Tesla MOT pass rates and reliability

We have 30,311 MOT tests on Tesla cars from 2023, covering 3 models with enough tests to compare. Choose a model to see what it fails on most often, how its pass rate changes with age and how far it is typically driven.

Across 30,311 MOT tests on Tesla cars in 2023, 83% passed first time, above the national average of 71% for all cars. Of the Tesla models with enough tests, the Model 3 did best at 84% and the Model S did least well at 82%. Newer models pass more often whatever the make, so compare cars of a similar age.

Tesla models

What Tesla cars fail on

Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, across all models, against the figure for all cars.

• Tyres11.4% (all cars 6.4%)
• Lights and electrics2.6% (all cars 11.3%)
• Visibility2.0% (all cars 4.8%)
• Suspension1.6% (all cars 9.0%)
• Brakes1.3% (all cars 6.8%)
• Body and structure0.5% (all cars 3.5%)
• Number plates and VIN0.3% (all cars 0.4%)
• Steering0.3% (all cars 1.8%)

Most common Tesla failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

1. Tyres, condition: has ply or cords exposed 5.0%
2. Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4.7%
3. Tyres, condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 2.1%
4. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 0.9%
5. Headlamp aim: too low 0.9%
6. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative 0.7%
7. Headlamp aim: too high 0.6%
8. Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn 0.5%

Check a particular Tesla

Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.