MOT performance
Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate and common failures
Across 95,633 MOT tests of the Tesla Model 3 in 2023–2024, 83.3% passed first time. Allowing for age, mileage and fuel, Tesla Model 3s failed 12% more often than comparable cars. The most common failure item was “tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm”, on 5.79% of tests.
95,633 MOT tests on 62,873 vehicles, 2023–2024 · Source: DVSA (Open Government Licence) · Analysis: 73 Auto
Check a specific car's MOT history and running costsAt a glance
| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 83.3% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 95,633 |
| Failures vs similar cars | 1.12× | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Tests with a dangerous defect | 10.5% | n = 95,633 |
| Average age at test | 2.8 years | n = 95,633 |
| Median mileage at test | 36,234 miles | n = 95,633 |
| Vehicles tested | 62,873 | 2023–2024 |
Where Tesla Model 3s fail
The share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel. Areas where the difference is large and clear link to their own page.
| Area | Tests failed on it | vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 12.5% | +42% |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 2.6% | -9% |
| Suspension | 1.4% | +4% |
| Driver's view of the road | 1.1% | -56% |
| Brakes | 0.6% | -39% |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.3% | +5% |
| Road wheels | 0.2% | +32% |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.1% | -54% |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.1% | -58% |
| Steering | 0.0% | -86% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.0% | +80% |
Most common failure items
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 5.79% |
| Condition: has ply or cords exposed | Tyres | 4.34% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 2.43% |
| Headlamp aim: too low | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 1.03% |
| Headlamp aim: too high | Lights, reflectors and electrical | 0.78% |
| Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure | Tyres | 0.73% |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | Tyres | 0.71% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 0.68% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid | Driver's view of the road | 0.50% |
| Ball joint: ball joint excessively worn | Suspension | 0.47% |
Most common advisories
Advisories are items the tester expects to need attention soon; they don't fail the test.
| Item | Area | Share of tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | Tyres | 21.03% |
| Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened | Brakes | 6.93% |
| Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension | 3.39% |
| Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm | Tyres | 2.84% |
| Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | Tyres | 2.76% |
Pass rate by age
| Age at test (years) | Tests | First-time pass rate | Failures vs similar cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | 54,423 | 83.5% | +9% |
| 5-6 | 2,379 | 80.9% | -1% |
Pass rate by registration year
Compared with similar models
What a Tesla Model 3 costs to own
73 Auto's worked ownership-cost examples for this model:
Check a specific Tesla Model 3
Enter a UK registration to see that car's own MOT history and what it is likely to cost to own. Your first check is free and shows the vehicle summary and its headline ownership cost. The category-by-category breakdown is part of a paid check.
UK number plate or 17-character VIN
About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.