Why Some Electric Cars Are Failing Their MOTs at Twice the Rate of Others

A study of 2.3 million MOT tests carried out on electric vehicles across the UK has found a 25 per cent gap between the best and worst-performing models, raising questions about how different manufacturers approach durability and long-term reliability in their electric vehicles. Research by short-term car insurance provider Tempcover found that the Honda Jazz Crosstar leads the field with a first-time MOT pass rate of 97.2 per cent, while the Renault Zoe sits at the other end of the spectrum with a pass rate of just 71.4 per cent.

The national average first-time pass rate for electric vehicles was approximately 72 per cent at the time of the study, compared with higher averages for many petrol and diesel models. With around 4.6 million electrified vehicles now on UK roads, of which 1.9 million are fully electric, the performance of EVs at the MOT station has become a question of direct relevance to a growing proportion of drivers. The findings suggest that brand and model choice has a more significant impact on reliability than many buyers may appreciate.

Which Electric Cars Have the Best and Worst MOT Pass Rates?

The Honda Jazz Crosstar achieved a first-time pass rate of 97.2 per cent in the Tempcover analysis, making it the top-performing electric or electrified model in the study. Among manufacturers, Jaguar and Porsche both achieved pass rates above 93 per cent across their electric model ranges, reflecting the engineering standards associated with premium and performance-focused brands.

Tesla, which accounts for a significant proportion of the fully electric cars on UK roads, recorded an average first-time pass rate of 86.5 per cent. This places it in the upper-middle of the rankings and well above the national EV average, though below the figures achieved by the premium European manufacturers. Renault as a manufacturer recorded an average of 83.3 per cent across its electric range, making it the lowest-performing major brand in the study at the manufacturer level.

The Renault Zoe specifically, which was one of the earliest mass-market EVs available in the UK and remains one of the most common electric cars on British roads, recorded the worst individual model pass rate of 71.4 per cent. The Zoe’s relatively high failure rate likely reflects in part the age of many examples now coming through for MOT testing, since older vehicles naturally present more opportunities for wear-related failures, as well as the specific engineering choices made in the car’s original design.

Claire Wills-McKissick, speaking for Tempcover, noted that the 25 percentage point gap between the best and worst performers is a significant finding for anyone making an EV purchasing decision. While range, charging infrastructure, and purchase price dominate most EV buying conversations, long-term reliability and the ongoing cost of keeping an electric car roadworthy deserve equal attention.

Why Do Some Electric Cars Fail MOTs More Often?

The most common causes of MOT failure for electric vehicles are not related to the battery or powertrain but to the same categories that cause failures in petrol and diesel cars: tyres, brakes, lights, and suspension components. Electric vehicles, however, present specific risk factors in each of these categories that stem directly from their design and the physics of how they drive.

Battery weight is a significant factor. Even relatively compact EVs carry battery packs weighing several hundred kilograms, which adds substantially to the overall vehicle weight compared with an equivalent petrol car. This additional mass places greater demands on tyres, suspension, and brakes, accelerating wear on components that are not always designed to account for the load. On lower-cost EV models where the suspension specification has been kept basic to control production costs, the effect can be particularly pronounced.

Instant torque delivery, which is one of the features drivers most appreciate in electric vehicles, also contributes to tyre wear. The ability to apply maximum torque from a standstill places significant stress on the front or rear tyres depending on the drivetrain layout, and on models where the tyres fitted as standard are not rated for this kind of repeated stress, wear rates can be considerably higher than expected. Uneven tyre wear that falls below the legal 1.6mm minimum tread depth is one of the most common reasons for an MOT failure across all vehicle types.

Regenerative braking, which recovers energy during deceleration and feeds it back into the battery, reduces the amount of work done by the conventional friction brakes. This has the paradoxical effect of causing brake disc and calliper issues on some EVs, because the friction brakes are used so infrequently that discs can develop surface corrosion and callipers can begin to seize. On petrol and diesel cars, regular use of the brakes keeps discs clean and callipers lubricated through repeated operation.

What EV Owners Should Check Before Their MOT

EV owners approaching an MOT should pay particular attention to several areas that carry elevated risk. Tyre tread depth and condition across all four corners, including the spare if fitted, should be checked carefully. On heavy EVs, wear may be uneven between the front and rear axles, particularly if the vehicle has not had its tyres rotated periodically. The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, but safety advisors consistently recommend replacement at 3mm.

Brake disc and calliper condition deserves a specific check on EVs with strong regenerative braking. If the discs have developed significant surface rust or scoring, or if there is any stiffness or dragging sensation on a specific wheel, this should be investigated by a technician before the MOT. Replacing brake discs and pads on an EV is broadly similar in cost to a conventional car, but identifying a seized calliper early avoids the additional cost of disc scoring or uneven wear.

Suspension components including wishbone bushes, track rod ends, and anti-roll bar links should all be checked for condition and play on a high-mileage EV, since the additional vehicle weight accelerates wear on these parts compared with lighter equivalent petrol models. A brief visual inspection with the car on a lift, or a careful listen for knocking or clunking on a test drive over uneven road surfaces, can indicate whether any of these components need attention.

Should MOT Pass Rates Influence EV Buying Decisions?

For prospective EV buyers, the Tempcover data offers a useful additional dimension of information beyond the specifications and range figures that dominate most product comparisons. A model with a consistently high first-time MOT pass rate is likely to be more reliable in general use and to generate lower annual maintenance costs over the ownership period. For fleet buyers in particular, reliability data of this kind can have a meaningful impact on total cost of ownership calculations.

For those already owning an EV with a lower pass rate, the findings are not a cause for alarm but rather a prompt to be more proactive about preventive maintenance. Checking tyre condition, having brakes inspected, and keeping up with any manufacturer-recommended service intervals will help to address the most common causes of failure before they result in a failed test or, more seriously, a safety issue on the road.

The MOT test itself will expand its scope for electric vehicles in coming years as the testing regime is updated to reflect the increasing proportion of EVs on UK roads. Battery condition assessments, for example, are under discussion as a potential future component of the test. For now, the existing test checks the same safety fundamentals for EVs as for petrol and diesel cars, making consistent maintenance the most reliable route to a first-time pass.

Sources

GB News: MOT warning for electric vehicle drivers (April 29, 2026)

DVSA: MOT overview (gov.uk)