2018 Tesla Model X Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
70/100
#4 most-complained of 11 Model X years
The 2018 Tesla Model X has 192 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 70, and 9 recalls, ranking 4th worst out of 11 model years, so it carries a Caution verdict relative to other Model X years.
- Complaints
- 192
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 35 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 16 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 87
- 86 city / 89 hwy
Top 2018 Tesla Model X problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires45 (23%)
- Other41 (21%)
- Electrical System36 (19%)
- Structure & Body33 (17%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras32 (17%)
- Engine21 (11%)
- Steering18 (9%)
- Brakes15 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (6%)
- Airbags8 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners describe the vehicle suddenly lurching or accelerating on its own at low speed while parking, resulting in collisions with poles, fences, or curbs.
- Some report the brake pedal not responding when pressed during these sudden-acceleration events.
- Airbags failed to deploy in at least one low-speed parking-lot crash despite severe front-end damage.
- Owners using the self-park feature report the car moving backward unexpectedly and striking objects even with hands and feet off the controls.
- One owner found a rear wheel visibly misaligned after a crash, suspecting a suspension failure rather than driver error.
- A separate report describes the vehicle being shifted into gear and driven by a small child due to no transmission safety interlock.
2018 Tesla Model X recalls
9 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.
2018 Tesla Model X fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 86 MPG
- Highway
- 89 MPG
- Combined
- 87 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.
2018 compared with other Model X years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Tesla Model X reliable?
- NHTSA data shows 192 complaints and a complaint index of 70 for the 2018 Model X, placing it 4th worst among 11 model years and earning a Caution rating relative to other years of the Model X.
- What are the most common problems on the 2018 Tesla Model X?
- The top problem area is Suspension, Wheels & Tires with 45 complaints (23% share), followed by Electrical System (36 complaints, 19%) and Structure & Body (33 complaints, 17%).
- Does the 2018 Tesla Model X have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recalls tied to the 2018 Model X, covering seat belts, electrical system issues, steering (including EPAS power-assist loss and FSD Beta rolling-stop behavior), and collision avoidance camera and warning glitches.
- How does the 2018 Model X compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 70, the 2018 Model X ranks 4th worst of 11 years; the 2017 (index 100) and 2016 (index 90) are rated Avoid, while 2021 and 2024 (index 10 and 20) are rated Best.
- Were there any crashes or injuries reported for the 2018 Model X?
- NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Model X include 35 crashes, 2 fires, and 16 injuries, with no deaths reported.