MOT performance
Tesla MOT pass rates and common failures
Across 129,232 MOT tests of Tesla cars in 2023–2024, 82.8% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Teslas failed 7% more often than comparable cars. Of the 3 Tesla models with enough tests, the Tesla Model S failed least often relative to comparable cars.
129,232 MOT tests on 79,836 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 82.8% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 129,232 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.07× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.3% | n = 129,232 |
| Average age at test | 3.5 years | n = 129,232 |
Tesla models
Every Tesla model with at least 10,000 tests, most-tested first.
| Model | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 95,633 | 83.3% | 1.12× |
| Tesla Model S | 21,398 | 81.0% | 0.96× |
| Tesla Model X | 11,918 | 81.5% | 0.98× |
Where Teslas fail
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 12.2% | +40% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.4% | -26% |
| Suspension | 1.8% | -19% |
| Driver's view of the road | 1.6% | -38% |
| Brakes | 0.9% | -34% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | +21% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.3% | +5% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | +32% |
| Steering | 0.2% | -13% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.1% | -47% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.0% | -50% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 5.19% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 4.44% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 2.35% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.94% |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | Tyres | 0.77% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 0.73% |
| Headlamp aim: too high | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.73% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively | Driver's view of the road | 0.71% |
| Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure | Tyres | 0.67% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 0.62% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 63,047 | 83.4% | +9% |
| 5-6 | 16,430 | 81.8% | -5% |
| 7-8 | 8,097 | 78.9% | -11% |
| 9-10 | 1,259 | 73.6% | Same |
MOT failures where Tesla stands out
Individual failure items that Teslas record clearly more or less often than cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. All Tesla MOT failure patterns.
- Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · 1.81× comparable cars
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed · 1.61× comparable cars
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively · 0.44× comparable cars
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn · 1.94× comparable cars
- Headlamp aim: too low · 1.52× comparable cars
- Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn · 0.67× comparable cars
Check a specific Tesla
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.