Automatic Emergency Braking problems of the 2020 Tesla Model X

Nine problems related to automatic emergency braking have been reported for the 2020 Tesla Model X. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2020 Tesla Model X based on all problems reported for the 2020 Model X.

1 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 11/21/2024

Eil.

2 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 09/11/2023

Brakes will lock up a pre collision will activate in forward and reverse when no objects are present. It is a hazard to operate the vehicle since it will randomly slam in the brakes will driving down the road or reversing out of a parking space. Also electrical issues vehicle will no longer lock or unlock.

3 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 07/11/2023

I drive a 2020 Tesla Model X long range plus. I bought it new and now have about 50,000 miles on it. Over the years, I have experienced quite a few phantom breaking incidents when the car was in auto pilot (self steering mode). Most of these were fairly minor in nature and not much of a concern. This July I drove the car to colorado and back and had innumerable severe phantom breaking events. In the past the breaking would be fairly gentle and a tap on the accelerator would return the car to the preset speed. In July, the car was essentially “slamming on” the brakes and required an aggressive press of the accelerator to disengage the breaking. It felt like the car was going to come to a stop in the middle of the highway. I was cruising about 70 mph and would say that by the time I could get to the accelerator the speed would be down to about 60 mph. None of these events created any problem with other vehicles, but they were disturbing, nonetheless.

4 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 02/02/2023

On multiple occasions (between 6 and 10) while driving east and west on interstate highway 80 between reno and salt lake city the vehicle executed a phantom braking maneuver while autopilot was engaged. I was east bound on 2/2/23 and 2/24/23 and west bound on 2/7/23 and 3/5/23, I. E. , these events occurred on multiple days in multiple locations. On no occasion was there any danger of collision with another vehicle or other obstacle. In fact, the braking was most likely to occur as my vehicle topped a rise in the highway followed by a gental downgrade with no other vehicle or turn in the road for at least a mile ahead. The braking was very hard and caused my vehicle to slow by at least 10 mph before I could react. On one occasion, I immediately accelerated to return to the posted highway speed of 80 mph and the vehicle twice more braked hard after I accelerated back to highway speed. Had there been a vehicle behind me, it's likely I would have been rear-ended on multiple occasions. The problem has not been independently verified (though I understand the NHTSA has received many similar reports). The vehicle has not been inspected. There was no warning that the vehicle was going to brake hard though I recognized the circumstances in which it was likely to occur and was prepared to accelerate to counteract the effect. The section of I-80 in which these events occurred is lightly traveled and if Tesla autopilot should be flawless, it should be flawless there! another source of autopilot phantom braking is flashing lights next to the road warning of animal crossing or prison zones. However, in this case, the braking is gentle and not a hazard. In contrast, 2022 when driving the same section of I-80, phantom braking, as described above, was much less of a problem but flashing lights prompted the vehicle to brake hard. It appears Tesla has fixed flashing light-related problem.

5 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 08/29/2022

Tesla Model X is infamous for its acceleration shudder. They have replaced the drive shafts twice already. When you accelerate the wheel vibrates only between 15-35 mph. When you brake hard it does the same thing.

6 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 06/20/2022

I have experienced several issues with my car: it brakes suddenly for no reason in the middle of the freeway it displayed an error message that said the right rear seat safety system has failed and needs service it displayed an error message that said the ultrasonic sensors are not communicating with each other (I believe these are used for the driver safety systems). I reached out to Tesla asking to look into these issues. Each time Tesla denied service and asked me to note down the exact time that these issues happened to help them investigate (they specified the format with an example 06/20/2022 5:22pm pst). If I’m driving the car, how is it safe for me to note down time with this precision? also, the car has functionality to record all of these alerts but Tesla’s software updates wipe them out (instead of retaining them). Further, Tesla asks to schedule service through their app but in my case, my app doesn’t allow me to schedule service for unknown reasons. I have contacted Tesla about this issue and so far there is no resolution. I feel very unsafe driving my car after receiving these alerts and not getting any help from Tesla to investigate and fix them. I feel they are placing an undue burden on me to record the time. Please help me get my car looked at and fix the issues mentioned above.

7 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 05/13/2022

When using any driver assistance function (autopilot, adaptive cruise control, or autopilot with navigation), phantom breaking is common and terrifying. I am scared to use the systems now because of how unpredictable phantom breaking can be and how jarring (and unsafe it could be) when it happens.

8 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 02/28/2022

1) cruise control randomly resets itself to different speeds. Happens several times daily. I can set it to 55 and 5 seconds later it will reset itself to 80 and accelerate suddenly, or vice-versa. It can change to any speed-either higher or lower than what I've set. Happened yesterday afternoon (3-17). First noted it being a problem 2-28 at about 6 pm mst while driving on 4 lane highway in colorado, with multiple episodes of randomly resetting speeds itself. Given the rapid acceleration/deceleration of a Tesla, when the cruise control resets itself, the acceleration/braking can be abrupt and significant. 2)ghost braking has been and remains a problem with this car. It was serviced by Tesla 2-18 and a "chip" was replaced per Tesla. I reported about a dozen incidents of ghost braking to Tesla shortly after picking it up but don't have exact times/days. There are 3 episodes of ghost braking that were truly dangerous. I was driving on the interstate at 70-75 mph and the car slammed on the brakes for no reason, and it seemed it would have stopped completely in the middle of the interstate if I hadn't accelerated manually. Speed went from 75 to 50 within 1-2 seconds before I was able to react and accelerate. Twice this happened at about 1-2 am on a completely empty interstate in nebraska with no one around me at all, but the 3rd time was on a busy highway (I-55) near chicago. I was nearly rear-ended by another car when this braking occurred. He was able to swerve around me, but was unhappy and made his displeasure known. Even if it didn't directly cause an accident it certainly triggered road rage, which is probably more dangerous than actually having an accident these days. Have told Tesla about it before but they always tell me it's just "software" and will get better with updates I have notified Tesla of these incidents (with written record) but haven't heard back from them. I have a service appointment 3-21-22 to get them to try and address these issues.

9 Automatic Emergency Braking problem

Failure Date: 02/05/2022

Vehicle randomly breaks hard when either in cruise control or auto pilot. Either on normal highway lanes or in the diamond lane. Happens frequently - at least weekly on local southern California hwys.


Other Forward Collision Avoidance related problems of the 2020 Tesla Model X


Model X Service Bulletins
Model X Defect Investigations