Tesla Model S: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Tesla Model S passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 3.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 9,549 individual Tesla Model S tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate80.4%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+3.7 points
Tests analysed9,549
Average mileage at test82,575 miles
Average year of manufacture2017
Reliability rank1,425 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 80.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 20 in every 100 Tesla Model S presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Tesla Model S tested had covered 82,575 miles and was built around 2017.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Tesla Model S bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Tesla Model S rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Tesla Model S actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Tesla Model S

  1. A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly, 0.5% of tests (3.82x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, 0.5% of tests (2.84x the national rate for this defect)
  3. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.1% of tests (2.58x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 0.4% of tests (2.24x the national rate for this defect)
  5. Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution., 0.6% of tests (2.22x the national rate for this defect)
  6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.8% of tests (1.64x the national rate for this defect)
  7. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.3% of tests (1.16x the national rate for this defect)
  8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 3.2% of tests
  9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.1% of tests
  10. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.9% of tests

From 17,063 DVSA-tracked Tesla Model S tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.52% of these flagged Tesla Model S defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

Tesla Model S pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Tesla Model S year:

Other Tesla models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Tesla Model S MOT pass rate badge: 80.4%

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate