How reliable is the Tesla Model 3 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Tesla Model 3, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 84.5% across 87,484 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Tesla Model 3?

The item recorded most often is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", which appears in 50.5% of failed Tesla Model 3 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Tesla Model 3?

The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 37.1% of all Tesla Model 3 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Tesla Model 3 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 50,988 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 87,484 recorded MOT tests of the Tesla Model 3, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 87,484 MOT tests, 84.5% of Tesla Model 3 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Tesla Model 3 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which appears in 50.5% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 50,988 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

84.5%unadjusted, not comparable87,484 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the Model 3. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 87,484 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Tesla Model 3 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements50.5%
6,286 occurrencesTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.A tyre cords visible or damaged34.4%
4,278 occurrencesTyre ply or cord exposed, or the casing separating explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged24.0%
2,982 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn10.5%
1,305 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
5.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn9.0%
1,121 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
6.A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative5.9%
735 occurrencesTyre pressure monitoring system inoperative explained
7.A tyre seriously damaged4.9%
611 occurrencesTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements3.4%
420 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
9.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn2.9%
355 occurrencesSuspension arm bush worn explained
10.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen2.3%
289 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Tesla Model 3 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements37.1%
32,439 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
2.Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured14.5%
12,704 testsBrake disc worn, pitted or scored explained
3.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn8.1%
7,125 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
4.Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements5.3%
4,619 testsTyre worn close to the legal limit explained
5.A tyre seriously damaged3.8%
3,348 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
6.A tyre seriously damaged3.8%
3,296 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
7.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn3.6%
3,151 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
8.Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt3.0%
2,632 tests

What gets tested

The Model 3 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 50,988
Fuel mix of tested cars: Electric100.0%

Trim names grouped into this model (8)

Recorded exactly as DVSA holds them. Trim-level names are rolled up so one model is not split across a dozen thin pages.

MODEL 3 - LONG RANGE AWD
MODEL 3 AUTO
MODEL 3 E
MODEL 3 LONG RANGE
MODEL 3 LONG RANGE AWD
MODEL 3 LONG RANGE RWD
MODEL 3 PERFORMANCE AWD
MODEL 3 STANDARD RANGE +

Check a specific Tesla Model 3

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Tesla models

Tesla Model Y — 84.4% unadjusted
Tesla Model S — 81.5% adjusted
Tesla Model X — 79.0% unadjusted
All Tesla models

Common questions

How reliable is the Tesla Model 3 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Tesla Model 3, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 84.5% across 87,484 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Tesla Model 3?: The item recorded most often is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", which appears in 50.5% of failed Tesla Model 3 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Tesla Model 3?: The most common advisory is "Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements", noted on 37.1% of all Tesla Model 3 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Tesla Model 3 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 50,988 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.