RoadVitals

2019 Tesla Model X Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
11
Latest Mar 31, 2026
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.
11%
of 99 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Tesla Model X submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 steering

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

SteeringSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Mar 31, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID
11728414
Incident
Mar 31, 2026
Steering
Filed Jan 22, 2025

There was a recall on these cars (22V-818) and manufacture said a software update would solve the issue. But the actual issue is the I-shaft, which is not sealed on those cars. Now the manufacture is replacing the I- shaft, with the same issues which they said that was corrected with a software update, by charging customers thousands of dollars with sealed ones. All those cars having the issue which I am facing now. I have escaped a crash narrowly and it is dangerous.

NHTSA ID
11637568
Incident
Dec 19, 2024
AirbagsSteering
Filed Sep 4, 2024

Two separate safety issues. The horn and drivers airbag are not functional. Also, the vehicle stops steering when driving at times. According to Tesla, The airbag assembly needs to be replaced at $1200 as well as the steering rack needs to be replaced at $5300. The vehicle is available for inspection. I have had several safety incidences. A couple where I needed to honk my horn and was not able to honk. As well as the steering going out and not being able to continue driving. The problem has been reproduced by the dealership. No one, besides Tesla has inspected the vehicle. There were no warning lamps for the horn and airbag. The steering warnings were steering assist reduced and steering may require increased effort while stuck in the middle of a lane or almost striking another vehicle. I figured out you could reset it by getting out of the vehicle with the key and walking away and coming back. I had to get out in the middle of the road and reset the vehicle by walking away and walking back to it. This has happened several times since I purchased the vehicle nine months ago.

NHTSA ID
11612458
Incident
Feb 8, 2024
SteeringSuspension
Filed Feb 15, 2024

I was just out of warranty and have a VERY loud squeaky noise when I turn my wheel. I was told that because of the weight of the battery, this can happen. I was told it was not an expensive fix but now they say it's $3,000. It is a known issue and the engineers didn't build to hold the car up properly with the weight of the battery. May be a potential hazard and I don't feel safe driving it and also hard to drive as loud as it is. If they are aware and have since fixed this issue, my car should be fixed at no cost to me. For the record, they took off the cost of the estimate and put all zeros which I also found to be odd.

NHTSA ID
11572153
Incident
Jan 12, 2024
Steering
Filed Oct 2, 2023

I was told that I need to replace the full steering column (which costs over $5,600). I understand there are other open recalls on very similar issues for other Tesla vehicles. The car is 2019, Model X, with no prior accidents. I didn't want to put my family in any compromising situation due to a failed steering mechanism, so I opted to pay and have it replaced. I feel this issue needs to be escalated since other vehicles have the same (or similar) problem.

NHTSA ID
11547722
Incident
Sep 11, 2023
Steering
Filed Oct 1, 2023

The power steering on My model X intermittently shuts off. When this occurs the car is impossible to control. This feels like an electronic issue as the car just as quickly can regain the power steering. Whenever this happens it is accompanied by a screen warning sayin that the power steering may have reduced functionality. The first time this happened was many months ago when the car was under full warranty Tesla now wants $ $4500.00 to correct this. The car now has 55 K miles on it and I consider this to be a defect.

NHTSA ID
11547577
Incident
Sep 1, 2022
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 10, 2023

Constant shudder when driving because of design flaw in Camber & control arms. We tried reaching out to Tesla multiple times but they don't want to cover it under warranty Multiple owners are having same issue

NHTSA ID
11501107
Incident
Jan 10, 2023
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 2, 2021
Crash reportedFire reported

HERE IS A MANGLED AND PARTIALLY BURNED MODEL X IN THE JUNKYARD. HTTPS://EREPAIRABLES.COM/SALVAGE-CARS-AUCTION/TESLA/MODEL+X/VID-46135539 THE BACK WHEEL HAS FALLEN OFF AND IS STASHED IN THE FRUNK. ALL THE SUSPENSION LINKS ON THE BACK ARE STRETCHED AND SNAPPED, BUT THE WHEEL IS ALMOST UNDAMAGED. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE STRETCHED LINKS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CRASH. THE REAR OF THE CAR IS ALMOST UNDAMAGED. IT IS IDIOTIC TO USE EXTRUDED ALUMINUM FOR CRITICAL SUSPENSION LINKS, THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE WEIGHT AND POWER OF THE CAR. THE DANGER ONLY INCREASES AS THE CARS GETS OLDER NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WEAR AND TEAR BUT ALSO BECAUSE CHEAPER SECONDHAND TESLAS ARE AFFORDABLE FOR YOUNG INEXPERIENCED AND OFTEN RECKLESS YOUNGER OWNERS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET KILLED. THAN YOU. KEEF

NHTSA ID
11398803
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Mileage
20,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Dec 21, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY USING THE AUTOPILOT FUNCTION THE CAR WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY SWERVE OUT OF THE LANE WHEN THE LANES WERE MERGING. AT OTHER TIMES IT WOULD SLAM ON THE BREAKS ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ID
11384347
Incident
Aug 3, 2020
Mileage
15,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 8, 2020

YOU HAVE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURES OF CERTAIN MODEL YEARS AND MODELS OF TESLAS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SUSPENSION WEAKNESSES AND FAILURES ARE AFFECTING ALL YEARS AND MODELS OF THESE CARS DUE TO BAD DESIGN, BAD MANUFACTURING AND BAD QUALITY ASSURANCE. THIS 2019 MODEL X IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE:HTTPS://WWW.IAAI.COM/VEHICLEDETAILS/38309891?ROWNUMBER=17 THE BACK WHEEL HAS GONE WHOMPY. BOTH FRONT WHEELS HAVE FALLEN OFF. THE BALL-JOINTS AND OTHER GIBLETS HAVE POPPED APART. GOOD HEAVENS TO BETSY WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED BEFORE YOU DEMAND A RECALL? ARE YOU WAITING FOR A BUS FULL OF CHILDREN TO GET OBLITERATED BY ONE OF THESE UNGUIDED MISSILES? DOES MUSK REALLY HAVE A LICENCE TO KILL? WORDS FAIL ME. (AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN) YOURS ANGRILY KEEF

NHTSA ID
11378602
Incident
Nov 1, 2020
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Feb 12, 2020

I'VE HAD MY TESLA SINCE DECEMBER 24TH 2019. THE CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME WITHOUT A TEST DRIVE AND SAID TO HAVE A SEVEN DAY GUARANTEE. THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE MOMENT I GOT IT, AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATING AND ACTING SPORADICALLY WHEN ENGAGED IN AUTO PILOT. THE BATTERY LIFE IS HAS OFTEN BEEN ONE THIRD OF WHAT I PAID FOR AND TESLA WILL BE 'SERVICING' IT FOR THE THIRD TIME TOMORROW. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND NOT RELIABLE. THEY WOULD NOT TAKE MY CAR BACK BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME I WAS PART OF A GOVERNMENT REBATE THAT INVALIDATES MY ABILITY TO RETURN THE ERRATIC VEHICLE WITH POOR MILEAGE. AMONG OTHER ISSUES MY CAR ALSO HAS WINDOW ALIGNMENT ISSUES BUBBLES IN PAINT DEFECTIVE CAMERA DEFECTIVE SENSOR MISALIGNED WINDOWS AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION WHEN NOT SUPPOSED TO STEERING ISSUES DEFECTIVE AUTOPILOT STRANGE SOUNDS AND MORE

NHTSA ID
11308820
Incident
Feb 10, 2020
Mileage
2,500 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .