Used car guide

2015 Tesla Model S: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 Tesla Model Ss, from 1,280 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,280MOT tests in 2025
76%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)
10,600typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for ball joint

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 Tesla Model Ss than on all cars registered in 2015.

  • Ball joint3.3× usual
    Tesla Model S
    11.9% All 2015 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.9% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.8× usual
    Tesla Model S
    13% All 2015 cars
    7.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.4% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints3.3× usual
    Tesla Model S
    4.6% All 2015 cars
    1.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.5% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Suspension arm2.2× usual
    Tesla Model S
    2.6% All 2015 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Better than most

Shock absorbers: 1.6% here, against 5.2% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 Tesla Model S MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    33% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    29% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    24% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    8% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Looking at a Tesla Model S?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020937Tyres 31%
20191,267Tyres 28%
20181,905Tyres 28%
20172,571Tyres 32%
20162,343Tyres 31%
2014599Tyres 31%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 Tesla Model Ss registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score