12 of the
684 complaints about the 2016 Tesla Model X are about the
wheels — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
34,000 miles.
C
12
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Wheels
12100.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Troy, MI
WHEELS
While pulling forward to straighten out car into parking/charging spot at less than 1mph at EVGo charger in front of Meijer store the front passenger wheel made loud clunk and would not move. Another motorist charging said he heard it and offered to help. I called Tesla roadside from car’s service screen and waited over half hour before being disconnected. The Tesla App provides NO applicable options for this scenario to report. I then called my extended warranty (X-care) roadside and after almost 4 hours obtained a tow to Tesla Service in Clarkston. Tesla now diagnosed that the FORE LINK ASSY, 1.00 RH(1041575-00-B) WASHER, NORDLOCK, 1.00 15.2X30.7X3.4(1033093- 00-A) NUT HF M14X1.50 [10] 1.00 ZNNI NL INSERT(1004358-00-C) need to be replaced. $400 parts and labor. Invoice attached. This luckily occurred with only me in the car, on 40 degree day and at the charger…I was nearly out of charge. I would have been stranded. And begged a lot of what if’s… The car had just been serviced by Tesla on 11/14/22-11/18/22. Invoice attached. Tesla replaced bolts in steering rack housing when I brought it in for a windshield replacement? Bottom line though this is too critical a failure during such a basic, low speed operation to be safe. I cannot trust that the fore link assembly won’t fail in future in same or different wheel. It felt like the car broke its own leg by merely taking a slow step forward. This should not be permissible. Thank you for your work.
NHTSA complaint #11500041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Jose, CA
WHEELS
Car has 52000 miles. Car was parked OK. Upon returning to drive I noticed cracking sound and noticeable wobbling motion on right front wheel. Car was found to have broken right front ball joint and Tesla replaced all front parts left and right. Tesla said this was wear and tear and I disagreed and think it is a safety issue!
NHTSA complaint #11472874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ft Lauderdale, FL
WHEELS
I was experiencing very loud noises from the suspension and/or steering while driving and turning. The tires were also wearing excessive and very unevenly. Within 500 miles, the tires went from 2/32nds to completely bald with no signs of tread at all and very chopped. I took the vehicle to Tesla for inspection. They came back with a repair order for $6,171 for suspension parts such as fore link assy for L and R, front suspension aft link, right rear upper link, air spring module L and R, sway bar link L and R and other misc repairs. I found that there were many complaints online for some of these components. Tesla offered no explanation why a garage kept vehicle with only 54k miles would have so many severe suspension issues and did not offer to cover any of the repairs even though the vehicle is just out of full warranty for time frame.
NHTSA complaint #11456847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,500 milesDanville, CA
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TESLA (6701 AMADOR PLAZA RD, DUBLIN, CA 94568, (925)361-1173) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FORK LINK ASSEMBLY KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,500.
NHTSA complaint #11415600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesCumberland, ME
WHEELS
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED OFF DETACHING THE REAR WHEEL/TIRE, BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND STRUT/AXEL RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. FORTUNATELY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN 20 MINUTES SOONER AS MY GF AND I WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS - THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A LIFE THREATENING, CATASTROPHIC MULTIYEAR CRASH BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE... WE WERE BACKING OUT >1MPH OF A PARKING SPACE IN A VERY SHALLOW CURVE WHEN IT SNAPPED - WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND I THINK THE ELECTRONIC BRAKING TRIED TO STOP THE WHEEL FROM ROLLING JAMMING IT FURTHER AT ANGLE INTO THE WHEELWELL. THERE WAS NOR HAD THERE BEEN ANY UNUSUAL IMPACTS ON THIS TIRE NOR THE VEHICLE FROM POTHOLES/SUDDEN STOPS OR ANY ACCIDENTS OF ANY KIND.
NHTSA complaint #11406844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 57,000 milesRYE, NH
WHEELS
FAILURE OF THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION FORE LINK, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED
NHTSA complaint #11389326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 34,000 milesWashington, DC
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL X. EQUIPPED WITH TIRE BRAND: BRIDGESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE TO1027257-00-8, TIRE SIZE: 275/45R/20 CCLXS, DOT # UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S STEERING HAD BEEN SHAKING IN THE CONTACT'S HAND WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SHE FELT A BOOM IN THE VEHICLE. THE TWO TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD FLATTENED.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TESLA 52 DERWOOD CIR, ROCKVILLE, MD 20850 (301) 738-6523 . THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE REPAIRS COMPLETED AT THE DEALER AT A COST OF $8,000. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. *BF
NHTSA complaint #11377179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,580 milesDuluth, GA
WHEELS
FRONT RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) WHEEL DISLODGED FROM SUSPENSION ARM.IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS REVERSING FROM A PARKING.
NHTSA complaint #11197184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,118 milesSAN Francisco, CA
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TESLA MODEL X. WHILE DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,118.
NHTSA complaint #10947973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 milesRancho Santa FE, CA
WHEELS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF A PARKING GARAGE AT THE LOCAL MALL WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE MODEL X (2 ADULTS & 3 KIDS) TO SEE A FAMILY MOVIE, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL "FELL-OFF" (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO'S). IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THE CONTROL ARM DISENGAGED FROM THE CHASSIS OF THE CAR VIS-A-VIS A MISSING BOLT OR PIN. THE VEHICLE IS BRAND-NEW (I.E., LESS THAN 1,000 MI), PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM TESLA, IS DRIVEN BY A MOTHER OF THREE, AND IS ACCIDENT FREE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO ANY EXTREME WEAR AND TEAR OR OFF-ROAD DRIVING CONDITIONS. TESLA SERVICE MANAGER IS FAMILIAR WITH VEHICLE AS IT HAS BEEN RECENTLY SERVICED FOR DOOR/WINDOW ISSUES - NO FRAME OR WHEEL ISSUES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, HOWEVER AS MENTIONED, WE WERE DRIVING IN A CROWDED PARKING GARAGE DURING HOLIDAY SEASON. TESLA ROAD-SIDE SERVICE WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL AND ARRANGED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER - THE CAR WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT DRIVABLE. TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD MENTIONED HE HAD NEVER WITNESSED ANYTHING LIKE WHAT HE HAD SEEN WITH OUR VEHICLE. MOREOVER, HE DID EXPRESS TO US THAT WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THE WHEEL HADN'T DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED (E.G., ON THE HIGHWAY). THE MODEL X HAS BEEN AT THE TESLA SERVICE CENTER FOR CLOSE TO 3 WEEKS AND DESPITE OUR INQUIRIES, WE HAVE NOT BEEN EXPRESSLY TOLD WHAT CAUSED THE INCIDENT OR WHETHER OR NOT THE ISSUE IS A MORE SERIOUS/SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE OR TESLA QUALITY CONTROL. CONSEQUENTLY, MY WIFE IS CONCERNED FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE OTHER MOTHERS/FAMILIES SHE ROUTINELY SEE'S DRIVING THE MODEL X IN AND AROUND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SHOULD A WHEEL DISENGAGE FROM THE CAR AT A HIGH SPEED, THE OUTCOME IS LIKELY TO BE MUCH DIFFERENT AND MUCH LESS FAVORABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10945692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesDallas, TXCrash
WHEELS
THE CAR WAS ON AUTOPILOT. MY MODEL X AUTOPILOT RAN OVER A RECLINER AT 60M/H THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS AROUND 6 PM, WEATHER WAS NICE AND CLEAR. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY MOVING TO RIGHT LANE BUT IT HIT THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE FRONT OF CAR CAUSING MINOR DAMAGES TO CAR. I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO TESLA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY TOLD ME [4 OR 5 TIMES] THAT SOMEONE WILL CONTACT ME AND NO ONE EVER DID. EVERYTIME I TALKED TO TESLA [BY PHONE AND EMAIL] THEY ASK ME FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THEN TELL ME SOMEONE WILL CALL YOU BACK. I WANTED TO KNOW WHY DIDN'T THE CAR SLOW DOWN OR EVEN CHANGE LANES AND HOW CAN I AVOID THIS IN FUTURE SPECIALLY THAT I USE THIS CAR FOR MY 2 KIDS. I HAD BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO TESLA SINCE OCTOBER 2016.
NHTSA complaint #10944389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesLexington, MACrash
WHEELS
I WAS GOING UP BY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR MY GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND WAS SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT HITTING THE BREAKS WAITING FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO OPEN. THE CAR TOOK OFF THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND HIT MY HUSBANDS CAR SITTING IN THE GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10909588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.