2017 Tesla Model X Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 11 Model X years
The 2017 Tesla Model X ranks worst of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 268 NHTSA complaints, 24 crashes, 52 deaths, and 10 recalls. Electrical System issues are the top problem area at 29% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Model X years.
- Complaints
- 268
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes / fires
- 24 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 58 / 52
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 90.5
- 89.5 city / 93 hwy
Top 2017 Tesla Model X problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System77 (29%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires61 (23%)
- Other52 (19%)
- Steering50 (19%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras42 (16%)
- Engine21 (8%)
- Brakes18 (7%)
- Structure & Body15 (6%)
- Lane Departure14 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers11 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking at low speed, sometimes crashing into buildings or parked cars.
- Suspension complaints describe a broken or cracked forelink causing the rear suspension to fail, sometimes found in wrecked vehicles.
- Some owners say the backup camera displayed a frozen or previous image instead of a live feed, leading to a collision while reversing.
- Airbags reportedly did not deploy during a low-speed crash caused by sudden acceleration into a building.
- A rear wheel was reported canted at an angle after a front-end collision, pointing to a suspension failure in the back of the vehicle.
2017 Tesla Model X recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V376000May 28, 2024Seat Belts125,233 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Seat belts:front:warning light/devices
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
- NHTSA 24V051000Jan 30, 2024Electrical System2,193,869 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 23V838000Dec 12, 2023Electrical System2,031,220 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
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. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Risk: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
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. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
2017 Tesla Model X fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 89.5 MPG
- Highway
- 93 MPG
- Combined
- 90.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $850
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Electricity
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Model X years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Tesla Model X reliable?
- Among the 11 Model X model years tracked, 2017 has the highest Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst overall, with 268 complaints, 24 crashes, and 52 deaths reported to NHTSA. Its verdict relative to other years is Avoid.
- What is the top problem area for the 2017 Tesla Model X?
- Electrical System complaints lead with 77 complaints, 29% of the total, and a median failure mileage of 32,000 miles.
- Does the 2017 Tesla Model X have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 10 recalls tied to the 2017 Model X, covering components including Seat Belts, Electrical System, Steering, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, and HVAC. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- Which Model X years are better than 2017?
- 2021 and 2024 rank Best with Complaint Indexes of 10 and 20, while 2019 and 2025 rank Good with indexes of 40 and 30. The 2017 model has the highest index at 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Tesla Model X?
- The 2017 Model X gets an EPA-rated 90.5 mpg combined (89.5 city / 93 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $850.