2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check
In 2025, 86.0% of Tesla Model 3s first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. Across 69,054 Model 3 first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, suspension and lamps and electrical equipment.
This page analyses first MOT tests for Tesla Model 3s first used in 2021 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.
Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026
How the 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate has changed
Share of first tests passed in each year, Model 3s first used in 2021 against all cars first used in 2021 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Model 3 figure was 1.2 points lower.
View this chart as a table
| Test year | 2021 Model 3 | All cars first used 2021 | Model 3 first tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | fewer than 500 tests | 82.9% | 25 |
| 2022 | fewer than 500 tests | 89.9% | 456 |
| 2023 | 93.0% | 90.8% | 1,158 |
| 2024 | 84.4% | 87.6% | 32,794 |
| 2025 | 86.0% | 87.2% | 35,102 |
Common 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT failures
Share of the 10,114 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Most common failure items
| DVSA failure item | Share of failed first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm | 35.3% | 3,567 |
| Tyre condition: has ply or cords exposed | 21.2% | 2,146 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 18.2% | 1,845 |
| Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative | 9.1% | 923 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | 5.4% | 548 |
Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.
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Typical repair costs for common MOT failures
Typical UK garage prices for the job, not for a Model 3 in particular, and not a quote.
| Failure item | Typical job | Typical UK price | Usual range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn | Suspension arm replacement | £150 | £120–£180 |
From published UK repair-cost guides, checked September 2026. Only jobs with a published typical price are shown.
What to check on a 2021 Tesla Model 3 before buying
The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.
- Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
- Suspension. Worth looking behind the front wheels with a torch at the coil springs, and listening for knocks over bumps on the test drive.
- Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
Common 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT advisories
Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2021 Model 3s, as a share of all 69,054 first tests, 2023–2025.
| DVSA advisory item | Share of first tests | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 21.6% | 14,911 |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | 5.7% | 3,963 |
| Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement | 4.8% | 3,300 |
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | 3.0% | 2,096 |
| Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 2.8% | 1,910 |
Questions about the 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2021 Tesla Model 3?
In 2025, 86.0% of Model 3s first used in 2021 passed their MOT first time, against 87.2% for all cars first used in 2021. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.
What does a 2021 Model 3 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres (in 77.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), suspension (12.5%) and lamps and electrical equipment (7.9%). The single most common item was “Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm” (35.3%).
How often does a 2021 Tesla Model 3 fail its MOT?
In 2025, 14.0% of first tests on Model 3s first used in 2021 did not pass first time: 12.9% failed, and a further 1.2% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 10,114 of 69,054 first tests did not pass first time.
What are the most common 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT advisories?
“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 21.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (5.7%), “Suspension arm pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement” (4.8%), “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (3.0%) and “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (2.8%).
Is a 2021 Tesla Model 3 reliable?
An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 93.0% in 2023 to 86.0% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.
Other cars first used in 2021
The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.
2021 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2021 Ford Transit Custom MOT statistics · 2021 MINI Hatch MOT statistics · 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics · 2021 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics
Checking a specific 2021 Model 3?
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