Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate and common failures
In 2025, 84.3% of Tesla Model 3 MOT tests were a first-time pass, across 72,601 tests in Great Britain. For all cars it was 71.5%.
Compared with cars of the same age
Older cars fail more often, so a model that’s mostly a few years old will look better than one that’s mostly 12. These figures compare like with like.
At 3–5 years
84.4%
All cars: 86.1% (1.7 points worse). 70,231 tests.
At 6–10 years
80.6%
All cars: 76.1% (4.5 points better). 2,368 tests.
At 11 years and over
–
Too few tests at this age to say.
Pass rate by age
Figures by age, with typical mileage
| Age (years) | Tests | First-time pass | All cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 29,473 | 85.9% | 87.8% | 43,750 miles |
| 4 | 25,178 | 84.3% | 86.4% | 48,750 miles |
| 5 | 15,580 | 81.6% | 84.5% | 56,250 miles |
| 6 | 2,368 | 80.6% | 81.9% | 58,750 miles |
Typical mileage is the median reading at the test, to the nearest 2,500 miles.
What fails most often
The share of Tesla Model 3 MOT tests that failed on at least one item in each area, against all cars. A test can fail on several areas at once.
| Area | Model 3 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 17.7% | 8.4% |
| Suspension | 3.9% | 13.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.7% | 16.6% |
| Visibility | 1.3% | 5.2% |
| Brakes | 1.0% | 10.2% |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Road wheels | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.1% | 1.1% |
Most common reasons for failing
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm failed 6.9% of tests
- Condition: has ply or cords exposed failed 5.0% of tests
- Condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords failed 3.3% of tests
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn failed 2.2% of tests · what this means
- Ball joint excessively worn failed 1.5% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too low failed 1.0% of tests · what this means
- Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative failed 1.0% of tests
- Condition: has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure failed 0.7% of tests
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid failed 0.6% of tests · what this means
- Headlamp aim: too high failed 0.5% of tests · what this means
Checking a particular Model 3?
See its own MOT history, mileage record and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.
About these figures
- They cover every Model 3 version DVSA records under this name (engines, trims and generations together), on its first MOT test of each visit. A “pass with rectification” (fixed within an hour) counts as a fail, as in DVSA’s own statistics.
- Cars under three years old are left out, because the few tested that young are mostly taxis.
- Fuel mix of the cars tested: electric 100.0%, petrol 0.0%, diesel 0.0%.
- A pass rate describes the model, not any one car. How a car has been looked after matters more.
Download these figures (CSV) · Other Tesla models · All makes
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data for 2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Our own analysis; not produced or endorsed by DVSA.