2023 Tesla Model X Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year concentrate on the steering wheel itself rather than the drivetrain: owners most often describe the small capacitive horn button and the stalkless turn-signal buttons as hard to find in an emergency. A second cluster covers driver-assistance behavior — phantom braking, unexpected lane changes or pull-overs under Full Self-Driving, and software glitches that disable cameras, parking assist or navigation. Most sampled complaints were filed within the first year and at very low mileage, and the recurring theme is that problems are intermittent and often addressed with software updates or service visits.

1. 1
   Steering

   Horn is a small side button, not a center pad

   • 100 complaints (52%)
   • typically at 1.6 yrs old
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the horn as a small capacitive button on the right spoke of the yoke or wheel instead of the center pad drivers reach for by reflex. They report needing to look down to find it, and that it becomes harder to locate when the wheel is turned or in a rush, so warning other drivers in a near-miss often does not happen in time. Several say they hit the scroll wheel instead, and one complaint notes that pressing the scroll wheel engages Autopilot. Owners also mention stalkless turn-signal buttons that are hard to press reliably, and some describe being quoted a price to swap in a wheel with a center horn. Reported across the sample regardless of mileage, from nearly new vehicles to ones past 25,000 miles.

   Recall 25V172000Recall 23V743000

   What to check: Sit in the car and try to sound the horn and operate the turn signals without looking down, both with the wheel straight and turned. Ask whether a steering wheel with a center horn pad has been fitted, and confirm with the seller which wheel and airbag the car was delivered with.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I find the horn button on the side of the steering to be dangerous. When in an emergency I find it very difficult to locate the horn button when the steering is not at it's regular position. I think the horn should be at the center. The manufacturer should replace the steering with another that has a horn in the center of the steering.”

   NHTSA complaint #11566143, filed 2024-01

   “In many near hit collisions where I need to honk the horn, memory reflexes goes to press down the center of the steering wheel to alert but the horn button isn’t there on this vehicle. It’s put as a button on the right side but after 25,000 Miles and at least 4 times, I could not locate it quick enough. This is a serious safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11671448, filed 2025-07
2. 2
   Forward collision avoidance

   Full Self-Driving braking, swerving or pulling over

   • 32 complaints (16%)
   • median 26,100 mi at 2.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle braking hard with no obstacle ahead while cruise control or Autopilot was active, and FSD attempts to change lanes across a center divider or striking lane markers at highway speed. Some report the system triggering hazard lights and slowing toward the shoulder with no shoulder available, and others mention a large popup on the screen after every takeover that blocks the interface until dismissed. A few owners describe the vehicle accelerating on its own in driveways or parking lots, though the reasons are stated in the complaints as undetermined. Mostly reported in the first few thousand miles, often during highway driving with an assistance feature engaged.

   Recall 23V085000Recall 23V838000Recall 23V489000

   What to check: Ask the seller which software version is installed and whether all open recalls, including the Autosteer and FSD-related campaigns, have been applied; check the recall status by VIN before buying and drive a stretch of highway with the assistance features on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On Oct 2, 2024 while going to school to pick the kids, when my wife was turning right into a parking lot after slowing, my Tesla Model X plaid car acceralated and went into high speed (plaid mode) hitting a tree at top speed even though brakes were applied. Upon research, this looks like sudden unintended accerelation. The car luckily hit the tree on the passenger side and the front right wheel flew to the back seat and all air bags were deployed. The car was totaled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11629545, filed 2024-12

   “As I drove my Tesla Model X Plaid into my driveway towards the garage to park, the vehicle suddenly accelerated itself (I have FSD but wasn’t using it at that time) and drove into the garage door as it was still opening, slamming and crushing into all the items that were on one side of the garage. When I quickly realized what was going on, I slammed the brakes and made the car stop. My daughter luckily was waiting for me on the stairs of the garage. If she were standing in the garage instead, it would have been fatal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11545772, filed 2023-09
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Cameras, navigation and parking assist dropping out

   • 31 complaints (16%)
   • median 1,942 mi at 0.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the rearview camera going black or washing out to near-white, navigation freezing at one location, and parking assist or FSD becoming unavailable, sometimes for days at a time. Several note that the faults appear after a software update and that subsequent updates fail to install, with one owner reporting a computer replacement quoted outside warranty. Others mention the screen showing distorted road lines and moving vehicle icons, and a service advisor telling one owner the blank backup view came from a software release. Typically reported within the first several thousand miles, often shortly after an over-the-air update.

   Recall 26V283000Recall 25V002000Recall 24V035000Recall 23V2440004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle through reverse, park assist and navigation during a test drive and again after any software update; ask whether the camera-related recalls were completed and whether software updates install normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2019 Tesla model 3 with ultrasonic sensors and the parking assist system is great. I always feel like I can trust the system and the reported distances. My 2023 Tesla model x has no ultrasonic sensors and the parking assist system is terrible. So many false positives and false negatives that I just ignore the system. I have to park just by my own eyes and judgement. This puts my own car, other cars and private property at increased risks of collisions.”

   NHTSA complaint #11536779, filed 2023-08

   “My 2023 Tesla Model X began experiencing safety-related failures immediately after a Tesla software update. Right after the update, the vehicle’s cameras stopped functioning correctly and GPS/navigation also stopped working properly. Since that point, subsequent Tesla software updates have failed to install successfully. Tesla diagnosed the issue as requiring replacement of the HW4 computer at my expense for approximately $4,500 because the vehicle is just outside warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11726773, filed 2026-03
4. 4
   Air bags

   Restraint system fault warnings recurring

   • 23 complaints (12%)
   • median 3,000 mi at 1.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners report intermittent 'safety system restraints service required' or front passenger restraint fault messages with warning chimes and airbag indicator lights, appearing with or without a passenger present. Complaints describe repeated service visits where connectors were cleaned or greased, with the warning returning months later, and one owner was told the next repair would fall outside warranty. Separate complaints describe airbags not deploying in a collision and difficulty getting out of the car afterwards. Appears at low mileage on newer cars and again in the 30,000-mile range in the sample.

   Recall 24V967000Recall 22V843000Recall 25V172000

   What to check: Ask for the full service history for restraint-system warnings and whether the airbag and seat-belt related recalls were performed; confirm the airbag warning light does not stay lit after start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had “safety system restraints service is required “ as a warning four different times. Took my car in to a Tesla Service Center all 4 times & each time the repair only lasts about 6 months & it comes up again. For the 5th time I am going to the Tesla Service Center in Little Rock, AR. This time I will have to pay because my warranty is up. It is not fair & I want some remuneration or a replacement Model X.”

   NHTSA complaint #11739176, filed 2026-05

   “Recurring front passenger safety restraint system fault that Tesla cannot permanently repair despite 4 service attempts over 16 months. ISSUE: Vehicle intermittently displays Front Passenger Safety Restraint System Fault - Service Required with persistent warning chimes and airbag warning indicator. Occurs with and without passenger present. Causes significant stress/anxiety and erodes confidence in restraint system reliability during a collision. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11703187, filed 2025-12
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Trim and underbody panels coming loose

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 1.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2025

   Complaints describe fender flares and the underbody guard detaching after driving through standing water, with one owner hearing other drivers point out that a large panel had fallen from underneath the car. Another owner reports a persistent foul odor from the cabin that dealers addressed by replacing filters without resolving it, and one describes the rear falcon-wing doors being difficult to unlatch manually if the vehicle loses power. Reported from city-speed driving in heavy rain up to around 30,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect fender flares and underbody panels for looseness or missing fasteners, check for water intrusion around the HVAC drain area, and ask the seller to demonstrate the manual door release on the falcon-wing doors.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “It rained heavily overnight in Dallas Tx. The roads were almost like lakes. As you know, when a car drives through standing water, it creates loud noise from the tires and underside of vehicle. But I didn’t think much of it at the time. When I got home, I realized that both fender flares were completely gone. I believe this is a serious issue of durability. Even plastic model kits don’t lose parts just from water pressure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11663194, filed 2025-05

   “I was driving home from work within city limits at less than 30 miles per hour. The roads were waterlogged due to a thunderstorm and the next thing I knew i heard other vehicles near me honking and telling me that something large had fallen off the underside of my car. I stopped the car immediately and was shocked to see that the guard that covers the bottom of my car had fallen off by itself. Apparently the batteries powering the vehicle are situated in the undercarriage and the guard is supposed to protect that area. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11682221, filed 2025-08

Buying note. This is a recent model year with most complaints filed early in ownership, and a large share center on control layout and driver-assistance software rather than mechanical wear. Before buying, confirm the software version and that all open recalls by VIN have been completed, and spend time with the horn, turn signals and driver-assistance features to decide whether the controls suit you.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.