124 of the 2,399 complaints filed about the Tesla Model X are about the throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2016.
124
Complaints
5%
Share of all complaints
60
Crashes
0
Fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was in the car. I had put on my seat belt and reached back to plug in my phone to charge. Before I turned back the phone accelerated forward and crashed into two cars in the parking lot.
NHTSA complaint #11755585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving on FSD (Full Self Driving) the vehicle was turning off the road into a parking lot and sped up and hit a vehicle while I was pressing the brake to the floor! I had to brace for impact when I hit the vehicle. I have requested the data and telemetry logs from Tesla. Everything was fine before the crash. Husband had a similar incident a few weeks ago where he was turning with FSD engaged and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the turn with a vehicle coming right at him, he had the gas floored to get out of the way but was completely stopped, could not move for 15 seconds or so.
NHTSA complaint #11754460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was driving the vehical when something went wrong. The vehicle showed a warning stating "ABS disabled". I was worried by this, when I saw further warnings appear including "Safety restraint system issue" "Power braking assist reduced" and something about steering. The dashboard also showed "Park Brake fault" and a red icon with a seatbelt and another with an airbag. Alarmed, I pulled to the side of the road. I then discovered that I could not use the parking brake or turn on the flashers. There is no manual parking brake, and the car thought it was still driving. I was facing downhill and the only way to keep the car from rolling was to keep my foot on the brake. I had to call 911 and could only safely exit the vehicle, after they had ensured it would not roll. Again, I could not exit the vehicle, or even put on flashers to warn traffic. Tesla attempted to have me reboot the operating system but this also failed -- apparently there is no manual reboot or brake avalible.
NHTSA complaint #11751426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I own a 2016 Tesla Model X P100D equipped with the Large Drive Unit (LDU). The component that fails is the rotor coolant seal in the rear drive unit motor. Coolant leaks internally into the motor and inverter, causing bearing wear, corrosion, isolation faults, and eventual complete drive unit failure. The affected drive units are still installed and available for inspection upon request. This defect puts my safety and the safety of others at risk because it can cause sudden loss of propulsion (especially at highway speeds), power reduction, or total drivetrain shutdown, potentially leading to a crash. Coolant in high-voltage areas also raises electrical fault/fire risks. The problem is widely reproduced and confirmed: Tesla service centers are familiar with it and replace failed units with updated “-U” revisions that include a coolant bypass. Independent EV shops confirm the exact root cause (rotor seal failure) via encoder inspections showing coolant intrusion and through disassembly. This is a documented pattern failure in all 2012–2020 LDU vehicles. No police or insurance inspections have occurred yet, as no crash or total failure has happened. Tesla is aware of the recurring issue through service records on similar vehicles. Early symptoms before full failure typically include rear motor whining/grinding (especially under load), reduced power warnings, “Rear Drive Unit Fault” messages, and visible coolant on the speed sensor. These can appear gradually. My vehicles have not yet experienced total failure, but the defect is known to be inevitable. I am proactively monitoring encoder sensors. Because this is a systemic design defect affecting thousands of vehicles with clear safety implications, I request NHTSA open an investigation and require Tesla to issue a recall for free repairs/replacements on all affected 2012–2020 LDU vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11735432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
During a recent incident where a tire issue caused damage to the wiring harness for the parking brake, resulting in a Parking Brake Failure notification on the screen, the vehicle would not stop or turn off. The vehicle displayed N for neutral on the dash, but the vehicle would drive forward unless the brake was depressed. In addition, we were unable to place the vehicle in Park, which meant that we were unable to shut it off. The only way to stop the vehicle from driving on its own and crashing into something was to place concrete blocks under the tires! Unplugging the 12v battery also had no effect! The vehicle kept driving as if it was in drive, and there as no way to stop it without placing the foot on the brake pedal the entire time or placing the blocks I referenced. The only way I was able to shut it off, was to pull what's known as the Fireman's Loop, which I'm guessing firemen pull in the case of an accident. I wasn't aware of this mechanism, and only learned of it after posting on numerous social media apps regarding this issue. This is a Major issue, as we are talking about a moving and unstoppable car! Tesla needs to build some mechanism that allows the car to be shut off by the driver or to override the screen and place the car in park. Pulling this firemans loop and unplugging the 12v battery, required me being in front of the vehicle, risking my life, as the vehicle could've easily moved if the concrete barriers didn't stop it, and also required me taking 30+ minutes to remove components from the Frunk, just to access these components!!
NHTSA complaint #11715473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On January 31, 2026, at 10:30 PM, I was driving from Fort Lauderdale to my home in Boca Raton, Florida. I was using FSD supervised mode. Close to my home, a big red image suddenly appeared, the car started accelerating fast, and I had no control over the car or its steering wheel. The car hit several electrical posts and only stopped after the airbags engaged. My wife was in the passenger seat. The front of the car was totally damaged, and I will have to total it.
NHTSA complaint #11714755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I am writing to formally document a life-threatening mechanical failure involving my 2022 Model X on January 30, 2026. While my wife was operating the vehicle, it suffered a simultaneous and catastrophic collapse of all primary safety systems. During operation, the vehicle experienced a total loss of steering and braking control. This was accompanied by a rapid cascade of critical system alerts on the primary display, including “ABS Malfunction,” “Stability Control Disabled,” and “Steering Assist Reduced/Disabled.” Most critically, the vehicle exhibited Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA), increasing speed in direct opposition to the driver’s physical application of the brake pedal. This resulted in a near-miss where the driver narrowly avoided a construction crew.
NHTSA complaint #11714488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I own a 2019 Model X which I have been driving for six years without any driving issues. I did have a few incidents in which the screen went black while driving. That was scary - driving without controls. These issues reported to Tesla and were addressed by Tesla. Today I was pulling into a parking lot when all of a sudden my Tesla automatically accelerated to high speed. I could not control or stop the vehicle despite applying hard brakes. The car crashed through a metal fence and continued to accelerate through the wall of a building. The only reason it finally stopped was because the back tires got stuck on the ledge of the wall. The Tesla went through the metal gates and walls of the building, but the safety airbag never deployed. The car has been towed away and reported to the insurance immediately after the police report. There was no warning messages or indication prior to the incident.
NHTSA complaint #11699986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The vehicle experienced serious drive control failures on three separate dates: September 21, 2024; October 2, 2024; and July 26, 2025. On each occasion, acceleration was either severely delayed or completely unresponsive, and the vehicle rolled backward when attempting to move forward on an incline. The following warnings appeared on the dashboard: “Stability Control Disabled,” ESC (Electronic Stability Control) warning light, and Air Suspension System warning. These symptoms occurred both while stationary and while driving. The vehicle was brought to Tesla service centers twice—on October 10, 2024, and September 2, 2025. On both occasions, Tesla stated that the issue could not be reproduced and returned the vehicle without performing any repairs. During the second visit, Tesla performed a $275 wheel alignment adjustment. The service report noted that the warning lights “may be restored on next drive.” I was verbally told that adjusting the alignment might help identify the root cause, but Tesla never explained how this adjustment was related to the actual symptoms. After performing the alignment, I was simply notified that the vehicle was ready for pickup. This kind of propulsion failure and rollback on inclines presents a serious safety risk to the driver, passengers, and other vehicles on the road. The issue remains unresolved and could occur again at any time without warning.
NHTSA complaint #11685764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I took an exit form the highway on [XXX] towards Bothell. As Soon as I did and ended up coasting towards the first red light, all the warning signs came on on the car and my steering wheel locked up. And my braking also got reduced. Only thing that worked was the Acceleration pedal. I struggled to get the car towards any safety. There was a message on the dashboard saying that assisted steering is reduced will require more power. however it was locked. I tried with all my might to steer the car in any direction but it would not budge. I was super scared I was going to be in an accident. With the limited braking as well I had to find a curb in the road to be able to safely park the car or a slope where the car could slow to a halt. Luckily I was able to do that and slowed down. on a curb like area and then I was able to turn on the parking brake. On contacting support they told me to reset the car and in doing so it should bring back functions. However, it did not. This was extremely dangerous and I was very lucky to get out of this alive without harming anyone else as well. Had this happened on the highway I was a sure goner. They had to finally get the car towed from there. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11627938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On July 29, 2024, when my husband backed the vehicle out of the garage slowly, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and it hit the stone column causing a big damage to the car. I believe the pedal speed control and emergency brake have problems. When I reported to Tesla, they said the vehicle was not at fault. They said the issue had been resolved remotely by the engineer and cancelled my service appointment. When I asked for the engineer report, Tesla rep told me to download the data report. After I downloaded the data report, it shows no data 2 hours before and after the time of the incident. When I tried to retrieve the video on the replay function in the vehicle, the video was not there anymore. Fortunately, my husband recorded the video on his phone and I have a copy of the video. I feel very disappointed and frustrated with how Tesla handled the issue. If they are not at fault, how come the data report and video are not available? I filed a claim under my auto insurance policy and got the vehicle fixed. This sudden unintended acceleration happened to me back in June when the vehicle accelerated by itself to 41mph. My daughter, who was sitting next to me in the front passenger seat, saw my foot was in the air but the vehicle kept moving at 41mph. We were so shocked and I had to use both feet to step on the brake to stop the vehicle. Tesla eventually replaced the steering column control in the beginning of July. Then, on July 29, the sudden acceleration happened again to my husband. This safety issue needs to be addressed by Tesla more seriously. I should at least get a written explanation of what happened and not just a phone call telling me the vehicle was not at fault. Since the damage to vehicle is fixed now, we would drive the vehicle more often. I don't want this sudden unintended acceleration to happen again, hitting something or someone on the road!
NHTSA complaint #11616937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While I was driving, I got an error on my dashboard that "acceleration and top speed reduced. performance may be restored on next drive". After I got this error, from onwards the car was not slowing down even though I remove my foot from accelerator and sometimes it is accelerating itself even though I was not on cruise control or auto pilot. Luckly brakes were working when it was causing sudden unintended acceleration. After I stopped my car at safe location it did not start, and it got towed to Tesla dealer. My concern is that I felt it is most dangerous and it can cause life threating accident. Could you please take necessary action on this incident which causing sudden unintended acceleration. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11615895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Tesla updated my vehicle with FSD 12.5.2.1 and it is dangerous and should be recalled. The software is too much for my vehicles processor, it frequently freezes for as long as 10 seconds. This loses my speedometer, my signal information, and happened while merging and nearly caused me an accident. The lane keep assist has retrograded significantly, it often goes outside of the painted lines and is in danger of hitting curbs. The processor feels like it struggles to keep up, and the auto steer is unsettled and jerky as it changes its mind. Previous software worked great, Tesla is pushing the software beyond the hardwares capabilities and it’s going to cause accidents. Please stop them.
NHTSA complaint #11615386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While parking, the accelerator pedal increased in speed without being pressed and the car had a sudden unexpected acceleration and crashed into a column in a parking lot.
NHTSA complaint #11609053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My 2019 Tesla Model X suddenly accelerated as I was going to park and ended up hitting a tree. It did not stop even on braking. The car is currently being inspected by the car insurance company, Geico. I checked online and found known issues of sudden unintended acceleration with Tesla vehicles.
NHTSA complaint #11604199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while stopped at the driveway and waiting for the gate to open, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated, struck the gate, and came to a stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #11604297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving CA-17, as is frequently the case, I had to disengage automatic steering several times to correct its poor lane keeping. Much to my surprise, the vehicle stopped maintaining speed, creating a dangerous situation with vehicles behind me as the uphill road caused the vehicle to rapidly decelerate the second I turned the wheel. After experimentation, I discovered that Tesla has completely removed cruise control capabilities from these vehicles unless you completely disable the FSD beta functionality, which makes this vehicle highly unsafe to drive in any environment where autosteer is inadequate, including CA-17. Further, this isn't just unsafe on weird highways. This poor decision on Tesla's part could very easily cause rear-end collisions on freeways. Nobody in their right minds would expect a vehicle to suddenly massively decelerate just because you correct its poor steering. This is just plain DANGEROUS. This so-called "Full Self Driving (Supervised)" version needs to be recalled immediately, and Tesla MUST be forced to make cruise control fallback available regardless of the FSD state. Until they do, it is fundamentally unsafe to allow Tesla vehicles to remain on public highways and freeways with FSD (Supervised) enabled.
NHTSA complaint #11587001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
When operating under adaptive cruise control, the vehicle frequently slams on the brakes for no reason. This has become so bad that we are simply terrified to operate the vehicle under adaptive cruise control. The highway is completely empty in front of us, there are no hazards and no issues with visibility on the road. The cruise control simply reacts to a phantom in a highly dangerous manner. > What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The adaptive cruise control - you are welcome to inspect it. > How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? We have suffered two near-miss rear-end collisions at high speed on the Interstate. The behavior throws us against the seat belt restraints, causing near loss of control. > Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? We have raised the problem repeatedly with Tesla, and there are numerous confirming reports by other Tesla owners > Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The system has been checked by Tesla, nothing found wrong. Tesla maintains that they are continuing to "train" the system, but after 5.5 years, there has been no improvement. > Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Nothing - the car simply slams on the brakes.
NHTSA complaint #11586994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Issue is with Tesla Full Self Driving subscription for $199/month and is available for inspection. No warnings or symptoms were indicated. The vehicle recommended I re-enable the service every time the vehicle restarted after it was shut off. Tesla's phone support stated the following is normal expected behavior, so an inspection isn't needed: 1. Automatically changed lanes on interstate into the space occupied by another vehicle multiple times. Thankfully, crashes were avoided by attentive drivers of involved vehicles. 2. Confused "40 MPH Minimum Speed" signs for speed limit, resulting in over 30 instances were speed was drastically and suddenly reduced, without warning, every time the sign appeared. 3. Automatically changed lanes on interstate from rightmost lane to center lane despite no traffic present. This seems to be a default behavior that cannot be adjusted. 4. Disabled cruise control and lane keeping assist when driver overrode automated systems (accelerated, braked, manually adjusted steering) to avoid a crash. Kept these systems disabled as a punishment until driver parked car and restarted.
NHTSA complaint #11583075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
This vehicle has massive and unbearable static electrical shock when the car stopped and trying to close the door as metal body of the car. and I have several Videos showing the electric shocks The auto pilot stop the vehicle on the highway for no reason that’s put the passenger in serious rear collision
NHTSA complaint #11582812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.