24.5%
Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge
A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.
TeslaUsed-car reliability
How reliable is a used Tesla?
At 7 years old, the average Tesla fails its MOT more often than the average UK car.
MOT fail rate · 7-year-old cars
Tesla17.6%
UK average16.6%
Fails more often than the average 7-year-old car (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%)
Where to start
The lowest and highest fail rates in the Tesla range
The Tesla models whose MOT tests at 7 years old most and least often ended in a fail.
Lowest fail rates
- 1
Tesla Model S16.7%fail rate - 2
Tesla Model X18.8%fail rate
What actually goes wrong
What breaks on Tesla cars
The most common MOT faults across the Tesla range, in plain English. Models with more MOT tests count for more. The percentage is the share of MOT tests on Tesla cars that recorded that defect.
11.4%
Brake linings and pads
Brake pads or linings are worn, contaminated, or missing. These are the friction materials that press against the disc or drum to slow the car. When too thin, stopping distances increase.
MOT wording: Brake pads wearing thin
11.4%
Suspension joint, pin or bush
A suspension ball joint, pin, or rubber bush is worn or has excessive play. These are the pivot points and flexible mountings that let the suspension move — wear causes knocking sounds and vague steering.
MOT wording: Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much
8.0%
Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing
A tyre is worn, cut, damaged or otherwise not fit for the road. Tyres are the only thing connecting the car to the road, so this is always worth taking seriously.
Across all Tesla models; models with more MOT tests count for more.
The whole range
Every Tesla that ranks, in plain English
For each model, one number: the share of its MOT tests at 7 years old that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. Lower is better. The UK average (about 1 in 6 MOTs, 16.6%) is shown for reference. Only models with enough MOT data at 7 years old are ranked. The rest sit just below, unranked.
2 models
Tesla Model S
The lowest 7-year fail rate of any Tesla here.
16.7%fail rate at 7 years old
Tesla Model X
Above the Tesla average, and at or above the UK average.
18.8%fail rate at 7 years old
Fail rates are the share of MOT tests on 7-year-old cars ending in a fail, retests included (DVSA MOT results, 2025). UK average across all makes at the same age: 16.6%. How we count fail rates
Not directly comparable with the figures at 7 years old
Shown unranked. These models don’t have enough MOT data at 7 years old yet. They’re either too new (few cars old enough) or too old (few still on the road). Each is shown at the age with the most tests, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable to the list above.
Looking at one in particular?
Averages tell you the odds across the range. Enter a number plate to see that car’s own MOT history, its risk rating, and what’s likely to need attention.