2016 Tesla Model S Electric · F3 EWO

A pattern of wear-related steering and suspension defects dominates the MOT history of this 2016 Tesla Model S, with multiple advisories and two failures centred on the same components. The most recent test on 14 April 2026 was a pass, but it carried four advisories: smearing wipers, slight play in both rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joints, and slight play in the nearside front track rod end ball joint. The 2025 test repeated the offside rear anti-roll bar linkage play, indicating this is a recurring concern rather than an isolated observation. Earlier failures are more serious: in March 2024 the vehicle was presented with dangerous front brake imbalance exceeding 50 percent across an axle (recorded at 57 percent), accompanied by a major defect for an offside rear passenger door that could not be opened from outside, and just over a fortnight earlier in April 2023 it failed on an excessively worn nearside front upper suspension arm ball joint alongside the same rear door defect. Across six tests spanning 2021 to 2026, the record shows two failures, ten advisories, and only one completely clean pass in April 2023, suggesting a chassis and brake system that has required ongoing attention rather than a trouble-free presentation. With 90,589 miles recorded on a ten-year-old vehicle, annual accumulation works out at roughly 9,059 miles per year, which is broadly typical for the car's age and gives a fair representation of regular mixed driving. There are no extended gaps between annual tests, so the mileage coverage is consistent rather than fragmentary, and no periods of long-standing storage are evident in the testing cadence. At this mileage, the consumable wear already documented is consistent with what one would expect from an electric saloon of this age: brake discs and pads on a heavy vehicle working intermittently under regenerative braking tend to suffer from corrosion and binding calipers rather than outright wear, while suspension linkages and ball joints are subject to steady deterioration from kerbing impacts and road surface loading. The volume of chassis advisories and one suspension ball joint failure support the expectation that mechanical joints on this car are approaching or have reached the point where replacement is becoming routine maintenance. For a prospective buyer, the immediate priority is a thorough physical inspection of every component flagged in the record. The dangerous front brake imbalance from 2024 should prompt close attention to the caliper slides, pistons, and pad material on both sides of the front axle; on a test drive, listen for any grinding or scraping, feel for pulling to one side under firm braking, and watch for uneven pad wear or seized slide pins that would prevent the pistons from retracting fully. The rear anti-roll bar linkage ball joints and the nearside front track rod end ball joint all need to be checked for free play by hand, ideally with the wheels lifted off the ground, as slight play recorded by DVSA testers has now been repeated across consecutive years and is likely progressing. The nearside front upper suspension arm ball joint that failed in 2023 will need confirming as replaced, and on the road, any clonks over bumps, vibration through the steering wheel, or imprecise turn-in should be treated as evidence the work has not held up. The recurring door lock issue affecting both nearside and offside rear passenger doors warrants its own check, since it has appeared as a major defect on two separate failures and could indicate either a mechanism fault or a wiring or actuator problem specific to the Model S. Test every door release from both inside and outside the vehicle, and confirm the rear doors latch positively and securely rather than relying on a soft close. Tyres have appeared as advisories on three separate occasions for edge wear and cuts, so a close inspection of the sidewalls for cracking, bulges, or scuffing along the inner and outer shoulders is worthwhile, and uneven shoulder wear would point to alignment or suspension geometry issues rather than simple tyre ageing. Finally, the smearing wipers noted on the most recent test are a minor item, but on a vehicle of this age it is sensible to confirm the wiper mechanism and washer nozzles are functioning properly, as visibility-related items on any car ten years old tend to be a useful proxy for general electrical condition.