Tesla Model S MOT pass rate & common failures
The Tesla Model S appears in 56,789 MOT tests spanning model years 2007–2022, and 86.1% of them passed. Executive cars of a similar age fail 12.1% of the time, so this is 1.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and suspension.
Best and worst Model S years
Ranked across Model S years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 88.3% of 2018 examples pass against 81.1% of 2014 ones.
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 8.1% of tests against 2.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and wipers — tread depth alone was recorded 2,490 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 9.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.8% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 10.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Model S model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3,595 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 7,404 | 83.8% | 16.3% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 13,202 | 85.1% | 14.9% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 13,991 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 10,090 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 5,381 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 3,054 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 56 | 83.9% | 16.1% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 8.1% | 4,571 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.9% | 1,647 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.9% | 1,627 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.3% | 1,293 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 948 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 457 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 441 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 218 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 2,490 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,140 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,131 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 986 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 799 |
| 6 | Washers | 706 |
| 7 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 491 |
| 8 | Track rod end | 468 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 24.2% | 13,737 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.1% | 7,444 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.2% | 6,939 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.9% | 2,771 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.2% | 1,816 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 1,119 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 6,985 | 9.9% |
| 30-60k | 19,278 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 15,850 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 8,183 | 17.6% |
| 120-150k | 3,653 | 20.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,749 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,134 | 10.8% |
| 2022 | 10,688 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 12,099 | 14.1% |
| 2024 | 12,381 | 15.8% |
| 2025 | 12,487 | 16.2% |
What to check before buying a Tesla Model S
- Tyres (8.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (2.9% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Suspension (2.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Tesla Model S?
86.1% of the 56,789 Tesla Model S MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.9% fail rate, across model years 2007–2022.
What does the Tesla Model S most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 8.1% of tests, then visibility (2.9%).
Which Model S years are best and worst for MOT results?
2018 has the best pass rate at 88.3% and 2014 the weakest at 81.1%, from 10,090 and 3,595 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Model S MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.8% for 150k+, a 9.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 56,789 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.