The driver-side liner from a WeatherTech Custom Fit FloorLiner first-row set, part 4416821, installed in a 2022 Tesla Model X Plaid bowed outward near the accelerator pedal. The set was purchased through Amazon on June 14, 2026, and sold by WeatherTech. On two separate occasions, I pressed the accelerator and it would not move normally because it caught against the bowed liner. When I pressed harder, it released and the vehicle surged forward abruptly. No one was in front of the vehicle, and I stopped without a collision. My wife was frightened by the sudden movement and did not initially understand what happened. We identified the liner interference, removed the liner and notified WeatherTech. My wife had also reported similar interference on earlier occasions. I reported the problem to WeatherTech on October 3, 2026, with a photo and video link. A representative confirmed receiving the photo, stated there was a known Tesla fitment issue and provided seating instructions. By October 17, I had received a replacement, which also bowed outward and contacted the accelerator. On October 17, I reported the recurrence and explained that I had cut away the interfering portion. This modification does not establish that the liner is safe or resolve the repeated problem. The liner interference created a risk of unintended acceleration and collision. Whether a dealer or independent service center reproduced or confirmed it is UNKNOWN. Physical inspection by the manufacturer, police, insurer or others is UNKNOWN. Associated warning lamps or messages are UNKNOWN. Current availability of the liners for inspection is UNKNOWN; the replacement has been modified. This complaint concerns aftermarket floor-liner interference, not a diagnosed failure of Tesla's accelerator system. I request a safety review rather than another replacement.
Tesla Model X sudden acceleration problems
58 of the 1,560 owner complaints about the Tesla Model X describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 2016 model year.
- owner complaints
- 58
- worst model year
- 2016
- typical mileage
- 2,200
By model year
Often reported together
No deployment 7Adaptive cruise 3Won't start 1Tire blowout 1Seat belt 1Power steering loss 1Collision warning 1ABS 1
What owners say
On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model X to the Macy's at Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA, with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged. The navigation system routed incorrectly to Lincoln Square instead of Bellevue Square, and the vehicle proceeded into the Lincoln Square underground parking garage while still in FSD mode. The vehicle briefly stopped at the parking entrance gate where the barrier arm is, then suddenly accelerated at full speed toward a wall — breaking through the barrier arm and colliding with the wall. I attempted to cancel FSD and pressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not disengage and did not stop. I heard no Forward Collision Warning of any kind — no audible alert ever sounded. I was not watching the display, so I cannot say whether any visual warning appeared, and I am not aware of any Automatic Emergency Braking engagement or Obstacle-Aware Acceleration intervention. To my knowledge the vehicle has not been repaired and can be made available for inspection upon request. The malfunction put occupant and bystander safety at serious risk: sudden unintended full acceleration inside an enclosed parking garage with an unresponsive brake pedal, destruction of the gate barrier, collision with a wall, and bone fractures of the neck and lower back sustained by both the driver and the passenger, requiring medical treatment. To my knowledge, the problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. A police report was filed. The vehicle has [not yet / been] inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning sounds of any kind prior to the failure, and I observed no warning lamps or messages. The first indication of the problem was the sudden acceleration and impact itself. The Forward Collision Warning setting was turned ON at the time; no alert of any kind ever sounded. I am working to preserve the dashcam footage with audio, which INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
On 02/01/2026 at approximately 2:07 p.m., my 2018 Tesla Model X (VIN [XXX] , approximately 151,099 miles, software version 2026.2.3) experienced Sudden Unintended Acceleration while I was driving near [XXX] . I was [briefly describe what you were doing, for example: “slowing to a stop in traffic,” or “slowly pulling into a parking space,” or “braking to turn into a driveway”]. My foot was on the brake and I was NOT attempting to accelerate when the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly surged [forward/backward] with far more power than appropriate for the situation. I had to [firmly press the brake / shift to neutral / steer away] to avoid a collision. At or around the same time, a “Sudden Unintended Acceleration” warning/message appeared on the vehicle’s display. This acceleration did not match my pedal input and created a serious risk of a crash. [There was no contact, damage, or injury / or briefly describe any damage or injuries, if applicable.] The vehicle was operating on software version 2026.2.3 at the time. [Autopilot/Traffic‑Aware Cruise Control/Full Self‑Driving was ON/OFF at the time – please select what is correct.] I have reported this incident to Tesla and requested that they preserve and review the vehicle log data for this time and location. I am filing this complaint because I believe this is a safety‑critical defect involving sudden unintended acceleration, and I am concerned it could recur and/or affect other Tesla vehicles. *** If you tell me exactly what you were doing (parking vs in traffic, approximate speed, forward vs reverse, Autopilot on/off), I can fill in the bracketed parts precisely for you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I am writing to formally document a life-threatening mechanical failure involving my 2022 Model X on January 30, 2026. While my wife was operating the vehicle, it suffered a simultaneous and catastrophic collapse of all primary safety systems. During operation, the vehicle experienced a total loss of steering and braking control. This was accompanied by a rapid cascade of critical system alerts on the primary display, including “ABS Malfunction,” “Stability Control Disabled,” and “Steering Assist Reduced/Disabled.” Most critically, the vehicle exhibited Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA), increasing speed in direct opposition to the driver’s physical application of the brake pedal. This resulted in a near-miss where the driver narrowly avoided a construction crew.
Was stopped at a red light behind the car in front of me. I was stopped at a appropriate distance from the car in front of me. I had my right foot on the brake pedal, when the car accelerated on its own. It launched its self into the car ahead of me. I looked down and my foot was still on the brake pedal. None of the air bags inside the car deployed.
I am reporting a potential safety issue with my Tesla Model X. When the vehicle is placed in reverse with the steering wheel turned to full lock, it unexpectedly initiates self-movement without any driver input. I raised this issue with Tesla Service, and they responded with the following statement: "We are aware of this and [it is] currently a known software characteristic at this time. It is under investigation and to be resolved with a future software update." Tesla has acknowledged this issue but has not provided a timeline for a fix. Safety Concerns: This unexpected movement can pose a serious safety risk in environments where precise control is needed, such as driveways, parking lots, and tight spaces. It could indicate a malfunction in the vehicle’s drive-by-wire system, creating potential hazards for drivers and pedestrians. There is no way to predict or prevent this movement without significant driver intervention, increasing the risk of collisions or unintended acceleration incidents. Request for Investigation: Since Tesla has already acknowledged this as a known issue, I urge the federal safety agency to investigate its potential safety risks. If this is affecting multiple vehicles, Tesla should be required to release a timely fix rather than leaving owners waiting for an undefined future software update.
On July 29, 2024, when my husband backed the vehicle out of the garage slowly, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and it hit the stone column causing a big damage to the car. I believe the pedal speed control and emergency brake have problems. When I reported to Tesla, they said the vehicle was not at fault. They said the issue had been resolved remotely by the engineer and cancelled my service appointment. When I asked for the engineer report, Tesla rep told me to download the data report. After I downloaded the data report, it shows no data 2 hours before and after the time of the incident. When I tried to retrieve the video on the replay function in the vehicle, the video was not there anymore. Fortunately, my husband recorded the video on his phone and I have a copy of the video. I feel very disappointed and frustrated with how Tesla handled the issue. If they are not at fault, how come the data report and video are not available? I filed a claim under my auto insurance policy and got the vehicle fixed. This sudden unintended acceleration happened to me back in June when the vehicle accelerated by itself to 41mph. My daughter, who was sitting next to me in the front passenger seat, saw my foot was in the air but the vehicle kept moving at 41mph. We were so shocked and I had to use both feet to step on the brake to stop the vehicle. Tesla eventually replaced the steering column control in the beginning of July. Then, on July 29, the sudden acceleration happened again to my husband. This safety issue needs to be addressed by Tesla more seriously. I should at least get a written explanation of what happened and not just a phone call telling me the vehicle was not at fault. Since the damage to vehicle is fixed now, we would drive the vehicle more often. I don't want this sudden unintended acceleration to happen again, hitting something or someone on the road!
While I was driving, I got an error on my dashboard that "acceleration and top speed reduced. performance may be restored on next drive". After I got this error, from onwards the car was not slowing down even though I remove my foot from accelerator and sometimes it is accelerating itself even though I was not on cruise control or auto pilot. Luckly brakes were working when it was causing sudden unintended acceleration. After I stopped my car at safe location it did not start, and it got towed to Tesla dealer. My concern is that I felt it is most dangerous and it can cause life threating accident. Could you please take necessary action on this incident which causing sudden unintended acceleration. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My 2019 Tesla Model X suddenly accelerated as I was going to park and ended up hitting a tree. It did not stop even on braking. The car is currently being inspected by the car insurance company, Geico. I checked online and found known issues of sudden unintended acceleration with Tesla vehicles.
on 4/17/2024 while exiting bank drive up lane in parking garage car suddenly accelerated from 5mph to maximum, both feet on brake had no effect, drive lever did not engage neutral or reverse. Car exited garage and was able to be steered onto median into a tree to stop car. Air bags deployed. Thankfully no one injured, if there had been a pedestrian or another car there would have been a bad outcome. Attempted to contact Tesla but unsuccessful locating telephone number or online contact to report, was able to send text to 24 hour tech assistance line, no response as of now.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Tesla Model X sudden acceleration
Which Tesla Model X years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2016 (18 complaints), 2018 (13 complaints) and 2020 (7 complaints).
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