Does the Tesla Model S fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The Tesla Model S records 3.99 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.62 expected for a ev of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−0.63, 95% interval −0.82 to −0.44). It ranks 316 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Tesla Model S by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Tesla Model S is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 578 times in 2019–2024.

Tesla Model S: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	578	1.16
A lamp with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning	479	0.96
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	164	0.33
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	125	0.25
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements	114	0.23

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

Does the Tesla Model S fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

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