Used car guide · 2016–2025

Tesla Model X common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Tesla Model X, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 17,961 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

17,961MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
6,135on the UK register
2017best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202520242023202120202019201820172016

What usually goes wrong with a Tesla Model X?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Tesla Model X in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Tesla Model X MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Ball joint

    up to 8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 10.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Tread depth

    up to 1.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

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

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 5.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.

    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.

Tesla Model X MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2017 Tesla Model X did best (80% passed first time, 0 points above all 2017 cars) and the 2020 did worst (81%, 6 points below all 2020 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202081%87% -64,061
201982%85% -33,559
201880%83% -34,166
201780%80% +06,048
201678%77% +1127 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Tesla Model X

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the ball joint? (Flagged at MOT 8× as often on the Tesla Model X as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 10.5× as often on the Tesla Model X as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the tread depth? (Flagged at MOT 1.8× as often on the Tesla Model X as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Tesla Model X?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score