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Tesla Model X Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2015 to 2026, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Tesla Model X model years through 2024, 2015 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (2) and 2021 has the most (24). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Tesla Model X: Key Facts

Model years with data
12 (2015–2026)
Distinct recall campaigns
39
Fewest recalls
2015 (2)
Most recalls
2021 (24)
Most recalled system
Electrical system (26)
5-star overall rating
2017, 2018, 2019 and 2 more years

Tesla Model X Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Tesla Model X — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2015–2026
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2026 Recent: still collecting recalls 0 Not rated None on record
2025 Recent: still collecting recalls 3 Not rated Air bags, Back over prevention
2024 8 Not rated Air bags, Electrical system, Back over prevention
2023 17 Not rated Back over prevention, Electrical system, Air bags
2022 22 Not rated Electrical system, Air bags, Seat belts
2021 24 5 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance
2020 10 5 stars Forward collision avoidance, Steering, Electrical system
2019 8 5 stars Steering, Electrical system, Back over prevention
2018 9 5 stars Steering, Electrical system, Back over prevention
2017 10 5 stars Steering, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance
2016 12 Not rated Steering, Electrical system, Seats
2015 2 Not rated Seat belts, Steering

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20260 recalls
  2. 20253 recalls
  3. 20248 recalls
  4. 202317 recalls
  5. 202222 recalls
  6. 202124 recalls
  7. 202010 recalls
  8. 20198 recalls
  9. 20189 recalls
  10. 201710 recalls
  11. 201612 recalls
  12. 20152 recalls

Tesla Model X: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Tesla Model X recalls are electrical system (26), steering (26), air bags (16), seat belts (15) and forward collision avoidance (13). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 5 of these 12 model years, and 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Tesla Model X Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Tesla Model X?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2015 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 2 each.

Which Tesla Model X model years have the most recalls?

2021 has the most, with 24 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Model X", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy