Verdict
The Tesla Model 3 passes its MOT first time on 83.9% of tests, about the same as a typical car of the same age and mileage (84.1%). That puts it ahead of 49% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
By year of first registration, the 2022 Model 3 does best (beats 61% of cars) and the 2020 worst (beats 32%).
The MOT doesn’t test an electric car’s battery or motor, so ask for a battery health report too, and electric cars have no exhaust emissions test, which flatters the comparison a little.
Better than average on lights & electrics, visibility, brakes.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 83.9% | Beats 49% | C |
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Tyre tread depth 2.7× typical
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems. - Tyre damage & cracking 1.8× typical
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre. - Suspension ball joints 4.2× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering. - Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) 2.5× typical
Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up. - Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Windscreen washers
Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 6.9% | 3.9% | 1.8× |
| Tyre tread depth | 5.3% | 1.9% | 2.7× |
| Headlight aim | 1.4% | 1.8% | 0.8× |
| Suspension ball joints | 1.2% | 0.3% | 4.2× |
| Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) | 0.9% | 0.4% | 2.5× |
| Windscreen washers | 0.7% | 1.2% | 0.6× |
| Suspension arm bushes | 0.7% | 0.2% | 3.4× |
| Windscreen wipers | 0.3% | 2.2% | 0.2× |
| Wheel condition | 0.3% | 0.1% | 3.1× |
| Number plate lights | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.6× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 52.6 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 39.5 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 32.3 |
| A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 18.9 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 14.1 |
| A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 9.3 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 7.0 |
| Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 3.4 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
2023 Tesla Model 31 engine83.7% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 83.7% | Beats 38% | D |
2022 Tesla Model 31 engine85.6% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 85.6% | Beats 61% | B |
2021 Tesla Model 31 engine85.2% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 85.2% | Beats 59% | C |
2020 Tesla Model 31 engine82.2% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 82.2% | Beats 32% | D |
2019 Tesla Model 31 engine83.2% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 83.2% | Beats 51% | C |
FAQ
What is the Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate?
83.9% of MOT tests on the Tesla Model 3 were passed first time, based on 260,237 tests between 2022 and 2026 of cars first registered 2019–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 84.1% of the time.
Is the Tesla Model 3 reliable?
On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 49% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Tesla Model 3 year is best?
Among years with enough data, the 2022 Model 3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 61% of cars on UK roads. The 2020 does worst: it beats 32%.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Tesla Model 3?
The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, tyre tread depth, headlight aim. Compared with similar cars, tyre tread depth comes up 2.7× as often.