The Model X is Tesla’s flagship SUV, and its falcon-wing doors are both its signature feature and its single biggest ownership risk – as covered in our full Tesla reliability and maintenance guide, no other Tesla concentrates so much complexity into one mechanism. This guide covers the Model X specifically, including an important fact for anyone shopping used: production ended in early 2026.
Model years 2017–2026
LIVE DATA · SOURCE: NHTSANo recalls found for this vehicle. That's good news.
Tesla ended Model X production in early 2026 alongside the Model S. Every Model X on the market going forward is a used vehicle – there is no new-model buying decision to make here anymore, only a used-buying one. That also means parts availability over the long term is worth asking about, since the vehicle is no longer in active production.
The rear doors open vertically using a complex system of hinges and sensors designed to detect obstacles even in tight parking spaces – and that complexity is exactly why they’re the most-discussed Model X problem. Common symptoms include a door stopping mid-open with a false “obstruction detected” warning (usually a misaligned or dirty sensor), a door that won’t close flush or rubs the body, and water intrusion through worn or misaligned seals. Repair costs for a falcon-wing door mechanism can run up to $3,500 per door in serious cases.
Many Model X trims use adaptive air suspension, and it’s prone to the same failure pattern found on the Model S: leaks at the air spring modules or valve block causing the car to sag or ride unevenly, and in some cases an internal mechanical fault that produces a rattle over bumps. Repairing air suspension across multiple corners can run up to $4,500.
Front-end clunks over bumps, premature control arm and link wear, and uneven tire wear are common, especially on cars fitted with the larger 20-22 inch wheel options. This is more pronounced on 2016-2018 build vehicles than on 2020-and-later cars.
Early cars share the Model S’s MCU1 lag and screen-yellowing issues; later cars (2018+) with MCU2 are more consistent. The 2021 “Palladium” refresh brought a redesigned interior with yoke steering and a horizontal 17-inch touchscreen.
2016-2017 carries the highest concentration of documented issues – build quality complaints, falcon-wing door failures, and suspension wear were all most common in this earliest production window. 2020-and-later cars are meaningfully improved but haven’t eliminated the door and suspension issues entirely; they’re inherent to the design, not purely a manufacturing-era problem.
| Interval | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Every 12,000-16,000 km (~7,500-10,000 mi) or annually | Tire rotation and wear check, brake fluid condition check, falcon-wing door sensor and seal inspection |
| Every 2 years regardless of mileage | Brake fluid flush |
| As needed | Air suspension leak and ride-height check; falcon-wing door alignment check on all obstacle sensors |
Is the Tesla Model X still in production?
No – production ended in early 2026 alongside the Model S. Every Model X available now is a used vehicle.
Are falcon-wing doors reliable?
They’re the most consistently reported problem area on this model. Most issues are sensor or seal related rather than catastrophic, but repairs can be expensive, up to $3,500 per door in serious cases, and the doors demand more specialized service than a conventional door ever would.
Is the Model X more or less reliable than the Model S?
The Model X generally trails the Model S and the rest of the Tesla lineup on overall reliability, mainly because of the added complexity of the falcon-wing doors on top of the air suspension and electronics issues the two models share.
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