Tesla
2,234 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Model 3s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.6 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
89.1%
Pass-after-fix
1.2%
Fail
8.7%
Avg miles
48,872
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,229 tests
Pass rate climbs 6.6 points across the cohorts — newer Model 3 examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
83.0%
Fail
14.3%
PRS
0.6%
Avg mileage at test
46,921 mi
Pass
89.6%
Fail
8.2%
PRS
1.2%
Avg mileage at test
49,102 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 740 MOT tests, the Model 3 returns 92.0% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is tyre tread under the limit. A seriously damaged tyre and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 27,153, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
30–38
out of 50
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Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
102 occurrences · 4.6% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
48 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
39 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
18 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Windscreen or window excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver's view
18 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Wiper blade defective
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Tyre obviously under inflated
9 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
7 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this Model 3's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 6.6-point gap between bands means the year you buy Tesla Model 3 has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
89.6%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 89.6% — a 6.6-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
83.0%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 83.0% pass rate against a fleet average of 89.6% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has ply or cords exposed, projected beam image is obviously incorrect, and too high. Average mileage on test for this band is 46,921 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (89.6% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (83.0% pass). That's a 6.6-point spread across 182 older tests and 2,047 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Recall history
The Model 3 has 11 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Model 3 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
