Tesla Model S 2016: MOT failure rate for its age
16.1% of 13,455 MOT tests of the Tesla Model S first registered in 2016 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 99.9 (95% CI 95.7–104.1; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2016 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.
| Measure | Value | Unit | Compared with | Years | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failed first time | 16.1 | % | all ages tested | 2019–2024 | 13455 |
| Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 95.7–104.1) | 99.9 | index | 100 = normal for this model at that age | 2019–2024 | 13455 |
| Rank among this model's 7 build years | 3 | of 7 | 1 = fails least for its age | 2019–2024 | 13455 |
| Tested in 2024 | 2338 | tests | median 84,575 miles | 2024 | 2338 |
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).
How does the 2016 Tesla Model S fail at each age?
Cars built in 2016 were tested at ages 3 to 8 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.
| Age | Tests | Failed, % | 95% interval | Normal for this model at that age, % | Index (100 = normal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2,112 | 10.5 | 9.3–11.9 | 13.4 | 78.4 |
| 4 | 2,159 | 13.3 | 12–14.8 | 13.4 | 99.2 |
| 5 | 2,236 | 14.3 | 12.9–15.8 | 14.6 | 98 |
| 6 | 2,272 | 15.9 | 14.5–17.5 | 15.7 | 101.8 |
| 7 | 2,338 | 19.2 | 17.7–20.9 | 18.1 | 106.4 |
| 8 | 2,338 | 22.3 | 20.6–24 | 20.8 | 107.1 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,455 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
What fails most on the 2016 Tesla Model S?
The most common failure group on cars built in 2016 is tyres: 12.9 items per 100 first tests, against 12.9 across all build years of the Tesla Model S. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2016 were tested at ages 3 to 8.
| Failure group | Built 2016, per 100 | All build years, per 100 | Items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 12.9 | 12.9 | 1,741 |
| Visibility | 5.3 | 5.7 | 717 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 4 | 4 | 538 |
| Suspension | 3.5 | 3.6 | 475 |
| Brakes | 2.3 | 2.1 | 307 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 13,455 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How does 2016 compare with the years around it?
Among the 7 published build years of the Tesla Model S, 2016 ranks 3 (1 = fails least for its age). 2015: index 95.6. 2017: index 97.5.
| Build year | Index (100 = normal) | 95% interval | Verdict | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100.0 | 92.9–107.1 | no different (rough estimate) | 3,684 |
| 2015 | 95.6 | 90.4–100.8 | no different | 7,643 |
| 2016 | 99.9 | 95.7–104.1 | no different | 13,455 |
| 2017 | 97.5 | 93.0–102.1 | no different | 12,499 |
| 2018 | 103.8 | 97.4–110.1 | no different | 7,162 |
| 2019 | 115.9 | 106.1–125.6 | worse (rough estimate) | 3,569 |
| 2020 | 152.6 | 136.1–169.2 | worse (rough estimate) | 1,720 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 49,732 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Tesla Model S 2016 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/tesla-model-s/2016/
How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.
Other pages for this model
Tesla Model S 2014 · Tesla Model S 2015 · Tesla Model S 2017 · Tesla Model S 2018 · Tesla Model S 2019 · Tesla Model S 2020 · Tesla Model S in Norway · Tesla Model S in Finland · Tesla Model S in the Netherlands · Tesla Model S by postcode area · Tesla Model S body, chassis and structure failures · Tesla Model S brakes failures · Tesla Model S vehicle identification failures · Tesla Model S lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Tesla Model S road wheels failures · Tesla Model S seat belts and airbags failures · Tesla Model S steering failures · Tesla Model S suspension failures · Tesla Model S tyres failures · Tesla Model S visibility failures