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Tesla Model S reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 69,727 MOT tests of cars first registered 2014–2020.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
82.8%pass first time
+4.6 ptsvs typical car
Beats 81%of cars
69,727MOT tests

Verdict

The Tesla Model S passes its MOT first time on 82.8% of tests, 4.6 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (78.2%). That puts it ahead of 81% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2015 Model S does best (beats 88% of cars) and the 2020 worst (beats 24%).

The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.

Better than average on suspension, visibility, lights & electrics.

Watch these weak spots

Tyres1.4×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking1.6×as often as a typical car
Suspension ball joints1.8×as often as a typical car
Door condition15.7×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

60%70%80%90%3456789101187%87%85%83%82%79%77%75%74%
Tesla Model STypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2014
Beats 86%
2015
Beats 88%
2016
Beats 84%
2017
Beats 81%
2018
Beats 77%
2019
Beats 70%
2020
Beats 24%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric2014–202069,72782.8%Beats 81%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Suspension: 3.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 2.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 8.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 1.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 2.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.4 ptsTyres: 8.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−2.5 ptsBrakes: 1.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.6 ptsSuspension: 3.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+1.1 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/aSuspension: 3.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 1.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 8.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 2.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Lights: 2.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.9% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+4.4 ptsTyres: 8.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−2.5 ptsBrakes: 1.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+2.6 ptsSuspension: 3.2% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+1.1 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/a
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 8.9% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
8.9% vs 6.4%
Suspension
3.2% vs 4.4%
Visibility
3.1% vs 3.9%
Lights & electrics
2.4% vs 6.9%
Brakes
1.8% vs 4.5%
Steering
1.0% vs 0.9%
Body & structure
0.9% vs 1.3%
Wheels
0.4% vs 0.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.2% vs 0.5%
Emissions & leaks
0.0% vs 1.9%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking 1.6× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Suspension ball joints 1.8× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Tyre tread depth
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

60%70%80%90%100%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k89%88%84%82%78%78%75%
Tesla Model STypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking5.5%3.5%1.6×
Tyre tread depth3.3%2.6%1.3×
Windscreen wipers1.8%2.0%0.9×
Headlight aim1.5%2.2%0.7×
Suspension ball joints1.5%0.8%1.8×
Windscreen washers1.2%1.6%0.8×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)0.9%0.7%1.2×
Track rod ends0.9%0.8%1.2×
Suspension arm bushes0.8%0.6%1.4×
Brake performance0.6%0.5%1.2×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements33.5
A tyre cords visible or damaged31.6
A tyre seriously damaged24.8
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn24.4
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen17.9
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements14.9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen12.5
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative9.2
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2020 Tesla Model S1 engine80.8% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric3,36080.8%Beats 24%D
2019 Tesla Model S1 engine84.5% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric5,85684.5%Beats 70%B
2018 Tesla Model S1 engine84.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric10,56684.3%Beats 77%B
2017 Tesla Model S1 engine83.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric16,41083.7%Beats 81%A
2016 Tesla Model S1 engine82.3% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric17,42282.3%Beats 84%A
2015 Tesla Model S1 engine82.0% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric10,84482.0%Beats 88%A
2014 Tesla Model S1 engine79.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric5,26979.5%Beats 86%A

FAQ

What is the Tesla Model S MOT pass rate?

82.8% of MOT tests on the Tesla Model S were passed first time, based on 69,727 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2014–2020. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.2% of the time.

Is the Tesla Model S reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 81% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Tesla Model S year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2015 Model S does best for its age and mileage: it beats 88% of cars on UK roads. The 2020 does worst: it beats 24%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Tesla Model S?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, windscreen wipers. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 1.6× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.