Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Tesla Model X owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that the message "Air Suspension" was displayed intermittently while driving. The vehicle was taken to the Tesla Service Center where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The contact stated while her fianc was pulling into a parking lot at 5 MPH with her in the front passenger's side seat, the vehicle lunged forward and shut off inadvertently. The contact and her fianc were unable to restart the vehicle, to turn on the hazard light. Additionally, they were unable to open the driver's or passenger's side doors. Additionally, the contact stated that the passengers occupying the second and third-row seats including her disabled father were also unable to open the rear doors. The contact stated that the vehicle was becoming increasingly hot. …
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V838000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Autonomous Self-Driving mode activated, the Auto-steer feature was engaged, and the vehicle inadvertently steered into the left lane of oncoming traffic. The contact manually steered the vehicle away from the oncoming traffic. An unknown dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. …
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, both center display screens turned off inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Tesla Service Center where the computer software was updated and reset however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local Tesla Service Center where it was diagnosed that both center display screens needed to be replaced. The center display screens were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the Tesla Service Center where it was diagnosed that the center displays needed to be replaced with upgraded parts. The contact stated that he was informed that the repair would not be covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
Car was hit by a city bus on 12/17/22. Car was towed to repair shop. Damages were repaired. Shortly after repair, the Car started making high pitched loud sound when a/c turned on. Took the car back to repair shop. Diagnosis: Air conditioning unit and compressor failed. Tesla wants $5700 to fix it, $4444 of it labor charges. They are saying it did not have to do with accident. The car did not make this sound before the accident. See pics.
There was a recall for Tesla Model S and X with MCU1 to have the eMMC card upgrade necessary to keep the unit running or for those that had to upgrade the eMMC or the MCU1 replaced with with an MCU2 before the recall would be reimbursed. I was contacted by Tesla about the reimbursement and I completed the necessary forms. I was later contacted by Tesla and informed I didn't meet the criteria. I asked for reasons why and they told me to contact my service center. As I have been to the service center 25 times I understand that they will just look at the invoice. So I did this on my own and see that when I had to replace my MCU1 with an MCU2, they listed it as an upgrade. At the time, I didn't think much of it being listed as an upgrade, but it was the only option communicated to me by Tesla at that time. I had no choice in order to make my Model X safe to drive. …
I own a Tesla Model X, and for the past two summers I've experienced a repeating safety-critical issue during hot weather. After driving for a period in the heat, multiple systems begin to fail. The car displays numerous warnings including: "Parking brake requires service" "Traction control disabled" "Stability control disabled" "Steering assist reduced" "Automatic Emergency Braking unavailable" "Regenerative braking unavailable" "Lane Departure Avoidance unavailable" When this happens, the steering wheel becomes very stiff and hard to turn, which severely affects my ability to drive and control the vehicle. I've brought the vehicle to Tesla service twice. The first time (when it was still under warranty), they said they couldn't replicate the issue. The second time, I brought it in while the warnings were still active. …
Tesla's entire car function (rear view camera, windshield heating, rear defrost) is supported by the center screen system. In Gen1 model X it uses a Gen 1 computer. Over the last 4 months. The screen blanks out while driving. I can't access car functions. This happens while driving so it's super dangerous. Only way to resolve the issue is to press a few more UI buttons on the screen. This impairs all car functions. I've submitted this a couple times to Tesla now and they say that this is a software issue they have not been able to resolve and they're asking me to pay $2000 to get their next generation center console. I've mentioned that this is a safety risk as this can happen while driving, which makes me take my eyes off the road to fix the problem on the center console. They don't seem to care about it. …
. December 2021, I stopped car at traffic light in Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381. Light turn blue but the car can't start, key fob and tesla app not working. I restarted my phone then Tesla app working back. Took more than 10 minutes. . January 2022, I stopped at traffic light on Siarra Highway, Santa Clarita CA 91351. Light turn blue but car can't start, key fob and tesla app not working. I have to restarted my phone in order for Tesla app working back. Took more than 10 minutes. We just had a new born so we feel very unsafe with this vehicle. And Tesla just ignore this matter. . 1 time car not working in garage for more than 24 hours so I called Tesla Roadside Assistant to tow to Tesla dealership. All they done was replaced key fob battery even I had mentioned about the incidents above. . …
MCU failure. Same symptoms as a failure of the mcu1, although mine was upgraded over a year ago to mcu2. It has failed. Failed strangely enough, after leaving the dealership, after an unnecessary recall to update MCU memory. My car does not have the problem. I was told, and given the car back. a mile from the dealership I realized that nothing was working. Can not turn on the defroster cannot operate any other features, air-conditioning, etc. it took three months to get the car back to them to try to address this problem all the time not having a fully functioning touchscreen and after two week time at the dealership they tell me that the MCU has failed and then I have to pay almost $2000 to fix it, additionally, they also said that this is the first MCU upgrade to the MCU to that they have seen fail, which brings up a whole lot more question. …
The component that is not working on my car is the intermittent windshield wipers. The issue is that the intermittent wipers do not come on in eaither of the 2 low settings. The wipers only work in the steady low and high settings. When it is just misty out or a light rain, you have to manually push the button at the end of the stalk to give a swish of the wipers. If you are on the steady low setting, it is too much and the wipers squeak on the widsheild. I originally brought this into my Tesla service center in October and they told me that this would be fixed in a firmware update. I have followed up a few times as the update never came and today I am back at the service center and they have told me that they are still waiting for this problem to be addressed and that I should just use the other low and high speed wipers to clear the mist. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights.
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.
Electrical system › ADAS › Driver monitoring › Software
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening a Recall Query to assess the remedy adequacy of Recall 23V838. On December 12, 2023, Tesla filed a Defect Information Report (Recall 23V838) applicable to all Tesla models produced and equipped with any version of its Autopilot system, which Tesla described as an SAE Level 2 (L2) Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged
The Office of Defects Investigation ("ODI") is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess the scope, frequency, and potential safety consequences of FSD executing driving maneuvers that constitute tra c safety violations. This investigation concerns versions of FSD that Tesla has labeled as "FSD (Supervised)" and "FSD (Beta)." Tesla characterizes FSD as an SAE Level 2 partial automation system requiring a…
Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
On January 6, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation 24003 (PE24033) to investigate Actually Smart Summon (Summon) sessions resulting in crashes during active sessions. According to Tesla, Summon is a short-distance SAE Level 2 system, controlled by the user from a cell phone within a certain distance and intended for use in parking lots and on private property.
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
On October 17, 2024, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24031) of Tesla's Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) to assess: the ability of the FSD system to detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions; whether any other FSD crashes had occurred under degraded roadway visibility conditions that are…
Autopilot & First Responder Scenes
On August 13, 2021, NHTSA?s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-020) to assess the performance of Tesla?s Autopilot system (a system characterized by Tesla as an SAE Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task) available in Tesla vehicles.
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Engineering Analysis to evaluate Tesla's Full Self Driving Beta and Full Self Driving (Supervised) (collectively, FSD) degradation detection system. The focus of this investigation will be to assess the system's ability, when encountering reduced roadway visibility conditions, to detect degradation and alert the driver with sufficient time to respond.
Autopilot System Driver Controls
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) upgraded PE21020 to EA22002 on June 8, 2022, to extend work and deepen the PE21020 crash analysis, to supplement that analysis with additional data, and to perform vehicle evaluations to understand how Tesla's Autopilot system may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver's supervision.
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Sudden Unintended Acceleration
On December 19, 2019, NHTSA received a petition from Mr. Brian Sparks requesting that the Agency recall all [Tesla] Model S, Model X, and Model 3 vehicles produced from 2013 to the present due to sudden unintended acceleration (SUA). In his petition and follow-up submissions, the petitioner identified a total of 232 non-duplicative complaints to NHTSA, including 203 reporting crashes.
Battery Management Software Updates
In a letter dated September 17, 2019, Mr. Edward Chen petitioned the NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation of certain Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles that received revised battery management software in one or more over-the-air (OTA) updates from Tesla, beginning in May 2019.
Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements
The Office of Defects Investigation ("ODI") has identified numerous incident reports submitted by Tesla, Inc. ("Tesla") in response to Standing General Order 2021-01 (the "SGO"), in which the reported crashes occurred several months or more before the dates of the reports.
Electrical complaints in other Model X years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2017 Tesla Model X?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the electrical system of the 2017 Tesla Model X, 27% of the model year's 268 complaints. The component named most often is adas › autonomous/self driving (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2017 Tesla Model X electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-051 (instrument cluster/panel, Jan 30, 2024); NHTSA recall 23V-838 (software, Dec 12, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2017 Tesla Model X electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.