Tesla MODEL 3 - 2020
104.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2020 is 91.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Tesla MODEL 3, model year 2020.
Sample size: 25,094 cars, 56,168 tests and 58,920 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 25,094 cars
The 2020 Tesla Model 3 has a higher overall defect rate, recording 104.9 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the average of 89.79 for that year, representing a 16.8% increase. The model shows significant mileage-related trends, with defect rates rising consistently across mileage segments, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category where it peaks at 297.11 defects per 100. Notably, the Model 3 excels in categories such as steering, visibility, and body structure, where it performs significantly better than average. However, it experiences a substantial issue with wheels, suspensions, and axles, having a defect rate of 149.55, which is considerably higher than the average of 97.17.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 25,094 cars
More model years for Tesla MODEL 3
Other models from Tesla
Categories
Brakes
▲ 13.0% better
44.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 50.8 / 100 tests
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
Steering
▲ 73.3% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Excessive wear or play in a universal joint or a flexible coupling excessively deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 51.1% better
6.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.1 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 33.0% better
7.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp: multiple light source up to a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 53.4% worse
149.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.5 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Body/Structure
▲ 79.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.4 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- A body panel or body component: likely to become detached
Equipment
▲ 73.3% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Audible warning:
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
Other
▲ 91.9% better
0.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.7 / 100 tests
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 19,655
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,926
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,620
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,561
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,337
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,638
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,752
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,422
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,413
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,188
Serious faults (Top 10)
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,561
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,337
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,422
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,188
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 405
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 289
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 156
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 144
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
FAIL
Occurrences: 141
Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel
FAIL
Occurrences: 123