MOT failures by make
Tesla MOT failures for “Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn”
Tesla cars failed their MOT on “Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn” in 0.62% of 129,232 tests in 2023–2024 (802 tests) — 34% less often than comparable cars of the same age, mileage and fuel, which would have failed on it in about 0.93% of tests. It is the number 10 most common failure item on Teslas.
Data to 2024-12-30 · Page updated 2026-09-28 · Publisher: 73 Auto
- Tesla tests failing on it
- 0.62%
- 802 of 129,232 tests, 2023–2024
- Comparable cars
- 0.93%
- national rate at the same age, mileage and fuel
- Observed ÷ expected
- 0.67×
- 73 Auto analysis · rank #10 for Tesla
How unusual this is for the make
Across all MOT failures, Teslas fail 1.07× as often as comparable cars. On this item the gap is 0.62× narrower than that overall level, so it is a genuine Tesla pattern rather than a reflection of how often the make fails in general. It is a major defect in the suspension part of the test. Nationally it appears on 1.43% of MOT tests.
Tesla models and “Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn”
The Tesla Model X is least affected (0.35× comparable cars); the Tesla Model 3 most (1.21×). Not every model follows the make: the pattern is concentrated in some models. Model rows compare with cars of the same age and fuel.
| Model | Tests | Failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 95,633 | 0.47% | 1.21× |
| Tesla Model S | 21,398 | 1.24% | 0.60× |
| Tesla Model X | 11,918 | 0.69% | 0.35× |
By age at test
The difference is most pronounced at 7-8 years old: 1.44% of Tesla tests against 3.88% for comparable cars.
| Age (years) | Tesla tests | Tesla | Comparable cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 63,047 | 0.56% | 0.63% |
| 5-6 | 16,430 | 1.00% | 2.27% |
| 7-8 | 8,097 | 1.44% | 3.88% |
Other Tesla MOT faults that stand out
- 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
Limitations
Official data: DVSA's anonymised MOT results (2023–2024), class 4 initial tests, cars at least 2.5 years old. 73 Auto analysis: the comparison rate applies the national rate of this item for each test's own age, mileage band and fuel to the Tesla tests. An MOT result reflects maintenance, mileage and how a car is used as well as its design, so this is not a measure of which make is most reliable. The wording of the defect is DVSA's.
Has this Tesla failed on it before?
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UK number plate or 17-character VIN
Where these figures come from
- Anonymised MOT tests and results (2023 and 2024) — Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Open Government Licence v3.0.
Figures labelled as 73 Auto estimates are our own analysis of these sources, set out in the methodology and data sources. To report a factual error, see corrections.