Tesla
Reliability

Are Teslas reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Tesla vehicles.

83.3% MOT pass rate based on 128,000 tests.

Common faults and reliability ranked across 6 Tesla models.

Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.

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✓Write-off and salvage history
✓Full MOT history and mileage
✓Safety recall check
✓Vehicle valuation

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Are Tesla cars reliable?

83.3%

MOT pass rate

vs 71.9% national average

Tesla vs other premium brands

Tesla vehicles pass their MOT at 83.3%, over 11 points above the national average of 71.9%. Among premium peers here, only Porsche (87.4%) sits higher. Jaguar (79.1%), BMW (79.0%), Audi (78.3%), and Mercedes-Benz (76.7%) all sit below Tesla.

The Tesla fleet in Great Britain is young. The Model 3 Long Range and Model Y Long Range together account for around 69,000 of the 128,000 total tests. All Tesla models are electric, so the failure profile looks very different from combustion cars. There is no exhaust, no emissions test, and no engine oil to leak.

Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.

What is the Tesla MOT pass rate by age?

Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.

Tesla pass rates sit slightly below the national average at age 3 (85.0% vs 87.5%) and age 6 (81.1% vs 81.6%). This early gap is likely linked to tyre wear, which can be heavier on electric cars due to instant torque and higher vehicle weight.

From age 8 onward, Teslas pull ahead. At age 10, Teslas pass at 73.7% vs 69.7% nationally, based on 742 tests. Only 184 Teslas in Great Britain had a first MOT at age 11 in 2025, so treat the age 11 point on the chart with care. Fewer than 20 Teslas were tested at each older age, so the chart stops at age 11.

What are the most common Tesla faults?

Top 10 MOT failure categories for Tesla, ranked by the share of failed tests they were found on. National percentage shown alongside.

Top 5 specific Tesla failure reasons

These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Tesla vehicles, along with what they mean.

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (found on 24.73% of failed Tesla tests)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
Has ply or cords exposed (found on 24.34% of failed Tesla tests)
A tyre so worn or damaged that the internal cords are visible. This is a serious safety issue and an immediate MOT failure.
Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (found on 19.80% of failed Tesla tests)
A deep cut or gash in a tyre's sidewall or tread that exposes the internal structure. Usually means the tyre needs replacing immediately.
Pin or bush excessively worn (found on 7.93% of failed Tesla tests)
The metal pins or rubber bushes that connect suspension components have worn past their safe tolerance, creating play in the joint.
Ball joint excessively worn (found on 7.09% of failed Tesla tests)
A suspension ball joint has developed too much play. Affects steering feel and handling; needs replacement.

Tesla's failure profile is unlike any combustion brand. Tyres are found on 70.3% of failed Tesla tests vs 22.6% nationally, about three times the national share. Suspension (15.6%) comes next. Brakes are found on only 5.5% of failed tests vs 22.4% nationally, likely because regenerative braking reduces friction brake wear. Lamps and electrical failures at 11.0% are also well below the national 38.2%.

Which Tesla models are most reliable?

Top 15 Tesla models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.

Model	Tests	Pass rate	Most common failure
Tesla Model 3 Long Range Awd	41,055	84.7%	Tyres
Tesla Model Y Long Range Awd	27,590	83.6%	Tyres
Tesla Model 3 Standard Range +	21,398	84.7%	Tyres
Tesla Model 3 Performance Awd	12,020	78.9%	Tyres
Tesla Model S	8,612	79.0%	Tyres
Tesla Model 3	5,400	85.2%	Tyres

The Model 3 Long Range AWD (84.7%), Model Y Long Range AWD (83.6%), and Model 3 Standard Range Plus (84.7%) all pass well above the national average. The Model 3 Performance AWD sits lower at 78.9%, likely due to faster tyre wear from the more powerful drivetrain. The older Model S also sits at 79.0%. Tyre wear is the top failure category on every Tesla model.

How many miles do Tesla vehicles typically cover?

Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.

Tesla vehicles cover significantly more mileage than the national average at every age up to 11. At age 3, Teslas average 44,000 miles vs 34,000 nationally. At age 6, 65,000 vs 54,000. By age 10, Teslas average 113,000 miles vs 83,000. Tesla owners drive further per year on average, which contributes to the elevated tyre wear pattern.

Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.

Are there any Tesla safety recalls?

Safety recalls are issued by Tesla when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.

Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Tesla via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.

How do you check a Tesla's full history?

Before you buy any used Tesla, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.

Has this Tesla been written off?

An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.

Is there outstanding finance on this Tesla?

If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.

Has this Tesla been reported stolen?

The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.

Has the mileage been tampered with?

Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.

Has this Tesla been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?

Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.

What is this Tesla worth?

The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.

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What should you check before buying a used Tesla?

Four practical steps before you hand over any money.

1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
3
Compare insurance before you commit
Tesla insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.

Tesla Reliability FAQs

Tesla vehicles have an 83.3% MOT pass rate based on 128,000 tests in the 2025 test year. This is over 11 points above the national average of 71.9% and one of the highest of any brand. The Model 3 leads at 85%. Tyre wear is by far the most common cause of Tesla MOT failures.

The Model 3 Standard Range and Long Range variants both pass at around 85%. The Model Y Long Range passes at 84%. The older Model S sits at 79%, and the Model 3 Performance variant also at 79%. See the model comparison table above for the full ranked list.

By far the most common Tesla MOT failure is tyre wear, which is found on 70.3% of failed tests compared with just 22.6% nationally. Suspension (15.6%) and lamps and electrical equipment (11.0%) come next. Tesla vehicles have no combustion engine, so exhaust and emissions failures are very rare.

Tesla vehicles have very low mechanical service costs because there is no engine oil, timing belt, spark plugs, or exhaust system to maintain. However, tyre wear is significantly higher than combustion cars due to instant torque and heavier vehicle weight, so tyres are the main ongoing cost.

A used Tesla passes MOT well and has minimal mechanical service costs. Battery health and out-of-warranty repairs are the key checks. Check the vehicle's full history for outstanding finance, write-offs, stolen markers, and mileage discrepancies before committing. A vehicle history check costs £9.99 via Brumble.

A Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble checks for any HP, PCP, or loan agreements still secured against the vehicle. If finance is outstanding, the finance company legally owns the car. Reports cost £9.99 with no subscription.

A Premium Vehicle Report checks insurance write-off records and shows the write-off category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. This is important because a write-off history affects the vehicle's value and insurability.

You can check any Tesla's MOT history for free using the Brumble MOT checker, which shows the recorded mileage at each test. For a more detailed check, a Premium Vehicle Report compares all recorded mileage readings and flags any discrepancies.

Safety recalls are issued by the manufacturer and recorded by the DVSA. Tesla also pushes over-the-air software updates that can address some issues without a workshop visit. A Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble includes a check for any outstanding safety recalls that still need action on the specific vehicle you are checking.

A full vehicle history check via Brumble costs £9.99. This includes outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, MOT history, safety recalls, taxi and private hire checks, vehicle valuation, and more. There is no subscription.

Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.

Tesla Reliability