UK MOT failure rates: Tesla and electric cars top first-time test list
Tesla and electric cars lead UK MOT failure rates in new data
UK MOT failure rates: Tesla and electric cars top first-time test list
New UK MOT data shows electric cars like Tesla Model Y and Mercedes EQC with high first-time failure rates. Learn which models fail most and why.
2026-02-07T01:22:23+03:00
2026-02-07T01:22:23+03:00
2026-02-07T01:22:23+03:00
New data on mandatory MOT tests in the UK reveals which cars most frequently fail their first inspection. A study based on DVSA information for 2025 shows electric Teslas featuring prominently.The analysis, conducted following a Freedom of Information request, covers only models with at least 100 recorded failures. Commercial vans and pickups were excluded from the sample.The electric Mercedes-Benz EQC showed the highest failure rate, missing its first MOT in 17.2% of cases, equating to 717 failures out of 4,179 tests. The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 also ranked near the top of this unwelcome list. The Model Y demonstrated a failure rate of 14.8% across more than 19,000 first-time inspections, while the Model 3 failed 14.6% of checks from over 13,000.These figures are comparable to several internal combustion engine models, including the Ford Tourneo Custom and BMW X5, highlighting a mixed bag of issues.Experts point out that a first-MOT failure does not necessarily indicate serious defects. According to a CarVertical representative, Matas Buzelis, a three-year-old car might look flawless but still fall short on requirements for tyre condition, brakes, suspension, or visibility. Meanwhile, the growing share of electric vehicles in the statistics reflects their rapid adoption and the fact they are tested to the same standards as petrol or diesel models.The appearance of Tesla and other EVs among the failure leaders speaks more to their real-world usage intensity than to any inherent flaw in electric powertrains. As the electric fleet expands, its proportion in MOT data will rise, allowing for a clearer long-term assessment of how these vehicles perform.
UK MOT tests, Tesla MOT failure, electric car MOT, first MOT failure, DVSA data, Mercedes EQC, Model Y, Model 3, car inspections, vehicle safety
2026
Michael Powers
news
Tesla and electric cars lead UK MOT failure rates in new data
New UK MOT data shows electric cars like Tesla Model Y and Mercedes EQC with high first-time failure rates. Learn which models fail most and why.
Michael Powers, Editor
New data on mandatory MOT tests in the UK reveals which cars most frequently fail their first inspection. A study based on DVSA information for 2025 shows electric Teslas featuring prominently.
The analysis, conducted following a Freedom of Information request, covers only models with at least 100 recorded failures. Commercial vans and pickups were excluded from the sample.
The electric Mercedes-Benz EQC showed the highest failure rate, missing its first MOT in 17.2% of cases, equating to 717 failures out of 4,179 tests. The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 also ranked near the top of this unwelcome list. The Model Y demonstrated a failure rate of 14.8% across more than 19,000 first-time inspections, while the Model 3 failed 14.6% of checks from over 13,000.
These figures are comparable to several internal combustion engine models, including the Ford Tourneo Custom and BMW X5, highlighting a mixed bag of issues.
Experts point out that a first-MOT failure does not necessarily indicate serious defects. According to a CarVertical representative, Matas Buzelis, a three-year-old car might look flawless but still fall short on requirements for tyre condition, brakes, suspension, or visibility. Meanwhile, the growing share of electric vehicles in the statistics reflects their rapid adoption and the fact they are tested to the same standards as petrol or diesel models.
The appearance of Tesla and other EVs among the failure leaders speaks more to their real-world usage intensity than to any inherent flaw in electric powertrains. As the electric fleet expands, its proportion in MOT data will rise, allowing for a clearer long-term assessment of how these vehicles perform.
