"How reliable is the 2021 Tesla Model X?"

"Based on 58 NHTSA complaints, the 2021 Tesla Model X has a median complaint mileage of 450 miles. The most common issue is STEERING."

"What are common problems with the 2021 Tesla Model X?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Tesla Model X is STEERING, accounting for a significant portion of the 58 total complaints filed."

2021 Tesla Model X: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 58 complaints

Total Complaints

450mi

Median Mileage

STEERING

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

40 25th Percentile

450 Median Mileage

2,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SUSPENSION

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

POWER TRAIN

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WE GOT A 2021 TESLA X FOR JUST ONE MONTH. BUT THE COMPUTER HAS DEAD THREE TIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN HIGH WAY AND HAVE MY TWO KIDS IN THE BACK SEATS. TWO OUT OF THE THREE TIMES I HAD TO PULL OVER MY CAR TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND TURN IT ON AGAIN. ONE OF THE TIMES THE COMPUTER CAME BACK AGAIN BY IT..."

"UNDER MEDIUM/HEAVY ACCELERATION, THERE IS A RATTLING/GRINDING SOUND LIKE SOMETHING IS COMING LOOSE. TESLA SAYS ITS NORMAL. ITS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND TESLA REFUSES TO REPAIR."

"HERE IS A 2021 MODEL X IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/39434989?TENANT=US&ROWNUMBER=19 THE BACK WHEEL AND SUSPENSION HAS SNAPPED OFF. THIS IS NOT THE RESULT OF A CRASH IT IS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS CRACKED IN HALF ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28