The Lemon IndexTesla Model X reliability.
Is it reliable? Not really. 4.1× the average car's complaints.
Avoid · 2016–2020
Tesla doesn't report U.S. sales by model. The whole-model score uses the study's cumulative 2016–2020 U.S. estimate; scored model years use published per-year estimates (Kelley Blue Book, Wikipedia) and other years show complaints only. For range, charging cost and the EV ranking, see the Model X on our EV page.
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Tesla Model X videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2021.
Only 2 Tesla Model X years have enough complaints and sales to score, too few for best and worst lists. 2021 drew a bit more than the average car's complaints.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/tesla-model-x/" title="Tesla Model X reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/tesla-model-x/">Lemon Index</a> (Tesla Model X reliability by year)</p>Two scores, two windows: Lemon Index 407 for model years 2016–2020 (complaints in each car's first 3 years) on this page; EV score 482 for model years 2021–2024 (complaints filed by the end of the year after the model year) on its EV page. Different model years and windows, so the numbers differ.
Compare the Tesla Model X.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Tesla Model X reliable?
Not really. It draws 4.1× the average car's complaints. No year beat the average car. The year with the fewest complaints, 2021, still drew 1.2× the average.
Is the Tesla Model X a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2016-2020: Lemon Index 407; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2021 drew the fewest complaints and 2022 the most.
What are the best Tesla Model X years to buy?
Only 2 Tesla Model X years have enough data to score, so we don't list best years. 2021 drew the fewest complaints (a bit more than the average car's complaints).
What Tesla Model X years should you stay away from?
Only 2 Tesla Model X years have enough data to score, too few to single out years to avoid.
How many recalls does the Tesla Model X have?
123 safety recalls across the 10 model years we track. Most: 2021 (24), 2022 (22), 2023 (17). Each year's page lists them, and every Tesla Model X recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Tesla Model X problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name suspension, steering and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | – | complaints only, no sales figure to score | 132 | suspension (47%) | 12 | ★★★★★ | 86–93 |
| 2017 | – | complaints only, no sales figure to score | 81 | suspension (31%) | 10 | — | 86–93 |
| 2018 | – | complaints only, no sales figure to score | 74 | suspension (26%) | 9 | ★★★★★ | 85–93 |
| 2019 | – | complaints only, no sales figure to score | 53 | electrical (26%) | 8 | ★★★★★ | 79–96 |
| 2020 | – | complaints only, no sales figure to score | 88 | automatic emergency braking (30%) | 10 | ★★★★★ | 79–105 |
| 2021 | 124 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 27 | steering (26%) | 24 | ★★★★★ | 86–105 |
| 2022 | 338 | about 3 times the average car's complaints | 110 | steering (30%) | 22 | ★★★★★ | 91–102 |
| 2023 | 658 | about 7 times the average car's complaints | 194 | steering (24%) | 17 | ★★★★★ | 91–102 |
| 2024 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 27 | automatic emergency braking (41%) | 8 | — | 90–100 |
| 2025 | – | complaints only, no sales figure to score | 16 | automatic emergency braking (31%) | 3 | — | 88–98 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales sources: en.wikipedia.org, coxautoinc.com. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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