Firstly MOT - Failed 😔

Actually this is a very known issue and should be in warranty coverage if you have a paper showing mot was rejected and the reason on it

Thanks for the reply. I have combed through the "Used Vehicle Limited Warranty" and it outlines that it won't cover anything resulting from "normal wear or deterioration" and explicitly excludes "Expendable maintenance items (such as wiper blades/inserts, brake pads/linings, filters, etc.).”. Was i wrong in assuming that this would mean its not covered? The basic warranty has expired. I have the paperwork for the MOT and im also getting a quote from the garage with the breakdown of works they recommend so can provide this.

Having limited knowledge about used certified cars, I do not find it legal if car is not eligible to pass MOT and it is certified by Tesla. Aren't I right? What is the point of having a Tesla more expensive than usual used ones, if its not eligible to pass MOT? MOT is mandatory. I think you can give a try with that document of yours.

It's the same problem Tesla's have all over Europe. The brakes rust and seize.

Before an MOT, always do brake burnishing from the service menu.

I agree with you, but he bought it a year ago not like 2 weeks, so just luck of the draw I guess, it sucks, but he has to get the pads replaced, not much more he can do.

II had never heard of this process and feel incredibly stupid for not knowing. Do you think this process wouldve helped given the fail on the mot was both; 01. Brake disc in such condition that it is seriously weakened... 02. Service brake excessively fluctuating... I guess i wont know if this will actually fix it so do you think i have I missed the opportunity to try this?

Oh I miss that point. In that case replacement out of your own pocket would be needed. I always recommend an inspection to be performed just before the end of warranty period so that you can reclaim.

Just get new brakes all around on Autodoc, they have super cheap original spec brakes. I changed all disks, pads and one of the rear rubber bushing for less than 280£

Not from UK, but assume the MOT report includes the brake pad thickness? In your service request to get this fixed (don’t even imply you are aware it’s technically not covered), request they provide you with the MOT report that they had done, and see how close the brakes are. If you are pushy enough, they may just decide it’s better to eat the cost. Hard to believe they could call a car with marginal brakes “certified” with a straight face.

Nothing to do with Tesla. It’s an EV problem. You drive around, especially in areas that salt, on 98% regen and the brakes accumulate dirt and salt. Disc brakes are exposed and rust happily just being parked overnight. Use them or loose them really applies to disc brakes, and «no-one» bothers to follow the _one item_ in the maintenance section of the manual. I drive in salt mush 4-6 months of the year (depending on the winter) and I try to use my brakes a bit every now and then, but mostly I do a full service of them (dismantle, clean, lubricate) in the spring. After five years my model 3 brakes looked like new. Worked perfectly. My model Y brakes still look like new. OP did no research and bought a car that hasn’t been serviced. I get that it sucks, but a modicum of research should point out that Tesla service does more gaslighting than service. That’s the part to be gutted about. But certainly not shocked. Shocked means OP did no research of other people’s experiences. And my tip to everyone else? Buy from the right kind of enthusiast. The person who washes and polishes their car, and follows the service program. Not the kind that drifts it around McDonalds.

From which month is your car? Aren't you supposed to have 4 year basic warranty + 1 year (or 20.000km, whatever comes first) if you bought a pre-owner certified from Tesla themselves? That would mean you're still in the warranty period.

Mine failed its second MOT due to my own stupidity as I should have checked the tyre tread depths before taking it for a test!! Anyhoo, 4 new tyres for £660 and a retest on Tuesday, currently having to drive a hire car in its place! I work for a motor factor and a supplier gave me a set of front pads when they started listing them, at the time I didn't want them but I might just grab them now!

So the basic warranty expired in January 2026 so im guessing the that it was from January 2022 which Ive obviously just missed. To be honest, im not sure it even wouldve been covered under the basic one from what I read.

No one really knows. But most EVs rarely use their brakes so they actually get rusted over through under use. It seems unlikely that they would be worn down at 50k miles. Can’t you try the burnishing procedure and then take it back to be retested?

But look into this further, because yes, your warranty ended in January 2026, but since you bought a certified pre-owned from Tesla, you get 1 year on top of the previous 4 years, so your warranty still goes until January 2027. In which case, you scheduled the service through the app, right? Once they review it, it will show there the cost and in the case it's covered, it will show 0€.

It's more pronounced with Tesla, since you cannot disable the regen

Thanks for the advice! I have taken a deep dive into the warranty documents and it does exclude items "subject to deterioration" and brake pads are specifically mentioned as examples. Im not holding much hope of any cover from that. I have booked a service through the app which is waiting to be reviewed so we will wait and see what they come back with in terms of costs.

So, drift it around Wendy's instead?

I'm so glad I live in a place where an MOT is only required if you're bringing a vehicle in from another province. It's just a tax grab and does nothing to "make the streets safer."

Yeah, they might not cover for that reason. But let me know how it goes, I'm curious if/how much they might charge you.

Plenty of EV’s that don’t let you «disable regen», but also false. You can always shift into neutral and use mechanical brakes (or open service mode and activate brake burnishing mode). The problem is ignorant owners and the lack of a mandatory service schedule that includes brake service like most other manufacturers do. They’ll overcharge you though, compared to the cost of a only a brake service.

Preferably

True. My sister's Chevy Bolt (used to be mine) had squeaking noises. Took it out, got it up to 45-50 mph, switched to neutral and braked hard to zero a few times. No more squeaking. That's burnishing the brakes and should be done once in while. Even in the benign climate of Southern California.

Yeah I did think this to be honest but I guess there is no guarantee that it will fix the problem and if it fails the retest ill have to pay another MOT and the work anyways. I have looked into the Brake Burnishing process through the service menu and I wouldn't feel that confident or comfortable doing it. I dont really have safe roads that i can get up 50 and brake like that on. Maybe the mistake was not having a service prior to MOT and as someone else in the thread so kindly put it, maybe i was a bit "ignorant" to it.

That was my thoughts exactly and probably why i made (clearly wrongly) the assumption there would be level of expected quality in the CPO scheme. Yeah so the MOT report covers the brake thickness and other information on the brakes in general. I am trying to get hold of the previous MOT but I dont think they have to provide that information to me. I ahev requested that information from them though, along with any detqils they have of what the "CPO refurbishment process" entails. Im still waiting on the service appointment to be arranged so will wait and see.

Just politely be a thorn in their side….

OP here. Thanks for any one who has commented. Been some really helpful stuff, even if it might not have been what i wanted to hear. Thought i would provide a quick update and a bit of extra information seems as some people asked. UPDATE 01: I have added a photo to show the MOT test results and why it failed. Quite a few were asking for more details of this so its there. The local garage is essentially saying that the brake pads and discs need replacing. UPDATE 02: My local garage quoted £520 for the rear brakes and Tesla through the app service option estimated £650. Not much difference but they are 100% not budging on the wear and tear (as expected). This work would just be covering the fails and not the advisories. UPDATE 03: I still feel a similar way to a few people who have commented in that the CPO scheme should offer a level of expected standard. Im currently trying to get hold of the full MOT breakdown from the 2025 one (before I bought it) not just pass/fail information and any information that is held on what is classed as "refurbishment standards" from Tesla. Its proving incredibly tricky as they aren't forthcoming coming with anything but im trying. Might not go anywhere but I feel like I need to looking further. https://preview.redd.it/ah9w2d3atelg1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=31b81b02f9b8887052a6d8199b746f2063e61d9c