The 2017 Model X is Tesla's first-gen electric SUV with notorious falcon-wing door complexity and early drive unit reliability issues. High-voltage systems are generally robust, but motor/inverter replacements and suspension failures define the ownership experience at higher mileage.
Drive Unit (Motor/Transmission) Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or grinding noise during acceleration or deceleration, Drivetrain error messages on instrument cluster, Reduced power or limp mode, Vibration at highway speeds
Fix: Complete drive unit replacement required; Tesla often replaces under extended warranty if applicable, otherwise it's a full R&R (6-8 labor hours). Rear unit more common than front. Early 2017s had known seal/bearing issues.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,000
Falcon-Wing Door Sensor and Actuator Failures
Common · medium severity
Symptoms: Doors fail to open or close automatically, Error messages about door obstructions when none exist, Doors open partially then reverse, Loud clicking or grinding from door motors
Fix: Sensor recalibration (1 hour) sometimes works temporarily; actuator or strut replacement is 3-5 hours per side. Complex door mechanism with 12+ sensors per door makes diagnosis time-consuming.
Estimated cost: $1,200-3,500
Air Suspension Compressor and Strut Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Suspension fault warnings on screen, Vehicle stuck in low or high ride height, Compressor runs excessively or constantly, One corner sags overnight
Fix: Compressor replacement is 3-4 hours; single air strut replacement is 2-3 hours. Leaking struts are common; compressor runs itself to death trying to maintain pressure. Active air suspension is standard on X.
Estimated cost: $1,800-4,000
12V Battery Failure (Auxiliary)
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Vehicle won't wake from sleep or unlock, Touchscreen black or unresponsive, Error messages about 12V system, Complete loss of accessory power despite charged HV battery
Fix: 12V battery replacement is straightforward (1 hour), but Tesla uses a specific AGM battery in the frunk. Battery is kept charged by DC-DC converter from main pack; failure strands the car even with full HV charge.
Estimated cost: $300-600
MCU (Media Control Unit) Touchscreen Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Yellow border around touchscreen (eMMC memory degradation), Slow boot times or frequent reboots, Backup camera black screen or laggy, Loss of navigation or media functions
Fix: Early 2017s have MCU1 with known eMMC flash memory wear-out. Tesla offered infotainment upgrade program (MCU2) for $1,500-2,500; independent shops can do eMMC replacement (2-3 hours) but it's Band-Aid fix.
Estimated cost: $500-1,200
Inverter Coolant Leaks
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Drivetrain coolant level warnings, Green fluid pooling under vehicle, Overheating warnings during charging or heavy acceleration, Reduced charge rate or power limiting
Fix: Inverter coolant system uses specialized Tesla G-48 coolant. Leaks typically from inverter housing gaskets or cooling loop fittings. Inverter R&R is 5-7 hours; sometimes seal replacement is possible without full unit swap.
Estimated cost: $2,000-5,000
Front Upper Control Arm Bushing Wear
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Wandering or imprecise steering feel, Uneven tire wear on inside edge, Alignment won't hold specs
Fix: Control arm bushings wear prematurely due to vehicle weight (5,400+ lbs). Replacement requires pressing out bushings or replacing complete arms (2-3 hours per side). Alignment mandatory after.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Second-Row Seat Monopost Failure
Rare · medium severity
Symptoms: Middle seats won't fold or move electrically, Grinding noise from seat base, Seat stuck in one position, Recall-related if purchased early 2017
Fix: NHTSA recall for monopost seat attachment; some cars outside recall range still experience motor failures. Seat removal and monopost actuator replacement is 3-4 hours due to tight access.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000
Owner tips
Get pre-purchase inspection focusing on drive unit noise (test drive with radio off, windows down)
Check for active Tesla warranty coverage on drive units and battery—transferable and often extended beyond original 8yr/120k
Budget for annual air suspension maintenance if equipped; inspect compressor filter and strut seals
Keep 12V battery fresh (every 4 years max); carry portable jump starter—flat 12V bricks the entire car
Verify MCU type (1 vs 2) before purchase; MCU1 cars need upgrade or will face inevitable screen failure
Falcon-wing doors are a known complexity; test every sensor, every movement pattern, confirm no error codes stored
Buy only if you find one with documented drive unit replacement and MCU upgrade already done, and you have $3,000-5,000 annual repair budget or access to Tesla warranty coverage—otherwise the repair costs will shock you worse than the 0-60 time.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles. In the event of an unbelted driver, the seat belt warning light and audible chime may not activate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: A seat belt warning system that fails to alert occupants of an unbelted seat belt can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-008.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2019-2024 Model Y, and 2024 Cybertruck vehicles. An incorrect font size is displayed on the instrument panel for the Brake, Park, and Antilock Brake System (ABS) warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Consequence: Warning lights with a smaller font size can make critical safety information on the instrument panel difficult to read, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla began releasing an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-24-00-003.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with all versions of Autosteer leading up to the version(s) that contains the recall remedy. In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature.
Consequence: In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, and the driver does not maintain responsibility for vehicle operation and is unprepared to intervene as necessary or fails to recognize when Autosteer is canceled or not engaged, there may be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2024. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-008.
STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING · 23V085000
2023-02-15 · EA22002
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta (FSD Beta) software or pending installation. The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution. In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver's adjustment of the vehicle's speed to exceed posted speed limits.
Consequence: FSD Beta software that allows a vehicle to exceed speed limits or travel through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 22V818000
2022-11-01
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electronic power assist steering (EPAS) system may experience a loss of power steering assist when driving on rough roads or after hitting a pothole.
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update to recalibrate the EPAS system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 31, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-014.
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2022 Model S and Model X, 2017-2022 Model 3, and 2020-2022 Model Y vehicles. The "rolling stop" functionality available as part of the Full Self-Driving (Beta) software may allow the vehicle to travel through an all-way stop intersection without first coming to a stop.
Consequence: Failing to stop at a stop sign can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will perform an over-the-air (OTA) software update that disables the "rolling stop" functionality, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2022. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-22-00-001.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA · 21V846000
2021-10-29
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and 2020-2021 Model Y vehicles operating software version 2021.36.5.2. A communication error may cause false forward-collision warning (FCW) or unexpected activation of the automatic emergency brake (AEB) system.
Consequence: Unexpected activation of the AEB system may cause the car to stop suddenly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla Service has released an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-00-004.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · 21V035000
2021-01-29 · EA20003
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Tesla Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles with a center display equipped with a NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and an 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device. When the 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory device for the center display reaches lifetime wear, the eMMC controller will no longer be able to maintain the integrity of the filesystem, causing a failure in some of the center display functions.
Consequence: The eMMC controller wear-out condition can cause the loss of the rearview camera display, defrost/defog control settings, and exterior turn signal lighting, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners should ensure their vehicles are operating firmware release 2020.48.48.12 or newer, which will alert owners if the eMMC is approaching lifetime wear. Tesla will notify owners, and will replace the VCM daughterboard with one containing an enhanced eMMC controller, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-21-21-001.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY · 17V639000
2017-10-12
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Model X vehicles. The left-side, second row, reclining seat backs may not fully latch due to having incorrectly adjusted recliner mechanism cables. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Consequence: If the seat back moves forward in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and Tesla service technicians will correct the cable adjustment for the left-side, fold-flat, second row, seat recliner mechanism, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-13-004.
PARKING BRAKE · 17V260000
2017-04-19
Tesla, Inc. (Tesla) is recalling certain 2016 Model S and Model X vehicles. The electric parking brake calipers have an internal gear that may be improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the gear fracturing during parking brake application or release.
Consequence: If the gear breaks during parking brake release, the vehicle will not be able to be moved. If the gear breaks during parking brake application, the parking brake may not adequately hold the vehicle, potentially resulting in the vehicle rolling, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Tesla will notify owners, and service centers will replace both the left and right electric parking brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2018. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877-798-3752. Tesla's number for this recall is SB-17-33-002.
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