Does the Tesla Model S fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Tesla Model S records 2.09 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.23 expected for a ev of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.14, 95% interval −2.32 to −1.96). It ranks 457 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Tesla Model S by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Tesla Model S is “Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.”, recorded 318 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution. | 318 | 0.64 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 205 | 0.41 |
| Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn | 97 | 0.19 |
| Brake performance unable to be tested | 69 | 0.14 |
| Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 60 | 0.12 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 49,990 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Tesla Model S gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
6.0% of Tesla Model S MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 11,713 miles later (3,262 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 3,262 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
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