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Tesla MODEL S - 2016

159.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Tesla MODEL S, model year 2016. Sample size: 2,596 cars, 5,985 tests and 9,531 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 2,596 cars

The 2016 Tesla Model S has an overall defect rate of 159.25 per 100 vehicles, which is 5.5% higher than the average for cars of the same year at 150.88 per 100. Notably, this model shows a significant increase in defects as mileage increases, with the highest rate observed in the 124,000+ miles category. It performs exceptionally well in categories such as Lights & Electrics and Body/Structure, with defect rates considerably lower than the average. However, it struggles in areas like Steering and Wheels, Suspensions & Axles, where it exceeds the average defect rates.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 2,596 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 5.2% better
74.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▼ 37.0% worse
11.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Excessive roughness in operation of steering
Visibility
▲ 16.0% better
12.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 50.4% better
12.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 24.7% worse
198.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 51.6% better
4.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
  • A door hinge, catch or pillar: excessively deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
Equipment
▼ 45.5% worse
4.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Audible warning:
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 98.2% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 100 tests
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 329 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,075
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,552
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 706
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 686
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 317
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 302
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 268
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 256
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 252
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 230

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 302
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 268
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 207
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 111
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 111
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 99
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 66
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 64
A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
FAIL
Occurrences: 61
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 58