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Tesla Model X reliability

C · Average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 31,756 MOT tests of cars first registered 2017–2020.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
82.0%pass first time
+0.3 ptsvs typical car
Beats 54%of cars
31,756MOT tests

Verdict

The Tesla Model X passes its MOT first time on 82.0% of tests, about the same as a typical car of the same age and mileage (81.7%). That puts it ahead of 54% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2017 Model X does best (beats 68% of cars) and the 2020 worst (beats 18%).

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 visibility, brakes, lights & electrics.

Watch these weak spots

Tyres2.0×as often as a typical car
Tyre damage & cracking2.6×as often as a typical car
Tyre tread depth1.5×as often as a typical car
Suspension ball joints2.5×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.

70%75%80%85%90%345678985%85%82%81%79%79%79%
Tesla Model XTypical 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.

2017
Beats 68%
2018
Beats 52%
2019
Beats 41%
2020
Beats 18%

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
Electric2017–202031,75682.0%Beats 54%C

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: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.8% 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: 1.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.0% 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: 12.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% 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 3.6% 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: 1.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.0% 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+3.8 ptsTyres: 12.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% 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−6.2 ptsBrakes: 1.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.6% 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+1.8 ptsSuspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.8% 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+0.4 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/aSuspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.8% 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 3.6% 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: 12.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% 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: 1.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.0% 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: 1.2% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 5.0% 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+3.8 ptsTyres: 12.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% 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−6.2 ptsBrakes: 1.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 3.6% 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+1.8 ptsSuspension: 2.4% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.8% 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+0.4 ptsExhaust: electric cars have no exhaust or emissions test.Exhaustn/a
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Tyres: 12.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.9% 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
12.0% vs 5.9%
Visibility
2.6% vs 3.5%
Suspension
2.4% vs 2.8%
Brakes
1.8% vs 3.6%
Lights & electrics
1.2% vs 5.0%
Body & structure
0.9% vs 0.9%
Steering
0.4% vs 0.6%
Wheels
0.3% vs 0.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.2% vs 0.4%
Emissions & leaks
0.0% vs 1.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre damage & cracking 2.6× typical
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Tyre tread depth 1.5× typical
    Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.
  • Suspension ball joints 2.5× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Anti-roll bar links 2.7× typical
    A knock or rattle over uneven roads usually means worn anti-roll bar links (cheap to fix).
  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) 1.4× typical
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.
  • Windscreen wipers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

70%75%80%85%90%95%10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k86%84%84%82%81%82%79%78%79%
Tesla Model XTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking9.2%3.5%2.6×
Tyre tread depth3.2%2.2%1.5×
Windscreen wipers1.6%2.0%0.8×
Suspension ball joints1.2%0.5%2.5×
Windscreen washers1.0%1.4%0.7×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)0.8%0.6%1.4×
Headlight aim0.7%1.9%0.4×
Brake pads0.7%2.1%0.3×
Drive shaft (CV) joints0.6%0.4%1.4×
Number plates0.6%0.2%2.3×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
A tyre cords visible or damaged64.9
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements31.8
A tyre seriously damaged29.3
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn19.2
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen16.2
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen9.6
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative7.8
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements6.6
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 X1 engine81.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric5,20281.0%Beats 18%E
2019 Tesla Model X1 engine82.0% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric5,58482.0%Beats 41%C
2018 Tesla Model X1 engine81.9% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric7,85281.9%Beats 52%C
2017 Tesla Model X1 engine82.5% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
Electric13,11882.5%Beats 68%B

FAQ

What is the Tesla Model X MOT pass rate?

82.0% of MOT tests on the Tesla Model X were passed first time, based on 31,756 tests between 2019 and 2026 of cars first registered 2017–2020. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 81.7% of the time.

Is the Tesla Model X reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 54% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Tesla Model X year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2017 Model X does best for its age and mileage: it beats 68% of cars on UK roads. The 2020 does worst: it beats 18%.

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

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, windscreen wipers. Compared with similar cars, tyre damage & cracking comes up 2.6× 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.