Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Tesla Model X P100D, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 27 | 19% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 10 | 7% |
| Seats | 7 | 5% |
| Structure | 7 | 5% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 6 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 2% |
| Power train | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I was driving down the road and my car started shaking, I was about 5 or 6 miles from an exit so continued and within 1 mile a rod broke and fell on top of my tire causing me to catastrophically have to stop n swerve off
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
My 2018 Tesla model X front suspension is making cranking noise and seems like it’s unsafe to drive. This is a known issue to Tesla and NHTSA but recall was never announced so Tesla service center is not fixing this issu
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Our Tesla Model X is failing recently with several issues as listed below: 1. 'Autiopilot disabled' - Autopilot was not available to use since 09/2024 after upgraded to 12.x FSD upgrade. Tesla service diagnosed in 11
NHTSA complaint: Forward collision avoidance
One fine morning Car would not start and shows some errors. tried using a AAA service and Had the car towed into Tesla SC. After diagnosis they mentioned that a HV x099 connector is corroded. To me this cannot be a vehi
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I have had to replace my axles/have had cv joint failure 3 times and have another service scheduled for a fourth CV/axle service. This is a known problem and Tesla has acknowledged it and done nothing about it. See Tesla
NHTSA complaint: Power train
While driving on the freeway at 60 mph, the car's hood suddenly opened and struck the windshield, obstructing the driver's view completely. The car had just left a Tesla service center a few minutes earlier, and the inci
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
Based on thousands of posts, replies, etc, this seems to be a well known issue with this model/year Tesla as well as other years/models. It seems that the Wheel Sensor Cable is not fastened properly, and over time, the c
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
‘safety restraint system issue’ error pops up when ever car is turned on was told that can cause airbag to not be deployed when needed.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
| Reliability raw | 61 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 88 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 58 | average |
| Performance | 85 | excellent |
| Efficiency | 83 | excellent |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 27 of them (19%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 61/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2018 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.