MOT fail rates
Tesla Model S MOT fail rate by age
How often the Tesla Model S fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 41,739 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 7 years, the most tested age
154 of 330 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 7 years.
What stands out
- At 3 years the Tesla Model S fails 15.5% of MOTs (1,995 tests), 3.4 points above the 12.1% for all cars that age. At 10 years it fails 25.5% (1,904 tests), 4.8 points below the 30.3% average.
- The gap is widest at 10 years: 4.8 points below all cars.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 7 years: Suspension ball joint worn, at 1.9 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 15.5% | 1,995 | 12.1% | +3.4 pts | 30,879 miles |
| 4 years | 14.8% | 3,985 | 13.4% | +1.4 pts | 41,004 miles |
| 5 years | 15.2% | 6,560 | 15.3% | −0.1 pts | 51,366 miles |
| 6 years | 15.9% | 7,968 | 17.8% | −1.9 pts | 62,045 miles |
| 7 years | 18.4% | 8,150 | 20.6% | −2.2 pts | 72,253 miles |
| 8 years | 20.5% | 6,900 | 23.8% | −3.3 pts | 82,401 miles |
| 9 years | 22.9% | 4,277 | 27.1% | −4.2 pts | 92,900 miles |
| 10 years | 25.5% | 1,904 | 30.3% | −4.8 pts | 102,326 miles |
Most common fail items at 7 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Suspension ball joint worn Major | 1.9 |
| Suspension arm bush worn Major | 1.5 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play Major | 1.2 |
Out of 8,150 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Tyre tread below 1.6 mm Dangerous | 5.7 |
| Tyre with cords exposed Dangerous | 4.5 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords Major | 2.3 |
| Wipers not clearing screen Major | 1.9 |
| Headlight aimed too high Major | 1 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Major | 1 |
| Headlamp aim: too low Major | 0.9 |
Out of 8,150 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 7 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 25.4% | 430,004 | 20.6% |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 26.1% | 272,589 | 20.6% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 14.3% | 267,144 | 20.6% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the Tesla Model S
Looking at one Tesla Model S?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources