Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate and common problems
Tesla Model 3s fail their MOT more often than other cars of the same age.
- Failed at the first attempt
- 16.1%failed at the first attempt in 2024
Average for cars of the same age: 12.9%
Data: DVSA MOT results · 2024 · 67,619 tests
Check a Tesla Model 3 by registration
Tesla Model 3 common problems: what should I check before buying?
The faults recorded most often at Tesla Model 3 MOTs in 2019–2024, per 100 tests.
- Tyre tread below the legal limit8.96Dangerous
What to check: Check the tread across every tyre with a gauge; wear on one edge points to a tracking fault.
- Tyre cords showing or damaged6.15Dangerous
What to check: Check the inner edges of the front tyres, where cords show first, and ask whether the alignment was checked.
- Tyre badly cut or damaged4.11Major
What to check: Check both sidewalls of every tyre, including the inner side, for cuts, bulges and tears.
- Worn suspension bush or joint1.70Major
What to check: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, feel for the car wandering under braking, and ask which part was replaced.
- Windscreen or window damaged1.42Minor
What to check: Look for chips and cracks across the windscreen: chips spread, and larger damage in front of the driver fails.
One test can record several defects, so this is not the share of Tesla Model 3s.
Each tip applies only if the car you are looking at has that fault in its own MOT history.
Check a Tesla Model 3 by registration
Which Tesla Model 3 years should I avoid?
2020 is the Tesla Model 3 year that fails its MOT most for its age.
Fails more for its age: 2020.
Years without published figures
- 2024, 2025, 2026
These registration years do not need an MOT yet. Ask the seller for the service history.
- 2021, 2022, 2023
Our figures end in 2024, before these cars had enough MOTs to compare.
Year means the year the car was first registered, as DVSA records it. It may differ from the year it was built.
How does the Tesla Model 3 compare with similar cars?
5 of 8 similar models fail less often for their age than the Tesla Model 3.
This is a different comparison from the one at the top. There, the Tesla Model 3 is measured against all cars of the same age. Here, it sits among similar models. Both can be true.
| Model | MOT Risk Index |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 124.7 |
| Nissan Leaf | 103.4 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 87.4 |
| Honda e | 81 |
| Tesla Model X | 116.7 |
| Renault Zoe | 136.3 |
| MG 5 | 132.1 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQC | 131.1 |
| Skoda Enyaq | 118.7 |
How do Tesla Model 3s hold up as they get older?
First-time MOT failures on Tesla Model 3s go from 15.6% at age 3 to 17.3% at age 5.
| Age at MOT (years) | Tesla Model 3 failed (%) | All cars failed (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 15.6 | 12.4 | 32,737 |
| 4 | 16.9 | 13.1 | 22,292 |
| 5 | 17.3 | 15.1 | 10,172 |
Do advisories on Tesla Model 3s turn into fails at the next MOT?
11.3% of tyre advisories on Tesla Model 3s turned into tyre fails at the next MOT.
The next MOT came about 12 months later.
Based on 11,591 advisories, each followed to the car's next MOT, 2019–2024. This counts advisories, not cars.
The most common advisories on Tesla Model 3s are for tyres: 49.91 per 100 tests.
| Advisory | Failed next time (%) | Advisories followed |
|---|---|---|
| tyres | 11.3 | 11,591 |
| suspension | 6.5 | 1,890 |
| brakes | 1.7 | 3,753 |
What else should I know about a used Tesla Model 3?
- MOT pass rate, 2024
- 16.1% failed at the first attempt; after repairs at the test centre, 85.4% passed in the end.
- MOT tests counted
- 67,619 first tests in 2024; retests are left out
- Years first registered
- 2019 to 2020
- Fuel
- Electric
- ULEZ
- All likely to meet it, judged from fuel and registration date
- Typical mileage at 4 years old
- 41,073 miles
- Recalls
- 11 campaigns listed by DVSA
Tesla Model 3 common problems: what actually fails the MOT?
Tesla Model 3 MOTs fail most often on tyres: 20.1 per 100 tests, against 8.7 for UK cars of the same age (2019–2024, n = 110,834).
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Comparison (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 20.1 | 8.7 | 22,260 |
| Visibility | 2.8 | 4.5 | 3,136 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.7 | 2.1 | 2,992 |
| Suspension | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2,063 |
| Brakes | 0.7 | 1.3 | 808 |
What is likely to fail next on a used Tesla Model 3?
For Tesla Model 3s aged under 3 whose last MOT was a pass, the item most likely to fail at the next MOT is tyres: 9.2% failed on it (2019–2024, n = 16,302).
| Measure | Value (% next fail) |
|---|---|
| Tyres, under 3 years old, after a pass | 9.2 |
| Visibility, under 3 years old, after a pass | 1.9 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, under 3 years old, after a pass | 1.7 |
| Suspension, under 3 years old, after a pass | 1.1 |
| Brakes, under 3 years old, after a pass | 0.4 |
How often do Tesla Model 3s get a dangerous MOT defect?
The Tesla Model 3 gets a dangerous defect more often than the UK average: 16.8 per 100 first tests against 11.2 across the UK. A dangerous defect means the vehicle should not be driven away until it is fixed. In the same tests, 9.5 major and 2.7 minor defects were recorded per 100 tests (one test can record several).
Severity was not recorded for some 2018–2021 tests.
| Measure | Value (per 100) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous defects | 16.8 | 110,834 |
Comparison: 11.2 per 100.
How much do Tesla Model 3 MOT repairs cost?
Expected repair cost per Tesla Model 3 MOT: about £26 (up to about £50 if more expensive parts are needed), from the chance of failing each item and its most common UK repair price (catalogue estimate, n = 67,619).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Expected repair bill | 26.3 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range lower | 26.3 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Estimated range upper | 50.0 GBP estimate | modal price catalogue |
| Tyres: Tyre (single mid-range 16" fitted) | 18.1 GBP expected contribution | 90 |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Battery replacement (standard 12V lead-acid) | 3.8 GBP expected contribution | 140 |
What mileage is normal for a used Tesla Model 3?
At age 4, the median Tesla Model 3 had covered 41,073 miles by its MOT; the middle half ranged from 29,744 to 55,661 miles (2024, n = 22,292).
| Measure | Value (miles) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 median | 34220 | 32,737 |
| Age 3 P25 | 24217 | 32,737 |
| Age 3 P75 | 47436 | 32,737 |
| Age 4 median | 41073 | 22,292 |
| Age 4 P25 | 29744 | 22,292 |
Do high-mileage Tesla Model 3s fail their MOT more often?
At ages 3–5, 13.7% of Tesla Model 3s with under 40,000 miles failed first time, against 16.7% of those with over 140,000 miles (2024, n = 35,149). No clear mileage gap inside this age group, among cars still being tested.
| Measure | Value (% failed first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3–5, <40k miles | 13.7 | 34,922 |
| Age 3–5, 40-70k miles | 19 | 23,710 |
| Age 3–5, 70-100k miles | 20.9 | 5,197 |
| Age 3–5, 100-140k miles | 19.4 | 1,086 |
| Age 3–5, 140k+ miles (rough estimate: 227 tests, 95% interval 12.4–22.1%) | 16.7 | 227 |
How many miles do Tesla Model 3s last?
1.6% of Tesla Model 3s tested had reached 100,000 miles, and 0.2% had reached 150,000 (2024, n = 1,771).
| Measure | Value (% of tested cars) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 miles | 1.6 | 1,771 |
| 150,000 miles (rough estimate: 206 tests, 95% interval 0.2–0.2%) | 0.2 | 206 |
| 200,000 miles (rough estimate: 40 tests, 95% interval 0.0–0.1%) | 0.0 | 40 |
Does mileage, as well as age, change the Tesla Model 3 failure index?
Matched on annual mileage as well as age, the Tesla Model 3 index is 102.0, against 121.0 on age alone (2019–2024, n = 67,619).
| Measure | Value (index) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age and mileage adjusted index | 102 | 67,619 |
Comparison: 121 index.
Which Tesla Model 3 fuel type fails its MOT less?
All Tesla Model 3s tested were electric: 16.1% failed first time (2024, n = 67,616).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | 16.1 | 67,616 |
Comparison: other fuels.
Where in Britain does the Tesla Model 3 fail its MOT most?
Tesla Model 3 fails first-time MOTs most in Salisbury (SP): 23.4% against 15.9% across Britain for this model, both 2019–2024 (2019–2024, n = 424).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Salisbury (SP) (rough estimate: 424 tests, 95% interval 19.6–27.6%) | 23.4 | 424 |
| Perth (PH) (rough estimate: 186 tests, 95% interval 17.6–29.7%) | 23.1 | 186 |
| Exeter (EX) | 22.5 | 583 |
| London E (E) | 7.0 | 2,120 |
| London W (W) | 7.7 | 1,501 |
Across Britain for this model: 15.9% failed first time, also in 2019–2024.
Does the Tesla Model 3 have rust problems?
Allowing for age, Tesla Model 3 MOTs record corrosion failures at 0.0 times the national rate: 0.01% of tests against 0.77% (2024 + geographic layers, n = 67,619).
Computed, not measured.
| Measure | Value (ratio estimate) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Salt belt susceptibility | 0.0 | 67,619 |
Comparison: 1 ratio estimate.
What do six years of MOTs show about owning a used Tesla Model 3?
Of failed Tesla Model 3 MOTs, 41.3% were retested the same day and a further 54.9% within 10 days; the median failed car passed its retest after 1 day (2019–2024, n = 14,184).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-day retest | 41.3 % | failed initial tests | 14,184 |
| Retest within 10 days | 54.9 % | failed initial tests | 14,184 |
| Clean MOT streak | 34.0 % | observed chains | 11,708 |
| Repeat advisory | 4.6 % | observed chains | 11,708 |
| Decreasing odometer | 0.2 % mileage anomaly | observed chains | 31,526 |
Is low mileage good for a used Tesla Model 3?
Tesla Model 3s aged 5 doing under 5,000 miles a year failed first time in 10.3% of tests, against 18.6% for those doing 8,000 to 12,000 miles (2019–2024, n = 1,164).
| Measure | Value | Comparison | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-use first-time failure | 10.3 % | 18.6 | 1,164 |
| Low-use gap | -8.3 percentage points | 8–12k miles | 1,164 |
How many years do Tesla Model 3s last?
Tesla Model 3s aged 5 are forecast to keep taking MOTs for at least 0.5 more years; the survival curve is observed only until age 5, so the true figure is likely higher.
Computed, not measured.
Forecast, not a prediction for a particular car.
| Measure | Value (years forecast) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 5 (at least; observed only until age 5) | 0.5 | 0 |
How many Tesla Model 3s are still on the road as they age?
In 2024, for every 100 Tesla Model 3s tested at ages 4 to 6, about 48 were tested at age 5 (2024, n = 10,174).
| Measure | Value (% of age 4–6 baseline) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 62,167 |
| Age 4 (at least as many as at ages 4–6) | 100 | 32,260 |
| Age 5 | 48 | 10,174 |
If a used Tesla Model 3 fails its MOT, will it fail the next one?
14.8% of Tesla Model 3s that failed an MOT failed the next one too, against 14.7% after a pass (2019–2024, n = 2,244). The failure most likely to come back is visibility: 17.0% of those fails recurred at the next MOT.
| Measure | Value (%) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat after fail | 14.8 | 2,244 |
Comparison: 14.7 %.
Which Tesla Model 3 faults tend to come together?
On Tesla Model 3s, road Wheels and suspension failures turn up together 8.8 times as often as chance would predict (2024, n = 28).
| Measure | Value (lift) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Road Wheels + Suspension (rough estimate: 28 tests, 95% interval 5.8–12.7) | 8.8 | 28 |
| Identification of the vehicle + Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (rough estimate: 33 tests, 95% interval 4.6–9.4) | 6.7 | 33 |
| Brakes + Suspension (rough estimate: 42 tests, 95% interval 4.0–7.5) | 5.5 | 42 |
| Brakes + Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (rough estimate: 49 tests, 95% interval 3.2–5.8) | 4.4 | 49 |
| Brakes + Tyres (rough estimate: 297 tests, 95% interval 3.8–4.8) | 4.3 | 297 |
Comparison: expected joint rate.
Tesla Model 3 safety recalls: how do I check this car?
DVSA lists 11 safety recall campaigns matched to the Tesla Model 3; check whether yours has been fixed, using its registration number.
| Measure | Value (campaigns) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| DVSA recall campaigns matched | 11 | 67,619 |
Comparison: DVSA register.
How many Tesla Model 3s fail the MOT at each age?
Of every 100 Tesla Model 3s tested at age 5, about 17 failed the MOT first time. These are one-year rates for different cars tested in the same year, not a fleet followed over time (2024).
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Age 3 | 15.6 | 32,737 |
| Age 4 | 16.9 | 22,292 |
| Age 5 | 17.3 | 10,172 |
What have US dealers been told about the Tesla Model 3?
NHTSA lists 233 US technical service bulletins for the Tesla Model 3 (US market, Tesla MODEL 3, model years 2015–2022 only); a count, not a UK failure rate.
| Measure | Value (bulletins) |
|---|---|
| US service bulletins | 233 |
| Year 2016 | 1 |
| Year 2017 | 11 |
| Year 2018 | 47 |
| Year 2019 | 42 |
Comparison: NHTSA.
NHTSA, US market, Tesla MODEL 3, model years 2015–2022 only; covers 211 of 761 models. These two sections use US records from NHTSA. US cars sold under the same name can differ from UK ones.
What do US owners complain about on the Tesla Model 3?
The most common US owner complaint about the Tesla Model 3 to NHTSA concerns brakes: 491 complaints (US market, Tesla MODEL 3, model years 2015–2022 only).
| Measure | Value (complaints) | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 491 | 491 |
| Lamps & electrical | 480 | 480 |
| Restraints | 470 | 470 |
| Suspension | 300 | 300 |
| Steering | 231 | 231 |
NHTSA, US market, Tesla MODEL 3, model years 2015–2022 only; covers 211 of 761 models. These two sections use US records from NHTSA. US cars sold under the same name can differ from UK ones.
Do Tesla Model 3s fail their MOT more in some months?
Tesla Model 3s fail first time most in December (16.9%, against 29.3% for all cars that month) and least in February (14.8%) (2024, n = 67,619).
The month of the MOT makes little difference for the Tesla Model 3.
| Measure | Value (% fail first time) | Comparison (% fail first time) | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16.3 | 31.1 | 3,357 |
| February | 14.8 | 30.0 | 5,825 |
| March | 15.5 | 28.3 | 10,134 |
| April | 15.8 | 29.8 | 5,194 |
| May | 15.6 | 28.8 | 6,762 |
What DVSA defect categories mean
- Dangerous: the car should not be driven until it is repaired.
- Major: the car fails the MOT.
- Minor: recorded, but the car still passes.
- Advisory: noted by the tester to keep an eye on; the car still passes.
How are these figures calculated?
We count first MOT tests only; retests after repairs are left out. Each model is compared with cars of the same age.
Which Tesla Model 3 figures are missing, and why?
There are no matching records for the Tesla Model 3.
- Which Tesla Model 3 engine is best?
We have not worked this out for the Tesla Model 3 yet.
- Real-world MPG against the official figure (manufacturer level)
Cite this page or report an error
How to cite this page
MOT Risk Index (2026). Tesla Model 3 MOT statistics 2024 (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 24 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/tesla-model-3/
How the MOT Risk Index and every figure on this page are calculated: methodology.
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More on the Tesla Model 3
- Overview:
- Model overview · All Tesla models
- What fails:
- body · brakes · plates · lights · wheels · seat belts · suspension · tyres · visibility
- Abroad:
- Finland · the Netherlands · Norway
- By area:
- Postcode areas
- Compare:
- Nissan Leaf · Mercedes-Benz C-Class