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2017 Tesla Model X Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest May 14, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 268 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2017 Tesla Model X submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed May 14, 2025

Component: Driver airbag assembly required replacement Risk: Airbag assembly seems serious & life-threatening if not functinal Inspected & replaced by: By Tesla service center Symptom: Horn stopped working

NHTSA ID
11660999
Incident
May 13, 2025
Airbags
Filed May 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Restraint System Fault" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local Tesla Service Center who diagnosed that the restraint system sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,000.

NHTSA ID
11660843
Incident
May 1, 2025
Mileage
93,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Oct 14, 2024

I had a reoccurrence of Incident 11609414. After the original incident I had my car towed to the service center and "fixed". I paid out of pocket since my warranty did not cover the problem they claimed that caused my issues. 5 weeks later I had the same issue recur, while out shopping. My car would not shift into park, the emergency brake failed, my seat restraint failed, my airbag failed, my ABS failed, my steering assist failed. I had to stay in my car with my foot on the brake until I could get my car towed to the service center. Had I taken my foot off of the brake my car would have moved forward into a coffee shop filled with people.

NHTSA ID
11619734
Incident
Oct 14, 2024
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 21, 2024

I have received hundreds of intermittent safety faults which state: “Ssfety Restraint System Fault - Service is Required.” These messages pop up randomly and I have taken the vehicle in several times and no faults are seen during the service appointment. Tesla tells me there are at least 9 possible reasons for such a fault but they never provide me a checklist showing all 9 items were investigated. The last appointment they never gave me any feedback from the initial service center but transferred my car to another service center not stating why and then saying nothing found no precise timestamp was determined although I gave them a photo of the message and the date/time of the photo. Tesla says nothing is found but they want me to pick up the vehicle and wait for the next fault to occur. I stated that these faults occur intermittently and disappear by the time I get an appointment. They don’t offer to keep the vehicle for longer term monitoring or what is the impact of possible safety restraint malfunctions should I decide to retrieve and drive the vehicle. There is general lack of clarity on what other things could be checked given more time or resources, does this fault occur regularly on other Model X vehicles and what if any safety problems have been identified in any of those vehicles that may have been fixed. Tesla provides diagnosis for 1 hour only at $278 to vehicles not under warranty and they said repairs would be In addition to this. Since no other non-Tesla automotive service center can possibly troubleshoot such a complex electronics and software system I am effectively being charged almost $300 whenever the fault is detected so effectively there is no incentive for Tesla to ever fix my car. They have been sending me emails to trade in my vehicle and purchase a new one so there is many reasons to keep this 7 year vehicle broken!

NHTSA ID
11603637
Incident
Jul 15, 2024
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Nov 4, 2023
Crash reported

The steering wheel was dysfunctional; the wheel was locked in the middle of the highway, and the car started to change lanes, causing a massive accident. There was a significant accident between my car and a truck; both cars were totaled. My airbags didn't open as well. I got a massive concussion, and I do not know about the condition of the other driver. There was a recall about the steering wheel, and we brought our car to the dealership, and supposedly they fixed the issue. There was no warning or message before the accident. The message appeared on my Tesla screen for the first time less than a few minutes before the accident.

NHTSA ID
11553596
Incident
Oct 27, 2023
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Aug 3, 2021
Crash reported

The contact owned a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact's husband stated while driving 70 mph, a strange noise was heard coming from the rear driver side of the vehicle which resulted in the contact's husband losing control of the vehicle and collided with the median which brought the vehicle to a stop. None of the air bags deployed but no one was inquired and a police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard where it was determined to be destroyed. The contact stated no warning lights was illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID
11427586
Incident
Jul 24, 2021
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Apr 7, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY CAR HAD AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY OFFICE. THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE PARKING CURB AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR. MY CAR SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND I ESCAPED WITH MINOR BRUISES. THE CAR WHICH WAS I COLLIDED WITH WAS PARKED AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PASSENGERS IN IT. NOBODY ELSE WAS INJURED.

NHTSA ID
11083755
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Mileage
2,904 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Feb 16, 2018
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TESLA MODEL X. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE BRAKES AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE PICKED UP SPEED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SCHOOL BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO CAUSE THE COLLISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ID
11073274
Incident
Jan 24, 2018
Mileage
800 mi
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Dec 29, 2017

HERE IS A MODEL X IN THE JUNKYARD: HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLE?ITEMID=27010294&ROWNUMBER=13&LOADRECENT=TRUE THE SUSPENSION HAS COLLAPSED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE AIR-BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE CAR STOPPED ABRUPTLY WHEN ALL FOUR WHEELS JAMMED UP IN THE WHEEL WELLS. THERE IS NO COLLISION DAMAGE. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS SELF INFLICTED DUE TO THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REASONS FOR THESE FREQUENT FAILURES IN ALMOST NEW CARS. IN THIS THREAD AN OWNER REPORTS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION IN A BRAND NEW CAR: HTTPS://TESLAMOTORSCLUB.COM/TMC/THREADS/MY-MODEL-S-100D-BROKEN-IMMEDIATELY-AFTER-I-TOOK-DELIVERY.104956/ SNIP** NOT 3 MINUTES INTO MY FIRST DRIVE, I WAS MET WITH AN ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER SCREEN THAT SAID "AIR SUSPENSION NEEDS SERVICE, CONTACT TESLA SERVICE". I DECIDED TO DRIVE BACK TO THE DELIVERY CENTER AND SHOW THEM, BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIX IT. SO 30 MINUTES INTO OWNERSHIP OF MY BRAND NEW 100D AND I WAS ALREADY DRIVING IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THEY TOOK THE CAR AT AROUND 4 PM AND IT'S 10:30 AM THE NEXT DAY AND HAVEN'T HEARD BACK YET.** PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM REPORTING THESE SUSPENSION COMPLAINTS IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. A DUMMY USA ADDRESS HAS BEEN USED TO SATISFY YOUR WEBSITE REQUIREMENTS BUT MY CORRECT NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IS SUPPLIED. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT IS LEGITIMATE FOR A NON OWNER AND NON USA RESIDENT TO FILE COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU. CONCERNED CITIZEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
11057449
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
1,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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