YearToAvoid

2019 Tesla Model X Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#7 most-complained of 11 Model X years

The 2019 Tesla Model X has 100 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and a Complaint Index of 40, ranking 7th worst out of 11 model years. That makes it a comparatively Good year, well below the 2016 (90) and 2017 (100) index highs.

Complaints
100
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
13 / 3
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
87
86 city / 89 hwy

Top 2019 Tesla Model X problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires28 (28%)
  2. Electrical System22 (22%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 (19%)
  4. Other19 (19%)
  5. Structure & Body16 (16%)
  6. Engine13 (13%)
  7. Brakes12 (12%)
  8. Steering11 (11%)
  9. Airbags7 (7%)
  10. Fuel System3 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report suspension or control arm failures causing a rear or front wheel to detach, sometimes leading to a crash.
  • Some report sudden unintended acceleration while parking or backing up at low speed, resulting in collisions into walls or curbs.
  • Owners describe the backup camera view dropping out or switching off unexpectedly while backing up.
  • Some report the brake pedal failing to stop the vehicle despite being applied, resulting in a crash.
  • Owners describe the electronic power steering or suspension links snapping or stretching in ways they say could not be caused by the crash itself.
  • One owner reported Smart Summon steering the vehicle into a parked car while exiting a parking spot.
2019 Tesla Model X complaints: complaints filed per quarter142019 Q22020 Q22021 Q22022 Q22023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
157 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2020 Q4 (14).

2019 Tesla Model X recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2019 Tesla Model X →

2019 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.

2019 compared with other Model X years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Avoid1002681090.5
2018Caution70192987
2019Good40100887
2020Caution501271096
2021Best10412497

All Tesla Model X years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Tesla Model X reliable?
NHTSA lists 100 complaints and a Complaint Index of 40 for the 2019 Model X, ranking it 7th worst of 11 model years, which NHTSA data classifies as a Good year relative to other Model X years.
What is the top problem area for the 2019 Tesla Model X?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires is the top problem area, accounting for 28 of 100 complaints (28%), with 3 crashes and 2 fires reported and a median failure mileage of 10,500 miles.
Does the 2019 Tesla Model X have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2019 Model X, covering components including Seat Belts, Electrical System, Steering, and Collision Avoidance & Cameras.
How does the 2019 Model X compare to other years?
Its Complaint Index of 40 is lower than the 2016 (90), 2017 (100), 2018 (70), and 2023 (80) model years, but higher than the 2021 (10) and 2024 (20) model years, which rank as Best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Tesla Model X?
EPA rates the 2019 Model X at 87 MPG combined (86 city / 89 highway) with an annual fuel cost of $850.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.