Tesla Model X MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 8 model years and 29,623 tests, the Tesla Model X passes its MOT 85.3% of the time. That is 4.2 percentage points worse than large SUVs of a similar age, which fail at 10.5%. Its most common failure areas are tyres, visibility and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 10.7% of all tests — 8.5 points clear of visibility, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, wipers and ball joint — tread depth alone was recorded 1,285 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Model X model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 227 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 11,477 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 7,773 | 85.5% | 14.5% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 5,321 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 4,715 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 108 | 86.1% | 13.9% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.7% | 3,177 |
| 2 | Visibility | 2.3% | 670 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 550 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.5% | 445 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 294 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 226 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.5% | 152 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.3% | 86 |
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 | 1,285 |
| 2 | Wipers | 544 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 328 |
| 4 | Washers | 244 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 230 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 223 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 219 |
| 8 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 216 |
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 | 27.8% | 8,237 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 4,204 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 2,062 |
| 4 | Other defects | 6.0% | 1,781 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.0% | 882 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 690 |
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 | 6,572 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 13,531 | 14.4% |
| 60-90k | 6,672 | 16.3% |
| 90-120k | 1,912 | 17.5% |
| 120-150k | 564 | 17.9% |
| 150k+ | 325 | 19.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,634 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 5,049 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 6,632 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 7,055 | 16.0% |
| 2025 | 7,253 | 16.8% |
What to check before buying a Tesla Model X
- Tyres (10.7% 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 (2.3% 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 (1.9% 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 X?
85.3% of the 29,623 Tesla Model X MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 14.7% fail rate, across model years 2016–2023.
What does the Tesla Model X most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 10.7% of tests, then visibility (2.3%).
How much does mileage affect Model X MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.4% for 150k+, a 7.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 29,623 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.