2019 Tesla Model S — MOT failures & pass rate
5,381 MOT tests on the 2019 Tesla Model S are in this dataset, and 88.3% of them passed. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than executive cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.4%. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests against 3.1% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 180 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 16.7% versus 9.5%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.5% | 403 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.1% | 169 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 110 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.1% | 59 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.0% | 56 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.5% | 25 |
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 | 180 |
| 2 | Wipers | 116 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 103 |
| 4 | Washers | 66 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 42 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 38 |
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 | 22.1% | 1,191 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.1% | 434 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.9% | 371 |
| 4 | Other defects | 4.3% | 230 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 156 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 65 |
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 | 1,273 | 9.5% |
| 30-60k | 2,439 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,156 | 15.1% |
| 90-120k | 343 | 14.0% |
| 120-150k | 102 | 11.8% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 16.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38 | 7.9% |
| 2022 | 1,227 | 9.3% |
| 2023 | 1,353 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 1,369 | 13.1% |
| 2025 | 1,394 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 2019 Model S
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 7.5% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (7.5% 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 (3.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2019 Tesla Model Ss pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 5,381 2019 Tesla Model S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 Tesla Model S?
Tyres, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by visibility (3.1%).
Does the 2019 Model S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,381 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.