2026 Tesla Model X

7 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

1. Filed Sep 29, 2026Failure Sep 3, 2026Bentonville, ARAir bags, Steering

   In July 2026, Tesla sold me a yoke steering wheel for my 2026 Model X Long Range and Tesla's service team installed it. On September 3, 2026, Tesla informed me the yoke is incompatible with my vehicle configuration and that the vehicle will not receive over-the-air software updates until the original round steering wheel is reinstalled. The vehicle has received zero software updates since July 2026. I am concerned the airbag in the Tesla-installed yoke may not deploy properly in a crash. I drive approximately 600 miles per week and do not feel safe in the vehicle. Tesla has not resolved this in 69 days despite weekly requests.

   NHTSA complaint 11767929
2. Filed Aug 28, 2026Failure Aug 25, 2026Los altos, CAAdaptive cruise control, Vehicle speed control

   For over the past 18 months, Tesla FSD software deliberately removed the driver’s ability to control following distance, instead replacing it with fuzzy descriptions of “mad max, hurry, standard, chill, and sloth.” As a result the car cannot maintain a safe highway following distance as determined by the driver. When in Hurry and or Standard mode, the car will routinely reach speeds of 75 to 80 mph and decrease following distance to about 3 car lengths, with no car for more than 20 car lengths behind. When a sudden slowdown occurs, the tesla reacts slowly, often decreasing the following distance to 1 car length, as the car behind closes and misjudges the deceleration of the Tesla, resulting in a potential 3 car collision. Adjusting from hurry to standard, or even down to chill or sloth mode does not bring the following distance back to the driver’s education rule of thumb - 1 car length per 10 mph. About 3-10 seconds after the mode change, the software forces an unexpected lane change into a slower lane. The only solution is to disable all driver assistance measures, coast to the necessary following distance and then re-engage. The cycle then repeats. Sometimes when there are nearby cars blocking lane changes, the car remains at 1 car length following distance (for up to 7 seconds after changing from hurry to sloth mode), with the car behind at 3 car lengths while remaining at 70 to 75 mph. Software versions include the latest: 2026.21.6, with the HW4 autopilot computer. This is completely a vendor chosen software defect which could easily be addressed by new defaults, or with simple software changes. The elegant solution is to use the autopilot control scroll wheel. Presently, it takes 2 “detents” to change between modes, if turning one detent downwards would allow driver to increase following distance, that would be sufficient. Alternatively within the Byzantine onscreen menus, an option could be added, but that would be unsafe to adjust while driving.

   NHTSA complaint 11760307
3. Filed Jun 23, 2026Failure Jan 6, 2026Washington, DCAutomatic emergency braking, Warnings, Unknown or otherCrash1 injured

   In January my parents Tesla in self driving mode drove them straight through a building. The breaks didn't deploy, the airbags didn't deploy and the steering wheel was shaking and unresponsive. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. That said, there was a lot of physical damage to the restaurant/building and the car was completely totaled. We are certain that there were catastrophic failures with the car that caused the accident however the mechanic has informed us that due to her NDA she cannot provide any details about her findings after examining the car. She sent her findings to Tesla who was supposed to issue a report to us and the insurance company, but several months later we still have not received anything. They are well past the 30 days time limit. We cannot get anyone from Tesla to respond to us. There was a police report and the cops, firemen, and mechanics where all absolutely floored that the airbags didn't deploy given the damage to the vehicle. Self driving failed. Breaks failed. Steering failed. Airbags failed. and Tesla has failed to respond.

   NHTSA complaint 11745992
4. Filed May 25, 2026Failure May 11, 2026Burlingame, CASuspension, Wheels

   Incident Description: I was driving on the highway using Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD) / FSD Supervised at approximately 65+ mph. Traffic conditions were moderate, and weather and visibility conditions were clear. While FSD was actively engaged, my phone began ringing. As I briefly attempted to silence the ringing phone, the FSD system unexpectedly disengaged/canceled during highway driving. I did not receive sufficient audible warning, advance notification, or adequate transition time to safely assume full manual control of the vehicle. There was no meaningful cushion time for driver response before vehicle behavior changed. The disengagement occurred abruptly and created an immediate dangerous situation at highway speed. The sudden transfer of control, without sufficient warning or response time, significantly reduced my ability to react safely. At the time of the incident: - My attention had been on the roadway prior to the phone ringing - I was monitoring the vehicle as required under FSD Supervised - My hands were near the steering wheel - There was no construction, lane merge, or unusual road condition nearby Immediately following the disengagement, the vehicle suddenly drifted and braked, resulting in a collision with the curb/barrier area near the highway bridge. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved and no secondary collision occurred. I am requesting that Tesla investigate: - FSD disengagement behavior - Warning timing and driver alert mechanisms - System logs and telemetry data - Whether the vehicle generated internal safety/event reports at the time of the incident - Whether the disengagement and transition-to-driver behavior complied with Tesla’s intended safety protocols Relevant evidence preserved: - Tesla dashcam footage - Photos of vehicle damage and scene - Time and location information  - Vehicle data request pending

   NHTSA complaint 11739929
5. Filed Apr 27, 2026Failure Apr 13, 2026Winter Garden, FLElectrical system, Automatic emergency braking, Service brakes

   In April 13th, 2026 while driving from the house through community, I suddenly stopped at the cross roads due to unexpected conditions. During this event, a coffee mug placed in the cup holder tipped over and spilled liquid onto the center console area—near the phone charging pad and critical control panel used for gear selection and essential driving functions. In about 15 minutes after the spill, when I reached the highway at about 70 mph, the vehicle experienced a rapid and severe system-wide failure. The dashboard displayed multiple warnings and errors, including: * “Steering assist reduced – Steering may require increased effort” * “Center console buttons to select gears unavailable – Use touchscreen to select gears – Schedule service” * Repeated alerts indicating braking and system limitations * Conflicting and inaccurate readings, including the speedometer displaying “0 mph” while the vehicle was still moving at highway speed At the same time: * Braking response was severely compromised despite full pedal application * Hazard lights and turn signals were non-functional * Gear selection controls became unavailable or unreliable * Driver assistance and safety systems were disabled * The system issued instructions to “press and hold brake” while braking performance was inconsistent This resulted in a complete loss of situational awareness and control while I was in the car with my older parents and my child. l. I was unable to signal to surrounding vehicles while attempting to maneuver into a narrow emergency lane at highway speed. My family and I had fear for our lives. Critically, the vehicle instructed to exit immediately while we were still in a dangerous roadside position without functioning hazard lights. We were exposed to active highway traffic without any ability to alert others. was eventually able to maneuver the vehicle into the emergency lane under extremely dangerous conditions. The vehicle was towed, and the issue was reported immediately.

   NHTSA complaint 11734065
6. Filed Apr 2, 2026Failure Apr 1, 2026San Mateo, CASeats

   On April 1st 2026, our brand-new 2026 Tesla Model X, 6-seat configuration, experienced a dangerous third-row seat incident. Our dog slipped into a blind spot beneath/behind the third-row seat while the seat was folded down. After the dog became trapped, the powered third-row seat would not respond, and there was no usable manual release or mechanical way for us to raise the seat and free him. The dog was trapped under the seat and in immediate danger. We drove directly to Tesla Service for an emergency rescue. Tesla personnel informed us that the only way to free the trapped animal was to dismantle and destroy/remove the rear seat assembly. That is what they did. The dog was then taken for emergency veterinary treatment and remains traumatized, with possible physical injury. This vehicle had been delivered only 4 days earlier. In my view, this presents a serious safety/design issue involving the third-row power seat system and the lack of an accessible emergency release when a living occupant or animal is trapped under the seat. The fact that destructive disassembly was allegedly the only way to free the trapped animal raises a serious safety concern. I am requesting that NHTSA review this incident as a potential safety defect involving the third-row seat mechanism, emergency release/access, and occupant/animal entrapment risk. I have photos, veterinary records, and related documentation.

   NHTSA complaint 11728687
7. Filed Mar 6, 2026Failure Mar 5, 2026Los Gatos, CAAdaptive cruise controlCrash

   Tesla has auto-park in the supervised FSD. My wife was using it to park the car in a public garage and it hit a post. The car was damaged. It was too quick for my wife to intervene. I know it is supervised, but there is no time to intervene when it comes to parking where the spot to park is close to other cars or posts anyway.

   NHTSA complaint 11722384