How common are electrical system problems on the 2018 Tesla Model X?

NHTSA lists 36 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Model X, which is 19% of the 192 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2018 Tesla Model X?

Yes. NHTSA recall 24V051000 covers an incorrect instrument panel font size, and recall 23V838000 covers Autosteer-related software, both addressed with free over-the-air updates.

At what mileage do electrical failures tend to show up?

The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2018 Model X is 9,550 miles.

Do electrical problems on the 2018 Model X lead to crashes?

NHTSA data tied to this problem area lists 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the reported cases.

What kinds of electrical failures do owners describe most?

Owners describe frozen instrument clusters and touchscreens, MCU lag after hardware upgrades, unexplained horn activation, and the vehicle getting stuck in drive instead of shifting to park.

2018 Tesla Model X Electrical System Problems

Owners filed 36 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Tesla Model X, 19% of the 192 total complaints for that year. NHTSA links two recalls (24V051000, 23V838000) to electrical issues on this model, and the median mileage at failure was 9,550 miles.

Electrical System complaints: 36; 19% of 192
Crashes reported: 5
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 1
Median mileage: 9,550 mi
Related recalls: 2

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

Instrument cluster and audio system freeze or go blank for extended periods, sometimes locking the displayed speed while the car keeps accelerating or decelerating.
Central touchscreen or MCU stops responding, which also disables the rear door release mechanism from inside the cabin.
Vehicle loses power and stalls unexpectedly while driving, with no fault found when the service center inspects it.
Horn activates on its own and will not stop, accompanied by an unusual smell, blown fuses, and the steering wheel locking up.
Vehicle becomes stuck in drive and fails to shift into park, triggering automatic door locks that trap the occupant inside.
MCU failures after a hardware upgrade cause severe lag and startup delays lasting up to 20 minutes.

When 2018 Tesla Model X electrical complaints were filed

First complaint May 8, 2018, latest Aug 18, 2026.

36 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2025 (4).

Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Tesla Model X

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.

Electrical System complaints by Model X model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20150 (0%)
2016100 (22%)
201777 (29%)
201836 (19%)
201922 (22%)
202029 (23%)
20217 (17%)
202219 (15%)
202323 (12%)
20244 (15%)
20254 (27%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are electrical system problems on the 2018 Tesla Model X?: NHTSA lists 36 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Model X, which is 19% of the 192 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2018 Tesla Model X?: Yes. NHTSA recall 24V051000 covers an incorrect instrument panel font size, and recall 23V838000 covers Autosteer-related software, both addressed with free over-the-air updates.
At what mileage do electrical failures tend to show up?: The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2018 Model X is 9,550 miles.
Do electrical problems on the 2018 Model X lead to crashes?: NHTSA data tied to this problem area lists 5 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the reported cases.
What kinds of electrical failures do owners describe most?: Owners describe frozen instrument clusters and touchscreens, MCU lag after hardware upgrades, unexplained horn activation, and the vehicle getting stuck in drive instead of shifting to park.