Cars/Tesla/Model Y

Tesla Model Y — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Tesla Model Y overview

With 120,326 currently licensed in the UK, the Tesla Model Y is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Model Y 5 stars in 2022, with 97% adult occupant and 87% child protection scores.

It has a 87.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, tyres, lighting.

Annual running costs are estimated at £2,316 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £193/month or 29p/mile.

Theft risk is rated moderate at 6.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2022

MOT Pass Rate

87.5%

15,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£193

est. annual total

New From

£42,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Model Y in 2022 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

97%

Child Occupant

87%

Pedestrian

82%

Safety Assist

98%

Safety recalls

There are 34 known DVSA recalls affecting the Tesla Model Y. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2025/422

On affected vehicles one or both reverse lamps may fail to switch on when the driver selects reverse gear due to a loss of continuity in the rear lamp circuit.

Build dates: 2025-03-04 to 2025-04-17

R/2025/350

On affected vehicles a firmware feature that allowed for high-speed sampling of the right front window motor encoder was not enabled bringing vehicles out of compliance with the relevant regulations for Auto-reversing Requirements.

Build dates: 2025-03-03 to 2025-07-17

R/2025/049

On a small percentage of affected vehicles upon vehicle power up the car computer board may experience a short resulting in the loss of rear view camera functionality .

Build dates: 2024-01-21 to 2024-09-27

R/2025/049

On a small percentage of affected vehicles upon vehicle power up the car computer board may experience a short resulting in the loss of rear view camera functionality .

Build dates: 2024-04-10 to 2024-12-09

R/2025/049

On a small percentage of affected vehicles upon vehicle power up the car computer board may experience a short resulting in the loss of rear view camera functionality .

Build dates: 2024-06-11 to 2024-06-11

+ 29 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 15,000 MOT tests, the Model Y has a first-time pass rate of 87.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Model Y is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Tesla Model Y are estimated at around £2,316 per year, or £193 per month.

Fuel

£0

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£1,866

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Electric specifications

Battery

60 kWh

Range (WLTP)

283 mi

Motor

220 kW

295 bhp

Drive

RWD

Rapid charge: 30 min (10-80%) | Home charge: 8h (0-100%)

Depreciation

Starting from £42,000 new, a Tesla Model Y typically retains about 62% after 3 years and 51% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year83%£34,650−£7,350
2 years70%£29,450−£12,550
3 years62%£25,900−£16,100
4 years56%£23,350−£18,650
5 years51%£21,450−£20,550
6 years48%£19,950−£22,050
7 years45%£18,750−£23,250
8 years42%£17,800−£24,200
9 years40%£16,950−£25,050
10 years38%£16,100−£25,900

Theft risk

The Model Y has a theft rate of 6.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Model Y?

There are currently 120,326 licensed and 321 SORN Model Ys in the UK (120,647 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Tesla Model Y reliable?

The Model Y has a 87.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 15,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Tesla Model Y?

Euro NCAP awarded the Model Y 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2022. It scored 97% for adult occupant protection, 87% for child occupant protection, 82% for vulnerable road users, and 98% for safety assist features.

How much does a Tesla Model Y cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Model Y are estimated at around £2,316 per year (£193/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Tesla Model Y?

There are 34 known safety recalls affecting the Model Y. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

Is the Tesla Model Y likely to be stolen?

The Model Y has a theft rate of 6.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.

How much does a new Tesla Model Y cost?

A new Model Y starts from around £42,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 51% of its original value.

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