Tesla Model S
From 13,362 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Model Ss fare better: 2019 models pass at 88.7% vs 79.1% for 2014.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 451 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 451 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 400 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 393 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 294 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 117 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 102 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 92 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 89 |
| a door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 63 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 60 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 60.1% of Model S failures are safety items (worn brakes, tyre damage, steering play). The car still drives, but you shouldn't. Only 0% are the kind that would actually strand you. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £95.
Tesla Model S on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 133 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 12 newly registered, a net loss of 121.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 10,015 | 261 | +1 | -0 | +54 |
| 2025 Q2 | 9,954 | 268 | +3 | -58 | -55 |
| 2025 Q1 | 10,043 | 234 | +5 | -51 | -46 |
| 2024 Q4 | 10,118 | 205 | +3 | -24 | -21 |
| 2024 Q3 | 10,161 | 183 | +7 | -12 | -5 |
| 2024 Q2 | 10,174 | 175 | +8 | -0 | +24 |
| 2024 Q1 | 10,148 | 177 | +11 | -7 | +4 |
| 2023 Q4 | 10,159 | 162 | +30 | -60 | -30 |
16 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model S 75D | Battery Electric | 2,305 | 23% |
| Model S 90D | Battery Electric | 1,517 | 15% |
| Model S 100D | Battery Electric | 1,075 | 11% |
| Model S | Battery Electric | 987 | 10% |
| Model S Long Range Awd | Battery Electric | 874 | 9% |
| Model S 75 | Battery Electric | 563 | 6% |
| Model S 85D | Battery Electric | 544 | 5% |
| Model S P100D | Battery Electric | 457 | 5% |
| Model S Perform Ludicrous Awd | Battery Electric | 366 | 4% |
| Model S 70D | Battery Electric | 320 | 3% |
| Model S P85D | Battery Electric | 315 | 3% |
| Model S 70 | Battery Electric | 157 | 2% |
| Model S 60D | Battery Electric | 149 | 2% |
| Model S 60 | Battery Electric | 113 | 1% |
| Model S P90D | Battery Electric | 90 | <1% |
| Model S Plaid Awd | Battery Electric | 71 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 88.7% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2018 | 87.5% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2017 | 86.2% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2016 | 83.6% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
2 earlier years
| 2015 | 82.3% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2014 | 79.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Model Ss tested had between 54,862 and 103,439 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 77,248 median miles, the Model S has 0.02 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Tesla models
Common questions
What is the Tesla Model S MOT pass rate?
The Tesla Model S has a 84.9% MOT pass rate based on 13,362 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Tesla Model S?
The most common MOT failure on the Tesla Model S is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 451 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Tesla Model Ss are on UK roads?
There are 10,015 Tesla Model Ss currently licensed on UK roads, with 261 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Tesla Model S at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Tesla Model S is 77,248 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 54,862 and 103,439 miles.
Buying a used Model S?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 84.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £95 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.