2016 Tesla Model X problems
The 2016 Tesla Model X was sold with an engine that we have documented: the Tesla Model S / Model X. The Tesla Model S / Model X has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 4 documented faults affect 2016 cars, such as falcon wing door failure (sensors and actuators) on the Model X.
2016 Tesla Model X score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 9 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Electric motor7.55 faults
- Gearbox10.0No documented faults
- Suspension6.71 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Brakes8.21 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering7.2Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.1 times the defects normal for its age
- Electrical system10.0No documented faults
- Headlights and lights6.4Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.4 times the defects normal for its age
- Electronics and infotainment8.61 fault
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior7.41 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
What changes compared with the 2015 Tesla Model X
- Score: 8.3 → 7.3
- Starts to be affected by: falcon wing door failure (sensors and actuators) on the Model X (rest of the car), central screen (MCU) failure due to the Model X's eMMC memory (rest of the car), premature wear of the suspension wishbones and ball joints on the Model X (rest of the car) and model X parking brake failure (2017 recall) (rest of the car)
Tesla Model S / Model X engine in the 2016 Tesla Model X
Names: Model X 60D · Model X 75D · Model X 90D · Model X 100D · Model X P90D · Model X Gran Autonomía · Model X Plaid
- With caution
First generation: Model S 60, 70, 85, P85 and D variants (2012-2016)
302–691 hp
These are the oldest cars, with the 8-year warranty about to run out or already expired, and fiches-auto.fr cites faulty battery cooling hoses up to 2016.[3][4]
- Buy
Second stage: 75D, 90D, 100D, P100D, Long Range and Performance (2016-2020)
417–754 hp
Auto Bild tested a 2019 Model X 75D and found hardly any motor or battery faults; the problems cited are in the front drive and auxiliary electronics.[5]
Faults that affect 2016 cars
- Critical severityFrequency: RareTraction batteryHigh-voltage battery or battery management (BMS) faultNormal degradation is low: Tesla publishes an average loss of 12% at 320,000 km. Real battery faults are rare, with a few BMS cases and replacements before 250,000 km cited by fiches-auto.fr.
- Critical severityFrequency: RareCoolingLeaks from battery cooling hoses (Model S 2012-2016)fiches-auto.fr notes that some Model S cars built from 2012 to 2016 have faulty battery cooling hoses that can drip and overheat the cells. It is a single source, with no figures and no confirmed European campaign.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectric motor and reduction gearVibrations from worn front driveshaftsOn dual-motor versions, the front driveshafts can wear and cause vibrations under hard acceleration. Auto Bild cites it on the Model X and fiches-auto.fr records several cases; the motor and reduction gear assembly does not usually fail.
- High severityFrequency: RareElectric motor and reduction gearElectric motor or drive unit faultThe motor and reduction gear units of the Model S and X are considered robust: Auto Bild hardly records any faults. fiches-auto.fr says some owners have replaced the motor or battery before 250,000 km, though without frequency figures.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareChargingOn-board charger fault (AC charging)The AC on-board charger can fail and stop charging from a domestic socket or AC charging post, sometimes with DC rapid charging still working. fiches-auto.fr documents this mainly on older Model S cars with a dual charger.
Faults outside the engine in the 2016 Tesla Model X
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBodywork and interiorFalcon wing door failure (sensors and actuators) on the Model XThe vertically opening rear doors have caused problems since launch: Wikipedia records rear door pauses and stoppages in 2016 and a Tesla lawsuit against its hydraulic supplier over oil leaks and overheating; the fiches-auto.fr profile cites 2 cases of faulty sensors or actuators.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalElectronics and infotainmentCentral screen (MCU) failure due to the Model X's eMMC memoryThe fiches-auto.fr profile records 3 screen mentions among 10 Model X reports, including eMMC memory failures that slow the system down and a screen problem on a 100D.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionPremature wear of the suspension wishbones and ball joints on the Model XThe fiches-auto.fr profile cites 3 suspension mentions among 10 Model X reports, including a taxi 90D with 255,000 km that needed running gear work and had premature wear of wishbones and ball joints.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalBrakesModel X parking brake failure (2017 recall)In April 2017 Tesla recalled 53,000 Model S and X cars sold in 2016 over a parking brake fault; Wikipedia cites around 53,000 of 76,000 vehicles and the repair took about 45 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Tesla Model X reliable?
The 2016 Tesla Model X was sold with an engine that we have documented: the Tesla Model S / Model X. The Tesla Model S / Model X has serious faults that affect the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 4 documented faults affect 2016 cars, such as falcon wing door failure (sensors and actuators) on the Model X.
Is the 2016 Tesla Model X better than the 2015?
Our score goes from 8.3 in 2015 to 7.3 in 2016. Starts to be affected by: falcon wing door failure (sensors and actuators) on the Model X (rest of the car), central screen (MCU) failure due to the Model X's eMMC memory (rest of the car) and premature wear of the suspension wishbones and ball joints on the Model X (rest of the car).
What is the best year for the Tesla Model X?
According to our score, the best are 2026, 2025, 2024 and 3 other years with the same score (8.3/10). The year with the worst score is 2016 (7.3/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2016 Tesla Model X have?
The most important ones documented for 2016 cars are: high-voltage battery or battery management (BMS) fault (Tesla Model S / Model X, critical severity), leaks from battery cooling hoses (Model S 2012-2016) (Tesla Model S / Model X, critical severity), electric motor or drive unit fault (Tesla Model S / Model X, high severity), vibrations from worn front driveshafts (Tesla Model S / Model X, medium severity) and on-board charger fault (AC charging) (Tesla Model S / Model X, medium severity).
Own a 2016 Tesla Model X? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Fiabilité Tesla Model X (2016-2021): tous les problèmesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
- Tesla Model XWikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
- Fiabilité Tesla Model S (2012-2021): tous les problèmesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
- Tesla ändert Batteriegarantie: Kilometer statt Laufzeitauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 6 February 2020 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
- Gebrauchtwagen-Test Tesla Model X: Der Tesla Model X macht gebraucht nur wenig ÄrgerAuto Bild · Motoring press · published 25 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German