Common problems by part
Tesla Model S body and structure problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 8,150 MOT tests · Updated
At 7 years, 0.9 in 100 MOT tests of the Tesla Model S failed on body and structure, against 1.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,150 MOT tests) [1].
Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.
- Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 70 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 8 ages from 3 to 10 years, 41,739 MOT tests
- Most common fail: Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle, 0.5 per 100 MOT tests
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
0.9 fails per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 1.3 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 7 (all test years). That is about average.
Why it matters
A body and structure fail stops the car passing until it is fixed; the most common one is rated major by DVSA.
What to check
Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.
Tesla Model S body and structure fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1,995 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 4 | 3,985 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 5 | 6,560 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| 6 | 7,968 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 7 | 8,150 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| 8 | 6,900 | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| 9 | 4,277 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
| 10 | 1,904 | 2.2 | 2.9 |
All first-use years of the Tesla Model S pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.
What fails in the body and structure at 7 years
Fails
- Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle: 0.5 fails per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.0. Door condition cannot be opened from outside the vehicle MOT fail
Advisories (not fails)
- Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated: 0.7 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.5. Drive shaft constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (MOT minor defect)
Buying a Tesla Model S? Check that exact car before the viewing.
Buying Report £14.99 incl. VAT · one car · no subscription · Not a mechanical inspection.
- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
How to check on a test drive
Look under the sills, jacking points and rear subframe for rot, bubbling or fresh underseal over a repair, and check every door, bonnet and boot shuts properly.
The most common advisory here in MOT records: Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated.
Check one Tesla Model S, not the average
The figures here describe Tesla Model S cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.
- Check a Tesla Model S's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Tesla Model S problems
Body and structure on rival models
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class body and structure problems: 0.3 per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.9 for the Tesla Model S (143,293 MOT tests)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class body and structure problems: 0.4 per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.9 for the Tesla Model S (87,925 MOT tests)
- Vauxhall Insignia body and structure problems: 1.1 per 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 0.9 for the Tesla Model S (81,746 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Tesla Model S have more body and structure problems than other cars?
0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years, against 1.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 8,150 MOT tests).
How common are Tesla Model S body and structure problems?
0.9 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years failed on body and structure, against 1.3 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 8,150 MOT tests).
What is the most common Tesla Model S body and structure fail?
0.5 in 100 MOT tests at 7 years: Door condition: cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (37 MOT tests with it).
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 41,739 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare