2023 Tesla Model X Safety and Reliability

There are no recent safety reviews for the Tesla Model X from either of the two US authorities. Back in 2021, the NHTSA gave the X full marks in all categories, however. Considering minimal mechanical and structural changes, this should still apply.

The Tesla Model X SUV comes with ten airbags as standard, with knee airbags for both front occupants, as well as frontal, curtain, seat-mounted side, and door-mounted side-impact airbags. You also get forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, a rearview camera, lane keep assist, a brake hold feature, parking sensors, and LED lights with cornering. A semi-autonomous self-driving feature is also available as part of the deceptively-named Full Self-Driving Capability, and boasts automatic lane change assist, auto parking, and a remote summon feature. Traffic light and stop sign control are included in this upgrade as well, with Autosteer in the city another feature that's been promised for some time now.

Brace yourself because the news here isn't encouraging. 2023 models have already been recalled five times - for an airbag that may deploy incorrectly, a misaligned forward-facing camera, seatbelts that may detach, rearview images that won't display, and self-driving software causing a crash. The 2022 Tesla Model X was recalled twelve times, and many of these issues relate to safety systems like improperly deploying side airbags and a pedestrian warning sound that could be obscured. A seat belt chime may not activate, the windshield defroster may not work, and some Model Xs could fail to stop at a stop sign. Finally, there were recalls for a missing body reinforcement bracket, power windows that may pinch, overheating problems affecting the center display, and a windshield that may not defrost properly. The 2021 variant seems even less reliable, with 14 recalls for many of the same problems, including unexpected automatic emergency braking and a driver's airbag cushion that could tear.

In terms of warranty, Tesla provides a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty with roadside assistance along with an eight-year/150,000-mile battery and powertrain warranty. This warranty is a rough indication of overall battery life, although some Teslas have been known to cover a much greater mileage than this before the battery became a problem.