2020 vs 2021 Tesla Model X

vs

Each year's own entries sit side by side, then what both share. Warnings of different generations are listed apart even under the same name, because what to check can differ.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

2020

  • Falcon-wing doors that stop or will not latch All years

    What to check: Open and close both falcon-wing doors several times, from the screen, the key and the door button. Watch that each rises all the way without stopping for nothing, and closes and latches.

    Early cars' doors sometimes did not open or latch, and Tesla answered with software updates. Owners on Tesla Motors Club, in three threads, still report doors that sense obstacles that are not there: two with 2018 cars, one of them parked in the sun, and one in 2016 whose door sensors were replaced on a car weeks old.

    CarGurus, a published reference, owners' reports (unofficial)

  • Panel gaps, seals and rattles All years

    What to check: Look along every panel gap and at the paint and door seals in good light, and listen for squeaks and rattles on a rough road.

    Edmunds found inconsistent panel gaps and paint and rubber gasket problems on the 2017, and more squeaks and rattles than other high-end SUVs on the 2019. Owners on Tesla Motors Club in 2016 traded stories of door seals torn on delivery day and noisy air conditioning.

    Edmunds, owners' reports (unofficial)

2021

  • Falcon-wing doors that stop or will not latch All years

    What to check: Open and close both falcon-wing doors several times and watch that each rises all the way and latches. Ask whether the car has had the 2024 software that lets the doors open further.

    Owners on Tesla Motors Club report the same trouble on the refreshed car: a 2021 whose door sometimes would not open, and a 2024 door that stuck part-open until Tesla freed a jammed latch. Another owner says that on cars without ultrasonic sensors the doors stopped short of fully open until a 2024 software update.

    Owners' reports (unofficial)

  • Driver's airbag recalls All years

    What to check: Confirm that recalls 21V868000 and 24V967000 were done, and if the yoke or the wheel has been swapped, 23V743000 too.

    The driver's airbag can tear when it goes off, and after a swap between the yoke and the wheel the wrong airbag may have been fitted.

    NHTSA

  • Front seat belt anchors 2021–2023

    What to check: Confirm that recall 23V488000 was done.

    The front seat belts may not be fixed properly to their pretensioner anchors and can come loose.

    NHTSA

  • Build quality All years

    What to check: Look along the panel gaps and listen for rattles from the cargo area over bumps.

    Edmunds says build quality steadily improved after 2020 but is still a bit below the competition, and found the 2025's interior lacking in solidity. An owner on Tesla Motors Club reports plastic rubbing sounds from the cargo area over bumps.

    Edmunds, owners' reports (unofficial)

Recalls

2020

Nothing that 2021 lacks.

2021

  • 21V868000 2021

    The driver's airbag can tear when it goes off. NHTSA

  • 22V045000 2021–2022

    The seat belt chime may not sound when the driver is unbuckled. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V050000 2021–2022

    A software fault can open a heat pump valve and trap refrigerant, weakening the defroster. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V233000 2021–2022

    The front side curtain airbags may not deploy as intended when the windows are down. They are replaced. NHTSA

  • 22V296000 2021–2022

    The touchscreen's processor can overheat while getting ready to fast- charge, and lag or restart. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V702000 2021–2022

    The windows' automatic reversal may not react properly to an obstruction. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V843000 2021–2023

    The airbag module's calibration may make the front passenger airbag deploy wrongly in some low-speed crashes. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 23V488000 2021–2023

    The front seat belts may not be fixed properly to their pretensioner anchors and can come loose. NHTSA

  • 23V679000 2021–2023

    The car may not detect low brake fluid or show a warning light. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 23V743000 2021–2024

    When the yoke or the steering wheel was swapped, the wrong driver's airbag may have been fitted. NHTSA

  • 24V554000 2021–2024

    The car may not notice a hood left unlatched. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 24V967000 2021–2025

    The driver's airbag can tear when it goes off. NHTSA

  • 25V172000 2021–2025

    A driver's airbag fitted with the wrong horn pad can stop the horn working. NHTSA

  • 26V283000 2021–2023

    The rear camera picture can lag when reversing, on one software version. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

Both years

  • 21V846000 2017–2021

    On one software version, a fault can bring false collision warnings or sudden automatic braking. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V037000 2016–2022

    Full Self-Driving Beta's rolling stop could take the car through an all-way stop without stopping. The feature is switched off over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V063000 2020–2022

    The Boombox feature can play sounds through the outside speaker while moving and mask the pedestrian warning. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V235000 2020–2022

    The Boombox feature can play sounds through the outside speaker while moving and mask the pedestrian warning. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 22V818000 2017–2021

    Power steering assist can drop out on rough roads or after a pothole. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 23V085000 2016–2023

    Full Self-Driving Beta can behave unsafely at junctions and respond poorly to speed limit changes. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 23V838000 2016–2023

    Autosteer's checks may not do enough to stop a driver misusing it. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 24V051000 2016–2024

    The brake, parking brake and ABS warning lights are shown in letters too small. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 24V153000 2020–2021

    A factory reset can silence the sound that warns pedestrians of the car. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

  • 24V376000 2016–2024

    The seat belt warning may not come on for an unbelted driver. Fixed over the air. NHTSA

What changed between

After 2020, up to and including 2021.

  1. 2021Refreshed begins.
  2. 2021Refresh announced in January 2021: new bumpers, a horizontal screen, a yoke, ventilated front seats, a rear screen and a new powertrain. The lineup is the Long Range and the three-motor Plaid. Drive Tesla, CarGurus, Edmunds

What it came with

2020

Trims
Long Range Plus (2020) Edmunds, a published reference, Performance (2019–2020) CarGurus, Drive Tesla
Packages
Six-seat interior CarGurus, Electrek, Seven-seat interior CarGurus, Electrek, Edmunds, Ludicrous Mode CarGurus, AutoGuide, Subzero Weather Package AutoGuide, Electrek, Tow Package AutoGuide, Electrek, Enhanced Autopilot CarGurus, Electrek

2021

Motors
Tri-motor CarGurus, a published reference
Batteries
100 kWh CarGurus, a published reference
Trims
Plaid CarGurus, Drive Tesla, Edmunds
Packages
Six- or seven-seat interior CarGurus, Yoke Drive Tesla, CarGurus

Both years

Motors
Dual motor CarGurus
Drivetrains
All-wheel drive CarGurus, a published reference
Trims
Long Range (2021–2022) CarGurus, Edmunds
Packages
Full Self-Driving Capability CarGurus

Interiors

2020

  • Black Electrek

2021

  • Cream MobileSyrup
  • Black and White MobileSyrup
  • Ebony MobileSyrup

What owners and buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

2020

  • Sought after: The Long Range 2019–2020

    Edmunds picked the Long Range for both 2019 and 2020. Edmunds

2021

  • Sought after: The dual-motor car All years

    Edmunds picked the Long Range for 2021 and the All-Wheel Drive for 2026. Edmunds

  • Watch for: Yoke All years Less sought after One source so far

    Edmunds lists the lack of a steering wheel and stalks among the 2022's cons. Edmunds