Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 19 model years and 222,425 tests, the Tesla Model 3 passes its MOT 87.3% of the time. Against executive cars of a similar age (9.9% fail rate), the Model 3 comes out 2.8pp worse. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and suspension.
Best and worst Model 3 years
Ranked across Model 3 years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 94.3% of 2023 examples pass against 86.1% of 2020 ones.
One area stands out: tyres, recorded in 10.3% of tests against 1.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and pins and bushes — tread depth alone was recorded 16,824 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Model 3 fails 9.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 26.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 4.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Model 3 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 44,796 | 87.2% | 12.8% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 74,238 | 86.1% | 14.0% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 77,197 | 88.0% | 12.0% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 24,941 | 88.7% | 11.3% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 1,096 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 129 | 97.7% | 2.3% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 10.3% | 22,964 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 4,347 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.6% | 3,498 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 2,092 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.5% | 1,210 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.2% | 535 |
| 7 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 483 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 211 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 16,824 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 4,328 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 2,962 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 1,924 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 1,607 |
| 6 | Washers | 1,418 |
| 7 | Registration plates | 811 |
| 8 | Wipers | 740 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 26.4% | 58,730 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 21,451 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.5% | 16,582 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.0% | 11,191 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 5,152 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 1.0% | 2,219 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 64,664 | 9.3% |
| 30-60k | 110,025 | 13.4% |
| 60-90k | 36,314 | 15.7% |
| 90-120k | 8,361 | 15.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,064 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 894 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 364 | 4.1% |
| 2022 | 10,993 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 37,260 | 13.0% |
| 2024 | 75,552 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 98,256 | 12.6% |
What to check before buying a Tesla Model 3
- Tyres (10.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Tesla Model 3?
87.3% of the 222,425 Tesla Model 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.7% fail rate, across model years 2007–2025.
What does the Tesla Model 3 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 10.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (1.9%).
Which Model 3 years are best and worst for MOT results?
2023 has the best pass rate at 94.3% and 2020 the weakest at 86.1%, from 1,096 and 74,238 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect Model 3 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 9.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 12.5% for 150k+, a 3.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 222,425 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.