Tesla Model S Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Tesla Model S fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 19,502 MOT tests across 6 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: electric | Fuel: Electric
85%
Tesla Model S pass rate
89%
Tesla average
82%
All-model average
The Tesla Model S has an average MOT pass rate of 85%, which is 4 points below the Tesla average and 3 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Tesla Model Ss pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 6 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Tesla Model S Fails Its MOT On
Of the 1,926 MOT tests on the Tesla Model S that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Tyres
46%Cars and vans the same age: 27% (the Model S fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Suspension
29%Cars and vans the same age: 27% · Typical repair £150-£600
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £10-£350
Lights and electrics
16%Cars and vans the same age: 29% (the Model S fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
14%Cars and vans the same age: 20% (the Model S fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (17% of failed tests, tyres)
- Tyre has ply or cords exposed (15% of failed tests, tyres)
- Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (11% of failed tests, suspension)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Tesla Model S Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Model S year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
- 2014: 79% passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars (3 points lower, 1,157 tests)
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Tesla Model S Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Tesla Model S Running Costs
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Tesla Model S FAQ
What are the most common Tesla Model S problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Tesla Model S that failed at the first attempt most often failed on tyres (46% of the 1,926 failed tests), suspension (29%) and windscreen, wipers and mirrors (16%). The single most common fault was "Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit" (17%). Across 19,502 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 85% ended in a pass.
Is the Tesla Model S reliable?
The Tesla Model S has an average MOT pass rate of 85%, from 19,502 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Tesla Model S years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2014 (79% of 1,157 tests passed, against 82% for all 2014 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Tesla Model S faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Tesla Model S typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Tesla Models
Common problems pages for other Tesla models