Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2017 Tesla Model X

Eight problems related to automatic emergency braking have been reported for the 2017 Tesla Model X. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2017 Tesla Model X based on all problems reported for the 2017 Model X.

1 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 10/16/2025

The autopilot ecu failed on my car per Tesla. There was no warning on the car that my safety features were disabled. This is also reported online as a common issue and Tesla is charging $2k to repair a safety computer. The computer was advertised as two chips as a failsafe but that was not the case as both failed on my car. I suspect this software updates broke the computer as well and not at fault from the customer.

2 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 08/16/2024

When driving my car last Friday evening at ~5:45pm pst, I was about 1 mile away from home when alerts popped up on my car including- "regenerative breaking unavailable", "abs disabled", "stability control disabled", "traction control disabled", "steering assist reduced", "automatic emergency braking is unavailable" front passenger safety restraint system fault" "park assist unavailable". I drove the last mile to my house and when I pulled into my garage my gear shift would not work to put my car into park. I tried to then do a "soft reset" by holding both buttons on the steering wheel down, and this would not work. I frantically called the nearest Tesla service center and after 20 min the person there told me there wasn't anything they could help me with and gave me the number for tessa roadside assistance. This whole time I had to have my foot on the break pedal to keep my car from moving forward and going through my garage wall into my house. I was on hold with Tesla roadside assistance awaiting an answer for another 30min, and after talking with an agent he told me to "find a large rock to put under my tires to prevent the car from moving forward", this wasn't a feasible option as I was alone with a 12 year old girl, there are also not any large rocks near my garage. Tesla service then connected me with a towing agency, but let me know that since my car warranty only covers my battery and drive train, I would have to pay for the tow out of pocket. The tow truck driver came about 20 minutes later, so at this point I was sitting in my garage with my foot on the break pedal for well over an hour. There was no way that anyone could power off the car or get it into another gear other than drive. There was no way to access the 12v batter and disconnect the car since I couldn't open my frunk as the car was not in park. Without the assistance of a tow truck I could have been stuck in my car for hours holding the break pedal.

3 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 10/27/2023

The steering wheel was dysfunctional; the wheel was locked in the middle of the highway, and the car started to change lanes, causing a massive accident. There was a significant accident between my car and a truck; both cars were totaled. My airbags didn't open as well. I got a massive concussion, and I do not know about the condition of the other driver. There was a recall about the steering wheel, and we brought our car to the dealership, and supposedly they fixed the issue. There was no warning or message before the accident. The message appeared on my Tesla screen for the first time less than a few minutes before the accident.

4 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 01/03/2023

When exiting an on-ramp on a freeway, the car suddenly veered to the left on its own, almost colliding into another vehicle. There was no dangerous activity nor any stopped cars anywhere around the car.

5 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 12/22/2022

Continuation of complaint 3 of 3 though this occurred 12 times over 6 months and nearly causing 6 accidents - tell me if you need me to make 6 separate complaints - 12/8/2022 - vehicle key fobs stopped working (still able to start vehicle from the Tesla mobile app) and the screens completely locked up while driving multiple times nearly causing multiple accidents. It's also likely that the key fob failure was a result of the malfunctioning computer. Cleared computer cache. 12/23/2022 - battery fault (vehicle may not start warning) bms_w035, front passenger safety restraint fault, buggy and unsafe screens; still no information from Tesla regarding the recall for the malfunctioning screens and computers. Tesla stated that they could not "see" any of the faults in the vehicle or in their server, though my wife took photos. 1/16/2023 - service request scheduled for warranty/recall repair for unsafe screen hazard that was resetting while driving, vehicle towed to Tesla; 14 Jan 2023 Tesla cancelled the service request and input their own request that describes a customer inquiry for an infotainment (computer) upgrade and that we've declined the repair. Based on this, I am unable to download the invoices because they've jammed up the system to further impede proving their negligence. Currently, Tesla has locked up the app so that I cannot create service requests for the warranty/recall issue, they're failing to repair the vehicle, they're failing to communicate beyond threats of daily charges and towing, and it is impossible to reach someone at the service center though I've been able to describe the issue on multiple occasions to the Tesla phone answering service folks. Tesla is out of control and has placed my family and others in harms way due to their negligence to inform and accomplish their warranty and recall requirements. I respectfully request your help in holding Tesla accountable so others are not longer put at risk, and so their vehicles get repaired.

6 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 12/14/2022

This is a follow on complaint due to this occurring 12 times over the past 6 months, 6 of those times nearly resulted in catastrophic accidents. I wrote Tesla via certified mail, per their owner's rights requirements in Dec 22 and Jan 23, stated the problem and requested repair, replace, or repurchase. I gave Tesla ample opportunity to repair the vehicle. Tesla now refuses to repair and is failing to adhere to their own warranty, recall, stated owners rights, TX code, and nthsa guidance (recall and likely codes due to breach), and they're now threatening me and behaving negligently by asking that I take their malfunctioning and hazardous vehicle back out on the road. Our vehicle has been out of service 2 months total and 1 month currently over multiple corrective action attempts for a recalled item. Service visit invoices versus reality, plus dates in and out of service do not include additional vehicle down time while waiting for service visit time slots - we purchased the vehicle on 7/23/2022 - I do not have access to records prior to this date, though I am certain this vehicle was plagued by the recalled issue under factory warranty. I firmly believe, based on Tesla's actions under my ownership, that they will do anything in their power, including blocking or changing vehicle history so they can avoid their responsibilities. 7/23/2022 - key fob battery replaced; invoice failed to include service center employee hard resetting the computer system and faulty ac system, plus trim piece identified as needing repair 8/10/2022 - hvac and trim corrected; invoice failed to include issues with computer and technician described that some of these require resets sometimes, but failed to provide info about the recall and the nature of the failures. I described that the screens would unsafely reset on their own and the technicians failed to provide any further information. 9/16/2022 - vehicle failed to charge at high speed charging and buggy/malfunctioning screens included.

7 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 12/07/2022

When using autopilot (handsfree) feature, it brakes automatically. In some cases, there is no car in front of it and applies short brake automatically. During bottleneck traffic it gets worst, applies throbbing hard brake and due to excessive hard braking rotors/pads are going bad very often. Whatever is on your seats, will be on the floor and feels like you are having a stroke. Due to the defect in autopilot feature, rotors/pads are going bad and need to spend lot of money replacing them. As Tesla service centers are pretty expensive. Attached is the invoice. I feel that brake pads/rotors/labor should be all covered under Tesla warranty. Autopilot feature is very dangerous to use and it also creates lot of stress when the feature is engaged. One of the location/time stamp sharing it below, pretty sure Tesla can pull it off from their history as well. There was no car in front and it just applied hard brake: Dec 7th 2022 at 10:10 am. Coordinates: 40°42’03. 5”n74°09’15. 7”w (pr2w+97r newark, new jersey (40. 700977,-74. 1543580).

8 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 11/14/2022

Phantom breaking occurs predictably in the same spots along the NJ garden state parkway. Most certainly I have noticed it and can easily replicate it around the toms river exit 80 in both south and north bound lanes. The vehicle will break suddenly and abruptly when enhanced autopilot or self-driving is engaged. It will come to a complete stop if allowed even when there is absolutely no other vehicles or obstacles in front of it which would justify breaking. It has happened during the day and even late at night when the road is void of vehicles. This same behavior also occurs further south on the gsp I believe around exit 50 but I can't recall with precision on that one.


Other Forward Collision Avoidance related problems of the 2017 Tesla Model X

Adaptive Cruise Control problems
20
Automatic Emergency Braking problems
8
Warnings problems
3


Model X Service Bulletins
Model X Defect Investigations