Suspension Problems of Tesla Model X - part 1

The failure follows the same pattern every time. At first there is a loud noise from the compressor when the car starts. Over time the noise lasts longer. Eventually the compressor can no longer raise the vehicle, and it sits at its lowest ride height, nearly on the ground. In that condition the vehicle cannot be driven, and I have had to have it towed to a Tesla service center. The nearest one is about 2. 5 hours from my home. After the first replacement I set the vehicle not to adjust its ride height automatically, to limit compressor use. This has not stopped the failures from recurring on the same schedule. The vehicle has only about 50,000 miles, so I believe this reflects a design or component defect rather than normal wear. I am concerned that other owners are experiencing the same issue, and that a vehicle that suddenly cannot be driven is a safety risk. I am reporting it so NHTSA can look for a pattern.

See all problems of the 2016 Tesla Model X 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 65 mph with full self-driving mode activated, the rear passenger’s side tire exploded. The message “loss pressure rear tire" was displayed. The contact's wife nearly lost control of the vehicle but was able to drive slowly to the residence. The contact took the rear passenger’s side tire to a tire retailer to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the tire retailer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was too heavy for the tires, which caused the tires to warp. All four tires were replaced, and a rear suspension alignment was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

See all problems of the 2023 Tesla Model X 🔎.

I own a 2022 Tesla Model X. I began noticing a creaking/clicking noise from the front steering/suspension area, particularly when turning the steering wheel at larger angles and at low speeds. I brought the vehicle to a Tesla service center for inspection. Tesla inspected the vehicle and diagnosed a bent steering rack/steering component. Tesla recommended replacement of the complete steering gear assembly, along with repairs to front suspension components. Tesla provided photographs of the condition and stated in writing that bending this component would require approximately 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of force at a specific angle. Tesla attributed the condition to an external impact. However, I am not aware of any accident, collision, curb strike, significant pothole impact, road-debris strike, or other event that would explain this condition. There were no crash-related warning messages or known impact events preceding the steering symptoms. The first symptom I noticed was the creaking/clicking noise during low-speed steering. I am concerned because the steering system is safety-critical and I do not know when, how, or why the steering component became bent. A damaged or bent steering component could potentially affect steering control, alignment, or vehicle handling if the condition progresses. Tesla has physically inspected the vehicle and confirmed the condition. The recommended steering and suspension repairs have not yet been performed, so the vehicle and the affected components remain available for inspection if requested. I am reporting this because I believe the unexplained deformation/failure of a steering component on a 2022 Model X may represent a potential safety issue, particularly because I am not aware of an external-impact event that would account for the condition.

See all problems of the 2022 Tesla Model X 🔎.

I own a 2023 Tesla Model X and I am reporting a steering-related safety concern. When making hard left turns, the steering wheel/front end shakes or shudders and makes a loud sounds. This does not feel or sound normal and appears to be related to the steering or front suspension system. The issue happens during low-speed turning/maneuvering when the wheel is turned sharply to the left. I contacted Tesla service regarding the issue. Tesla advised that this is a known issue and that there is currently no available fix. Despite acknowledging that it is a known issue with no repair available, Tesla still wants to charge me a diagnostic fee. I am concerned because this involves the steering system, and I do not believe a vehicle should have steering shake or shuddering during normal turning, especially on a 2023 vehicle. Since Tesla has stated this is a known issue but has no fix, I am requesting that NHTSA review this as a potential safety defect affecting the 2023 Tesla Model X. The issue has not been repaired because Tesla stated there is no fix available at this time.

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.

On March 6, 2026, at 7:15 pm, the rear lower control arm on my 2019 Tesla Model X raven catastrophically failed while traveling at 55 mph. The suspension component snapped without warning or impact, causing an immediate and dangerous loss of vehicle stability with my children inside. I was forced to perform an emergency stop on the narrow shoulder of us-395, an unlit one-lane highway with a 65-mph speed limit. Because the vehicle was disabled in a remote, dark area, my family was stranded in a hazardous high-speed traffic zone until 10:30 pm waiting for a tow. This failure matches the casting fracture defect described in Tesla service bulletin sb-25-31-002. I am reporting this as a severe safety defect that placed my family in a life-threatening situation. There were no warning lights to advise of the failure. Incident details: mileage at failure: 76,980 miles date/time: March 6, 2026, at approximately 7:15 pm speed at failure: 55 mph (speed limit: 65 mph) emergency pull-over: yes.

See all problems of the 2019 Tesla Model X 🔎.

I have replaced several sets of tires with this Tesla Model X 2019. After years of dealing with a front end alignment problem, I finally had the repair done with some assistance from Tesla. When I purchased my vehicle under warranty, I reported problems with steering and pulling to one side, but they repeatedly claimed they couldn't replicate. This was before they allowed customers to drive with the repaid team. I mention the front-end problems as that has coupled with the rear tires. Inner wear is a consistent problem. I went to costco today to have them look at tires I bought in November of 2024 and they said the tire was balding and unrepairable. In fact the tires were showing wear on both sides and needed to be replaced. A full set costs $1400. 00+ and this is the second time I'm having to replace tires for wearing out quickly. There's a fix online from a company "n2itive". On their website they state, "the n2itive sx-2 adjustable rear camber arms are designed to address the common inner tire wear issues that plague the Tesla model s and x. These arms are available in the red and natural anodized finishes with a 3-year warranty or the black anodized finish with lifetime warranty and work best when used in conjunction with our tsx-2 toe arms. " external companies are standing up lines of business based on Tesla's failures. This is a problem and someone is going to get hurt, or worse.

Vehicle: 2019 Tesla Model X VIN: [xxx] component: suspension/steering/drivetrain defect description: three concurrent technical service bulletin failures: 1. TSB sb-21-39-001: front drive unit halfshafts premature failure (manufacturing defect, pre-may 2019 builds) 2. TSB sb-20-32-004: steering intermediate shaft corrosion due to inadequate road contaminant protection (design defect) 3. Ball joint/control arm water ingress from inadequate sealing (design defect) all three tsbs failing simultaneously at 177k miles. Vehicle purchased April 2019, within affected population for all tsbs. Tesla issued technical bulletins acknowledging these as defects but requires customers to pay full repair cost ($6,337). Local service management admitted not reading tsbs when reviewing goodwill request. After escalation, received 32% cost-sharing. Three concurrent TSB failures suggest systemic design/manufacturing issues warranting recall consideration. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am reporting a catastrophic suspension failure resulting in complete wheel separation on my 2023 Tesla Model X plaid shortly after Tesla service. While driving, the front left wheel separated from the hub, rendering the vehicle not drivable and creating an immediate risk of loss of control, collision, and serious injury or death. Tesla towed the vehicle back to its service center and issued written service documentation stating (verbatim): “the front left wheel had separated from the hub. The issue was caused by missing hardware on the upper control arm, leading to further damage. ” Tesla did not attribute the failure to impact, road debris, wear, or misuse. The missing hardware was at a critical suspension attachment point. As a result, Tesla replaced multiple major safety-critical components under goodwill / internal service, including the front left active damper/air spring, upper control arm bracket, halfshaft, wheel speed sensor, and multiple structural fasteners. A wheel-off event caused by missing suspension hardware represents a severe safety defect with high risk of catastrophic injury or fatality. This incident raises serious concerns about suspension assembly, post-service quality control, and whether other vehicles may be operating with missing or unsecured hardware. I respectfully request NHTSA review this as a suspension/wheel retention safety defect and evaluate whether additional investigation or corrective action is warranted.

Making a loud squeaky noise and knocking while I turn. The noise is coming from the steering and front suspension arms I believe.

See all problems of the 2020 Tesla Model X 🔎.

Both front half shafts failed. I did research and this part is known to be substandard, was recalled in china, and remains a problem in the us.

I am submitting information regarding repair access and repair estimate concerns involving a Tesla vehicle after a collision. During an insurance claim handled by Tesla insurance company, a repair estimate from a Tesla-preferred repair facility was used to declare the vehicle a total loss. However, a manufacturer-owned repair facility estimate would be significantly lower and could make the vehicle repairable. When I attempted to obtain an inspection and estimate from a Tesla manufacturer repair facility, the appointment was cancelled after communication between the insurance company and the repair facility. This prevented me from obtaining a competing repair estimate. Because Tesla operates the vehicle manufacturing, repair network, and insurance services within the same ecosystem, I am submitting this information for review regarding potential impacts on repair access, repairability, and consumer choice.

My 2020 Tesla Model X experiences severe vibration, shaking, and rattling during acceleration, especially between about 20–45 mph and at higher suspension settings. The vibration is strong enough to affect steering stability and safe control of the vehicle during acceleration and lane changes. Tesla has already replaced the front half-shafts twice under warranty for this same problem, but the issue has returned again. This is a known defect documented by Tesla in service bulletin sb-21-39-001, which describes excessive front drive unit half-shaft vibration during acceleration and defines the repair with updated components. The latest revision of this bulletin (r3, dated January 19, 2024) explicitly adds “customer pay billing” instructions. Despite this, my local Tesla service center in tempe, az (supervisor: lewis holguin) refused to apply the sb-21-39-001 customer pay billing and instead charged full retail for the repair. On 11/28/2025, I was billed $1,694. 86 out of pocket to replace both front half-shafts again (invoice shows approx. $1,046 in parts and $564 in labor). I have documentation showing that other Tesla customers with the same defect were billed only $350 under sb-21-39-001, which demonstrates that Tesla does apply a discounted bulletin rate in some cases. In my case, they refused to honor it even though this is a repeat failure of the same known defect and the prior warranty repairs did not permanently fix the problem. This is a repeat driveline/suspension defect that affects drivability and safety under acceleration. The shaking and vibration make it difficult to maintain stable vehicle control, especially during highway merging or lane changes. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate recurring front half-shaft failures and vibration/shudder issues on Tesla Model X vehicles and Tesla’s inconsistent handling of this known defect and service bulletin.

The failure involves the rear suspension system, specifically suspected rear control arm / suspension linkage play, which caused severe misalignment (rear toe out of specification). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This defect created a significant safety risk. The abnormal toe condition caused rapid and uneven tire wear, with both rear tires becoming nearly completely bald within less than 7,000 miles. This condition increases the risk of tire blowout, loss of traction, and potential loss of control at highway speeds. The issue has been confirmed by an independent service center (les schwab), which documented suspension play in the rear control arm area and alignment out of specification (rear toe approximately +1. 20° total). The alignment could not be maintained, indicating an underlying mechanical issue. Tesla inspected the vehicle but stated that no suspension components required replacement and attributed the issue only to alignment. However, alignment does not go out of specification without a mechanical cause. Despite multiple requests, Tesla refused to provide detailed documentation regarding the inspection or repair of the suspension system. They replaced only one rear tire and did not address the root cause. The other rear tire had already worn completely bald. After approximately 5,386 miles, the replacement tire has again worn down close to the minimum safety limit, demonstrating that the underlying issue was not corrected and continues to affect vehicle safety. There were no warning lights or system messages prior to the failure. The first symptoms were abnormal tire wear, increased energy consumption, and unstable driving behavior at highway speeds, which began shortly after vehicle purchase. This appears to be a repeat safety-related defect that has not been properly diagnosed or repaired.

Control arm squeaks. Only way Tesla fixes is to replace. Smoke fix is a 2$ grease application to ball joint but they charge 1500$. I have done it 2 times and now again happened.

See all problems of the 2018 Tesla Model X 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages “air suspension unable to raise” and “functionality may be restored on next drive” were displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

See all problems of the 2017 Tesla Model X 🔎.

I am reporting a safety concern related to the suspension system in my 2017 Tesla Model X. The front tires are rubbing against the wheel arch liner, especially when turning or driving over uneven terrain. I have not made any aftermarket modifications, and the vehicle has been maintained in accordance with Tesla’s recommendations. This issue appears to match the known problem involving front suspension fore link failures documented in NHTSA investigations and prior complaints for 2016–2017 Model X vehicles. While I have not experienced a complete suspension failure, the current symptoms are consistent with reported cases where the fore links weaken or fail, causing the wheel to shift and contact the fender liner, leading to tire damage, unusual noises, and potential safety risks. I have reported this to Tesla, but they have not acknowledged this as a known issue for my VIN. However, NHTSA previously identified over 400 instances of similar failure and recommended that Tesla expand their service bulletin to include more vehicles. This is a critical safety concern as it can lead to premature tire wear, loss of control, and further suspension failure. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether Tesla should issue a recall or cover this repair under a broader service campaign.

When turning a loud cranking sound is heard and it makes it hard to turn. It as if something is stopping it from turning.

The vehicle experienced serious drive control failures on three separate dates: September 21, 2024; October 2, 2024; and July 26, 2025. On each occasion, acceleration was either severely delayed or completely unresponsive, and the vehicle rolled backward when attempting to move forward on an incline. The following warnings appeared on the dashboard: “stability control disabled,” esc (electronic stability control) warning light, and air suspension system warning. These symptoms occurred both while stationary and while driving. The vehicle was brought to Tesla service centers twice—on October 10, 2024, and September 2, 2025. On both occasions, Tesla stated that the issue could not be reproduced and returned the vehicle without performing any repairs. During the second visit, Tesla performed a $275 wheel alignment adjustment. The service report noted that the warning lights “may be restored on next drive. ” I was verbally told that adjusting the alignment might help identify the root cause, but Tesla never explained how this adjustment was related to the actual symptoms. After performing the alignment, I was simply notified that the vehicle was ready for pickup. This kind of propulsion failure and rollback on inclines presents a serious safety risk to the driver, passengers, and other vehicles on the road. The issue remains unresolved and could occur again at any time without warning.

See all problems of the 2024 Tesla Model X 🔎.

Tesla Model X are already known to wear out the rear tires on the inside edge due to excessive negative camber, or wheels tilting inwards from the top. Lowering the suspension setting makes the wheels tilt in even further! this causes more the weight of the car to rest on the inner shoulder of the wheel. Driving this way quickly wears down the inside edge of the rear tires which can cause a sudden and unexpected dangerous blowout.

During a recent inspection, the Tesla service center (at los gatos) informed me that my Model X is missing a suspension bolt, and they stated they do not now why and how it's missing. It is a serious safety hazard, as it may affect handling, stability, and safety. They asked me to get it fixed before driving it. They told me that it's not covered by warranty or insurance, but couldn't explain why this happened.

This is the third year in a row that the suspension system on this vehicle has failed. This seems like it should be a basic feature of any vehicle - that it should have proper shocks and suspension. The problem is the repair this time is estimated to be at $4000, when we have already had this repaired twice for several thousands of dollars. We drive this car very gently, so there is not an issue of us abusing the vehicle. Also, in china, Tesla was forced to recall vehicles over this same issue: Tesla recalls nearly 50,000 model s and x cars in china over faulty suspension we would like to know if any recalls will be issued.

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 the road in 5 o'clock traffic. I just purchased this car 3 months ago, no issues just happend all of sudden. There are reports of weak suspension parts for Tesla specifically the Model X and y. The suspension parts need to be recalled. I was very lucky to not have collided with another car and potentially causing a fatality.

Hello - I'm having extreme inner tire wear on rear tires due to a bad camber arm design on my Tesla Model X. The negative chamber is way outside of normal standards. I had an issue recently where my tire blew out. I did not notice until I had to replace it. I have changed tires three times in the last year. That's just egregious.

This vehicle suffered a flat tire on the left rear at 20,000 miles. It was discovered that the tire had worn out on the inside prematurely due to a faulty negative camber alignment. The other tire on the right rear was examined and found to be worn down to the treads on the inside as well. I informed Tesla and they said this is normal for the make and model. You cannot see the inside of these tires during a normal walk around inspection. Tesla says that the problem cannot be fixed. I could have suffered a tire failure at high speed which could have been catastrophic. Tesla just says its unfortunate and you have to live with this issue. I consider this to be a very unsafe issue that Tesla should address at their expense. This car is under warranty and Tesla refused to repair the car. Tesla did not divulge this issue to me prior to purchasing the vehicle.

My car is been vibrating and shaking for over a year now, and everytime I took it to certified Tesla service, they brought it back to me telling me they can't feel anything, and that there is noting to fix. After the fifth time, they suddenly tells me that I got into a hole in the road and that is why it's shaking, also, the car had a message on the screen saying that the air pressure can't lift the vehicle, and it made a huge noise, I had to call a tow truck to take it to Tesla center. Now, they are telling me that a mouse ate the hose, and that will cost me $9000. I can't pay that much money, and it's not ok. Can you please contact me as soon as possible and help me solve this problem? thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Sudden and catastrophic shearing of the driver side rear suspension arm (control arm). My understanding is all these cars from Tesla have aluminum suspension arms which causes identical and catastrophic failure of the vehicle during driving due to choice of aluminum instead of stainless steel(ss). Aluminum has an ultimate tensile strength of only 90 mpa while ss can exceed 500 mpa. Since my car got disabled completely (motor gets disconnected from the wheel) I almost lost my life with vehicles coming at high speed from behind. I saw the same control arm failures with Tesla cars including s and 3 and x (like mine) all over the world. Here is an example of a very similar failure to mine on a model 3 in norway : [xxx] the failure is so similar that even the wheel tilted inwards to the wheel bay just in my case due to the clean shearing of the aluminum bushing on the control arm. I would like to make sure these failures do not continue with Tesla and people's lives are not at risk and thus this report. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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 issue. Could you please look into this.

I got my suspension replaced on my 2019 Model X (that I bought used from Tesla directly) in June 2023. Tesla was suppose to do a through 140 point inspection before putting the car for sale on their website but after less than 2 years and 15000 miles (after the suspension was replaced). The same suspension same issue came up. Tesla told me that they need to replace the suspension again and will bill me $2100. I have owned multiple cars but I have not have to replace suspension on any of my cars ever. How can a suspension fail first at 35000 miles and then again 15000 miles. This seems like Tesla is knowingly putting faulty parts in the car to keep making money on parts and labor. This should be looked into and investigated by national highway safety. And Tesla should issue a recall for these and replace them with good quality parts.

Suspension design and negative camber: rear tires have huge inner wear when wires are visible after few thousands miles. Changed tires 3 times already within 14k miles. Current miles is 18,200, but 1st time it happened in Aug 2022 when miles were 4200.

I was parking my car at home when all of a sudden there was a violent/sudden drop in the front of my car. I initially thought I got a flat tire, but when I took a look the entire front suspension was shot and dropped as low as possible. The Model X feels and is very unsafe to drive and has a grainding sound like the car is about to fall a part.

We purchased a Tesla Model X 2 years ago and have driven a little over 10,000 miles on it. The car has had continuous suspension problems which resulted in replacing the half shaft twice, control arms and now suspension pins. We drive solely on city roads and highways, it does not seem safe that a car used for regular commute to/from work and school would have such serious mechanical problems so early on.

In March of 2025, my steering of the Model X became really stiff. As time went on, the problem became worse and no longer able to turn left or right without major force. I made an appointment with Tesla and took it in for servicing. At this time they changed the steering bolts and steering shaft April 23, 2025. This cost $489. 70 (I will attach invoice). As soon as I picked up the vehicle my steering wheel was about 30% stuck to the right. I immediately sent a picture to Tesla for them to conduct an alignment and fix the issue. They fixed the issue but around may 15th, I had a nail in my tire so I took my car in to fix it. At that time I find out that the tires on my car were exposed to the wire (I will add the picture of the tires). I replaced these tires on March 1st 2025 which is only 2 1/2 months since I replaced it. It was an indication that something is wrong so I make another appointment with Tesla to check it and get another alignment I dropped off car on June 3rd. Tesla tried to perform another alignment to find that they are not able to because the steering gear assembly needs to be replaced. I asked for clarification because I just fixed the steering components in April and they are now wanting $4900 for the steering gear assembly. As I was researching, I find that my Model X was produced on may 2016 and there is a recall for Model X produced before oct 2016 for the steering bolt and steering components if they are damaged. When I tell Tesla that there is a recall they say that my VIN is not associated with the recall. I am filing a complaint because my car is with in the period of vehicles produces in the recall. There is a huge safety issue if the steering bolt and steering gear assembly is malfunctioning. There were no warning lamps or messages to indicate this. This has put my family and other vehicles at risk and Tesla is aware of this problem but won't honor the recall or admit that the steering issue are all related.

Wheel tilted in when backing out of driveway turning due to control arm failure.

The tire blow up on the freeway while driving with no impact, collision or any warning or any external factors, it’s very well documented all over the internet that Model X Tesla have serious tire problems associated with faulty tire pressure system tpms and in accurate tire reading as well with a car alignment that don’t compensate or adjust for the air suspension height changes that is available within the car settings and that causes a rapid and dangerous uneven tire wear that could lead to a tire failure on the road while driving. Tesla just recently recalling 700,000 cars with tire pressure issues and my car is effected as well because we never received any warning before the blowout. We did inspect the tire and documented everting showing no evidence of any that went through the tire to cause it go flat, the car is 8 month old and everything is fairly new and we should never have to deal with such and event that almost got us killed on the freeway, also since we were forced to exit the freeway for our safety driving on a flat tire that did cause a serious damages to the tire and vehicle with no spare wheel available to get it replaced on the spot to prevent any further damages, the car is not safe to be driven with serious tire pressure and bad alignment that comes from the factory that don’t match the suspension profile selected by the user that puts lots of unnecessary stress on the tire that causes a serious dangerous event to happen anytime. Tesla is refusing to take any responsibility for this issue even though it’s very well documented and we end up with a $4500 bill, something that we never should be responsible for. Also Tesla manager oliver ftankcom suggested that it’s ok to risk our lives staying in the car and not move it after a flat tire so we don’t cause more damages to the car, but we would of been killed on the freeway waiting for 4 hours for a tow truck to show up, so we had no choice but to exit the freeway for safety with a spare tire.