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Tesla Model X P90d
Problems & Worst Years

Every reported problem for the Tesla Model X P90d, model year by model year — ranked from 397 federal NHTSA complaints across 20162019.

2016
Worst year
2018
Fewest complaints
4
Model years covered

Four consecutive model years of data on the Model X P90D show a clear downward trend in complaint volume, from 259 occurrences in 2016 down to 97, then 66, then just 46 by 2019 — even as the underlying issues stayed remarkably similar year to year. 2016 sets the pattern: 94 reports of touchscreen malfunction lead, followed closely by 63 describing suspension failure that led to wheel detachment, plus falcon-wing door malfunction (21), unintended acceleration rated safety-severity (21), and front suspension link failure (20).

2017 keeps suspension in the top spot — 20 reports of issues leading to wheel separation — alongside forward collision avoidance system failures (12), general electrical-system malfunction (10), service brake issues (9), and touchscreen freezing or going blank during operation (9).

By 2018, phantom braking emerges as a new top complaint at 13 reports, alongside suspension shudder and vibration (12), unintended acceleration without warning rated safety-severity (9), continued suspension failure leading to wheel detachment (5), and general powertrain issues (4). 2019 stays anchored on suspension — wheel detachment again leads at 12 reports — with electrical-system failures causing dashboard malfunctions (6), battery and powertrain issues (5), forward collision avoidance malfunction (5), and unintended acceleration issues (5) filling out a much shorter list.

No recall campaigns appear against any year of the P90D in this dataset, so all four years reflect owner complaints only. Suspension-related wheel detachment is the one issue that shows up in the top five every single year from 2016 through 2019, making it the most consistent thing worth checking on any P90D regardless of model year.

The declining totals shouldn't be read as simple proof of improvement — newer years naturally have less time on the road to accumulate complaints, and these figures track what owners chose to report to NHTSA rather than a measured failure rate. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the suspension, along with a full service history, remains the more reliable way to judge any individual car.

WrenchConnect Editorial · analysis of NHTSA complaint data

Tesla Model X P90d problems by year

Complaint volume by model year (bar = relative to the worst year). Theworst yearsare the most-complained-about, weighted by safety-risk problems.

YearComplaint volumeProblemsSafety / HighMost common problem
2016worst
218
141/7Touchscreen Malfunction
Electrical · 94 complaints
2017worst
83
151/4Suspension issues leading to wheel separation
Suspension · 20 complaints
2018
54
131/2Phantom Braking
Electrical · 13 complaints
2019worst
42
101/4Suspension Failure Leading to Wheel Detachment
Suspension · 12 complaints
Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2019 — the most-complained-about Model X P90d model years.
Cleanest year: 2018 drew the fewest complaints of the 4 years on record.

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls, 20162019. Problem clustering and year rankings are derived from the complaint record; complaint volume reflects reports filed, not total incidence or fault rate. Vehicle image is illustrative.