2020 Tesla MODEL X problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
127 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
5,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 127 complaints (29.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 29 | 22.8% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 15.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 37 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 15 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 13 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
Suspension: 37; Unknown Or Other: 22; Electrical System: 21; Steering: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 15; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 13; Structure:Body: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 30 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 89 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 29 |
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 18 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 12 |
2020: 23; 2021: 17; 2022: 29; 2023: 19; 2024: 18; 2025: 9; 2026: 12
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11320351 · 2020-04-06 (April 6, 2020)
WHILE I WAS PARKING, MY TESLA MODEL X SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO MY OFFICE BUILDING. I AM SURE THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 275 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363208 · 2020-10-07 (October 7, 2020)
I'VE CREATED SEVERAL BUG REPORTS FOR THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM WHICH IS, A VERY REAL DANGER. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES TOWARDS PARKED OR STOPPED CARS, SLAMS ON THE BRAKES WITHOUT EXPLANATION ON THE FREEWAY, BEGINS TO CHANGE LANES ON THE FREEWAY THEN VIOLENTLY SWERVES BACK INTO THE ORIGINAL LANE WITHOUT EXPLANATION. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO 3 DIFFERENT SERVICE CENTERS. THE EXPLANATION IS "SOFTWARE" AND THEY RECOMMEND "UPDATING THE SOFTWARE" WHEN NEW VERSIONS COME OUT. THE VERSION OF SOFTWARE RELEASED ARE NOT READY TO BE RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PU…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300090 · 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL SPEED WHEN PARKING THE CAR IN A MALL PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO PARK THE CAR, IT DID NOT FIT SO I WENT REVERSE A COUPLE OF FEET AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT. THE CAR WENT OVER THE TIRE STOPPERS AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN IT CRASHED AGAINST A POST. THIS WAS 100% THE CAR'S FAULT, I AM SURE I DID NOT PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE CLAIM WITH TESLA AND THEY ARE REVIEWING THE DATA. I SAW THE NEWS THAT OTHER CARS HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300090 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11362076 · 2020-09-30 (September 30, 2020)
HERE IS A 2020 TESLA MODEL S IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/37573752?ROWNUMBER=3 DESPITE HAVING THE NEW IMPROVED REDESIGNED SUSPENSION GIBLETS IT HAS GONE ALL WHOMPY. THE RH BACK WHEEL IS LEANING OUT AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS.COMPLETELY COPULATED. THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAS CRACKED IN HALF, THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE SNAPPED. THE WHOLE THING IS FORNICATED. THIS IS NOT CRASH DAMAGE. IT IS SELF INFLICTED INJURY CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN, BAD MATERIALS AND BAD ELON. PLEASE TAKE THESE JUNKHEAPS OFF THE ROADS. THANK Y…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419702 · 2021-06-04 (June 4, 2021)
The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the driver screen and the center console screen went dark which caused the contact to have no access to electrical features in the vehicle. The contact restarted the vehicle and temporarily the vehicle operated as designed. The failure recurred several times. During the failures, the electrical functions and safety features were inoperable. The local dealer sent a mechanic to the residence to reformat the software however, the failure persisted. The vehicle wa…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,311 miles reported. Look up ODI 11419702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11511527 · 2023-03-13 (March 13, 2023)
The contact's wife owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing electrical failures. The contact stated while his wife was starting the vehicle, a message indicating a low-battery voltage was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown Tesla Service Center, where it was diagnosed that an electrical malfunction was causing a constant drain on the battery while the vehicle was turned off. The battery was replaced twice within two years. Additionally, the contact stated that while his wife was driving 25-…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11511527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11457244 · 2022-03-18 (March 18, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH with the Self Driving feature activated, the contact was unable to disengage the feature by tapping on the brake pedal. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes later, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact scheduled an upcoming appointment with the dealer for the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacture was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11457244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11736694 · 2026-05-08 (May 8, 2026)
While driving the vehicle on the freeway, the driver noticed the car was handling unusually at highway speeds. After exiting the freeway at approximately 45 mph, the accelerator pedal failed to decelerate properly when the foot was lifted from the pedal. A warning message appeared on the display screen indicating the vehicle was shutting down while the vehicle was still in motion. The vehicle subsequently became completely inoperable and had to be towed to a Tesla service center. Tesla's own technician confirmed multiple Battery Management Syst…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11736694 at NHTSA ↗