Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y MOT pass rate for cars first registered 2016–2021 is 87% across 2,838 official UK DVSA tests. This report then covers more than 3,474 recorded defect notes for Tesla Model Y models in that registration band. It shows common faults, MOT pass rates and maintenance trends to help you research the model before you buy.
Unlike a registration check, this report analyses how thousands of similar Tesla Model Y models have performed at MOT over time — not just one vehicle.
- 87%
- MOT pass rateshare of recorded tests that passed
- 3k
- MOT tests analysed2,838 official DVSA records
- 3k
- defect notes recorded3,474 · advisory to dangerous
- 2016–21
- registration yearssnapshot 26 September 2026
A fleet outcome for Tesla Model Y models registered 2016–2021 — not a reliability score, and not a verdict on one car. Always check the specific vehicle.
Key findings
What the MOT record says about the Tesla Model Y
- 87% MOT pass rate across 2,838 tests.
- 75% of recorded defect notes relate to owner maintenance.
- Tyres account for the largest volume of recorded MOT issues.
- Headlamp alignment appears throughout the vehicle's life, from low to higher mileages.
Failure breakdown
How Tesla Model Y MOT failures break down
Share of recorded defect notes by category in this age band — not MOT tests and not number of vehicles.
- 74.5%Owner maintenance2,589 notes
- 15.2%Wear & tear527 notes
- 0.2%Systemic6 notes
- 10.1%Other352 notes
Advisory
2,804
81% of notes
Minor
68
2% of notes
Major
350
10% of notes
Dangerous
252
7% of notes
Most common owner-maintenance faults
DVSA wording grouped as owner maintenance for this model and age band.
- 1
Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
1,185 notes5.2.3 (e)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- Tread is close to (or at) the legal minimum, or wear is concentrated on an edge. That often points to alignment, pressure or suspension issues as well as simple age.
Why it happens
- Under-inflation, poor alignment, aggressive driving or simply delayed replacement push tread below a safe/legal profile.
Buyer tip
- Measure tread across the full width, check tyre age (DOT date) and look for uneven inner-edge wear.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 2
Headlamp aim too low
67 notes4.1.2 (a)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- This MOT defect usually indicates incorrect headlamp alignment following adjustment, suspension movement or repair work.
Why it happens
- Aim drifts after suspension work, bumper repairs, bulb changes or simply from road vibration over time.
Buyer tip
- Check beam alignment during inspection and ask whether the lamps were aimed after any recent suspension or bodywork.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 3
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
17 notes5.2.3 (h)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- The tyre pressure monitoring system is reporting a fault or is clearly not working, so you may not get a dashboard warning of under-inflation.
Why it happens
- Flat battery sensors after tyre changes, damaged valves or control-module faults are common.
Buyer tip
- Confirm whether sensors need replacing after recent tyre or wheel work, and check pressures manually anyway.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 4
Windscreen washer not working
10 notes3.5 (a)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- Washer jets are not delivering fluid. Testers need a clear screen; empty reservoirs, blocked jets or failed pumps are common.
Why it happens
- Empty bottles, frozen/blocked jets, split pipes or a failed pump stop fluid reaching the screen.
Buyer tip
- Top up fluid, test the jets on the driveway, and check for cracked bottles or split pipes in the engine bay.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 5
Tyre not fitted in accordance with side wall instructions
3 notes5.2.3 (i)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- A tyre is fitted against its sidewall instructions (for example direction of rotation or inside/outside face).
Why it happens
- Fitting errors at tyre change — directionals or asymmetric tyres mounted the wrong way round.
Buyer tip
- Ask a tyre fitter to confirm orientation marks before you accept the car.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 6
Steering column top bearing slightly worn
2 notes2.2.2 (b)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- Play or wear in a steering-column joint can feel like vagueness or a knock through the wheel.
Why it happens
- Intermediate shaft joints wear with mileage and can develop free play.
Buyer tip
- Have a technician check column UJs and intermediate shafts if you feel notchiness.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 7
Supplementary restraint system warning lamp indicates a fault
2 notes7.1.6 (a)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- The airbag/SRS warning lamp indicates a fault. Restraint systems may not deploy correctly in a collision.
Why it happens
- Clock-spring, sensor or module faults — sometimes after prior accident repairs — set SRS warnings.
Buyer tip
- Require a specialist SRS diagnosis — do not accept a bulb removed or lamp covered up.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
- 8
Headlamp levelling device inoperative
1 notes4.1.5 (a)What it means, why it happens, what to check
What it means
- The automatic or manual headlamp levelling system is not working, so beam height may not adjust correctly with load.
Why it happens
- Failed levelling motors, sensors or switches stop the beam adjusting when the car is loaded.
Buyer tip
- Test levelling controls (if fitted) and treat persistent warnings as a bargaining point.
Severity
- Usually maintenance related
Most common wear & tear faults
DVSA wording grouped as wear and tear for this model and age band.
No wear-and-tear items in this extract.
Most common systemic faults
DVSA wording grouped as systemic patterns for this model and age band.
No systemic items in this extract.
Tesla Model Y research summary
Based on over 2,838 official UK MOT tests, Tesla Model Y models registered between 2016 and 2021 achieve a strong 87% MOT pass rate.
The overwhelming majority of recorded MOT defects relate to routine owner maintenance, with tyres, lighting and washer systems accounting for most common faults seen on used examples in this age band.
Recurring systemic faults occur far less frequently in this extract.
Overall, the data suggests that this generation of Tesla Model Y is more likely to fail MOT due to maintenance items than widespread design faults, making service history and routine upkeep particularly important when buying used. Shoppers comparing a used Tesla Model Y should treat this research summary as model-level context before inspecting any individual car.
What this report cannot tell you
This report describes model-level MOT trends, not the condition of any individual vehicle.
Two identical Tesla Model Y models can have very different maintenance histories.
Use it to understand common patterns before inspecting a specific car — then check that car’s own MOT history.
Year by year
Recent category counts
Defect-note totals by calendar year in the serving extract (not MOT tests, not vehicles, not a prediction).
| Year | Owner maintenance | Wear & tear | Systemic | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1,444 | 252 | 5 | 193 |
| 2026 | 1,113 | 273 | 1 | 151 |
All counts are defect notes.
How we classify MOT faults
We group recorded DVSA defect wording into four research categories to help identify whether issues are more likely to reflect routine maintenance, expected wear, recurring model patterns or miscellaneous inspection outcomes.
- Owner maintenance
- Defects often linked to day-to-day upkeep — tyres, lamps, washers and other items a careful owner can usually prevent or fix promptly.
- Wear & tear
- Age- and mileage-related deterioration that accumulates with normal use, even when a car has been looked after.
- Systemic
- Recurring wording and patterns across the model fleet that may point to design, component or known-model tendencies rather than one careless owner.
- Other
- Inspection outcomes that do not sit cleanly in the three groups above, including mixed or less classifiable defect notes.
Dataset: 2,838 official UK DVSA MOT tests · 3,474 defect notes · 2016–2021 registrations · United Kingdom · snapshot 26 September 2026 · aggregated model-level MOT analysis.
Buying a used Tesla Model Y: practical MOT checks
- 1Measure tyre tread across the full width and check age (DOT date) before you buy.
- 2Ask for a full service history that matches the mileage.
- 3Compare this model with a peer in the same age band, not against a single registration check alone.
- 4Confirm any warning lamps (engine management, ABS, SRS) are investigated, not just cleared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tesla Model Y MOT pass rate for 2016–2021?
- In this extract, Tesla Model Y shows a 87% MOT pass rate across 2,838 recorded DVSA tests.
What drives most Tesla Model Y MOT defect notes?
- About 75% of recorded defect notes are classed as owner maintenance, with tyres among the highest-volume items.
Is this the same as checking one registration on GOV.UK?
- No. GOV.UK shows one vehicle. This page aggregates MOT outcomes for the Tesla Model Y model in a fixed UK registration age band so you can research the model before you shortlist cars.
Go deeper
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