X has 26 recalls, the most serious involving the Full Self-Driving Beta software, which can allow the vehicle to exceed speed limits, behave unpredictably at intersections, or roll through all-way stops without coming to a full stop.
Several recalls involve occupant restraints and airbags. The driver's airbag cushion can tear during deployment, reducing protection in a crash. Front-row seatbelts may not be properly connected to their pretensioner anchors and can detach in a crash. The front passenger airbag may deploy incorrectly in certain low-speed crashes due to a software calibration issue. Front side curtain airbags may not deploy properly when the windows are lowered. There is also a mismatched airbag concern: on vehicles where the steering wheel style was swapped, an incompatible airbag may have been installed that deploys incorrectly, and a separate issue involves an airbag with the wrong horn pad that leaves the horn inoperable.
On the driver assistance and visibility side, the automatic emergency braking system can activate unexpectedly due to a false collision warning, and the Autosteer system may not adequately prompt drivers to take over when needed. The hood latch may fail to detect an unlatched hood, allowing it to fly open while driving. The rearview camera image can be delayed when reversing, and the infotainment processor can overheat during fast-charging and temporarily lose the display entirely, taking the rearview image, gear selector, and warning lights with it. A software error can
At a glance
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The rearview camera image may be delayed when you shift into reverse, affecting your ability to see behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update to your vehicle over-the-air to fix the camera display delay.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An air bag with an incorrect horn pad may have been installed, which prevents the horn from working properly.
What the fix does
Tesla service will inspect the air bag and install the correct one with the proper horn pad at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's air bag may tear when it deploys during a crash, reducing its ability to protect the driver.
What the fix does
Tesla service will replace the driver's air bag assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The hood latch assembly may fail to sense when the hood is unlatched after being opened, potentially allowing the hood to open while driving.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the latch detection system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt warning light and chime may not activate when the driver is unbelted, failing to alert the driver to fasten their seat belt.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a software update over the air to fix the warning system so it activates properly for unbelted drivers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A factory reset can silence the Pedestrian Warning System sounds, which alert pedestrians to the vehicle's presence. The vehicle then fails to meet federal sound requirements for electric vehicles.
What the fix does
Tesla releases a free software update (2023.44.30.14) over-the-air to restore the Pedestrian Warning System sounds.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System warning lights on the instrument panel display in an incorrect font size, which does not meet federal brake system safety standards.
What the fix does
Tesla is releasing a free over-the-air software update to correct the warning light font size display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Autosteer controls may not be prominent or clear enough to prevent drivers from misusing this advanced driver-assistance feature when it's engaged.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to improve how Autosteer controls are displayed and managed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A small number of vehicles may have an incorrect airbag installed in the steering wheel if the wheel was switched between yoke and round styles.
What the fix does
Tesla will email you to schedule a service appointment for inspection and replacement of the steering wheel airbag if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrect driver air bag may have been installed during steering wheel or yoke replacement, potentially making the air bag incompatible with the vehicle.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect and replace the driver air bag if needed at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The warning light for low brake fluid may fail to illuminate when brake fluid drops to unsafe levels, potentially reducing braking effectiveness.
What the fix does
Tesla released a software update (2023.32.7 or later) to fix the warning lamp. Affected owners will receive an email notification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vehicle controller may fail to detect when brake fluid is low and won't show a warning light on the dashboard.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free software update over the air to fix the issue. Owner letters were mailed December 12, 2023.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front-row seat belts may not be properly connected to the pretensioner anchors, which could cause the seat belts to detach during use.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will inspect the front-row seat belts and secure them to the pretensioner anchors, or replace the seat belt assemblies as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The FSD Beta software may drive unsafely at intersections—going straight in turn-only lanes, not stopping at stop signs, or proceeding through yellow lights without caution. It may also not properly adjust for posted speed limits or account for driver speed changes above limits.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to fix the FSD Beta system's intersection and speed-limit handling.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The restraint control module calibration may cause the front passenger airbag to deploy incorrectly during certain low-speed crashes.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to recalibrate the restraint control module.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power steering assist system may stop working when driving on rough roads or hitting a pothole, leaving you with manual steering only.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air to recalibrate the power steering system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The automatic window reversal system may fail to stop the window when it detects an obstruction, potentially trapping or injuring occupants.
What the fix does
Tesla will update the automatic window reversal system software over-the-air at no cost to fix the detection and reversal response.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The infotainment computer may overheat when the vehicle prepares for or performs fast-charging, causing the system to lag or restart.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over-the-air that improves how the computer manages heat.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function can play sounds through an external speaker while driving, which may mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert nearby pedestrians.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse modes, including Summon and Smart Summon features.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left or right front-row side curtain air bag may not deploy properly when the windows are lowered, reducing head and chest protection in a side crash.
What the fix does
Tesla Service Centers will replace both front-row side curtain air bags at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Boombox function plays audio through an external speaker while driving, which can mask the Pedestrian Warning System sounds that alert pedestrians to the vehicle's movement.
What the fix does
A free software update will disable Boombox when the vehicle is in Drive, Neutral, or Reverse, restoring pedestrian warning sounds.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause a heat pump valve to open unintentionally, trapping refrigerant in the evaporator and reducing defrosting performance.
What the fix does
Tesla will install a free over-the-air software update to fix the valve control error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The audible chime that alerts the driver to an unbuckled seat belt may not sound when the vehicle starts.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free software update over the air to restore the chime function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Full Self-Driving (Beta) software's rolling stop feature may allow the vehicle to pass through all-way stop intersections without fully stopping.
What the fix does
Tesla will send a free over-the-air software update that disables the rolling stop functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's air bag cushion may tear when it deploys during a crash.
What the fix does
Tesla Service will replace the driver's air bag at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software communication error may cause the forward-collision warning to activate falsely or trigger the automatic emergency brake system unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Tesla released a free over-the-air software update to fix the communication error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
