2018 Tesla Model S: MOT pass rate and reliability
85.5% of 2018 Tesla Model S pass the MOT first time, measured across 1,870 DVSA tests on that model year alone. The average one had covered 66,553 miles.
How the 2018 compares
- Against all Tesla Model S (81.6%, 9,409 tests): +3.9 points
- Against all 2018 cars (85.9%): -0.4 points
- National first-time pass rate, all cars and years: 77%
Every Tesla Model S model year
Pass rates fall as cars age, so the only fair comparison for a 2018 car is other cars of the same age. The full run for the Tesla Model S:
| Year | Pass rate | Tests | Avg mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 73.8% | 608 | 109,474 |
| 2015 | 77.4% | 1,285 | 98,974 |
| 2016 | 80% | 2,345 | 94,441 |
| 2017 | 82.7% | 2,520 | 77,945 |
| 2018 | 85.5% | 1,870 | 66,553 |
| 2019 | 86.7% | 766 | 58,700 |
What this means if you are buying a 2018 Model S
The 2018 is one of the stronger years for this model, passing 3.9 points more often than the Tesla Model S average. That is a point in its favour, though condition and service history still matter more than the model year. Check the exact car with the free MOT history checker before you buy, and run its VIN and mileage through our free VIN decoder and clocking check.
What an 8-year-old car fails on
A 2018 car is 8 years old now, and age drives the failure mix more than the badge does. Across all cars tested, these are the categories that actually cause failures:
- Lights and electrical: 10.36% of all cars tested
- Suspension: 8.65% of all cars tested
- Tyres: 6.23% of all cars tested
- Brakes: 6.1% of all cars tested
- Visibility: wipers, washers, glass: 4.65% of all cars tested
- Body, chassis and structure: 3.18% of all cars tested
That is a shade above the middle of the range, still ordinary wear rather than a red flag, but worth checking against the service book for the car's age. On a 2018 Tesla Model S the average at test was 66,553 miles, so treat anything far above that as a car that has worked harder than its peers, and anything far below as one worth checking for the faults that come from standing still.
The strongest year for this model is 2019 at 86.7%, and the weakest in our data is 2014 at 73.8%. That 12.9 point spread across the model's life is why comparing a 2018 car against a newer one tells you very little.
Nearby model years
- 2015 Tesla Model S - 77.4%
- 2016 Tesla Model S - 80%
- 2017 Tesla Model S - 82.7%
- 2019 Tesla Model S - 86.7%