Tesla MODEL 3 - 2021
99.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Tesla MODEL 3, model year 2021.
Sample size: 36,731 cars, 75,935 tests and 75,736 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: 36,731 cars
The 2021 Tesla Model 3 has an overall defect rate of 99.74 per 100 vehicles, significantly higher than the average of 78.58 per 100 for its year, representing a 26.9% increase over the average. Notably, the model excels in categories such as brakes, steering, visibility, and body structure, where it shows considerably fewer defects compared to the average car. However, it experiences a pronounced issue with wheels, suspensions, and axles, where its defect rate is significantly above the average. Mileage-related trends show that defect rates increase with mileage, but the Model 3 remains consistent in its performance across different mileage segments.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 36,731 cars
More model years for Tesla MODEL 3
Other models from Tesla
Categories
Brakes
▲ 36.5% better
25.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
Steering
▲ 71.4% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
- Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment
Visibility
▲ 50.3% better
7.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
- 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
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 70.5% better
3.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- 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
- Reflector defective or damaged: by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 86.4% worse
162.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 90.5% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
- A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
- Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- An engine mounting or bracket: severely damaged or deteriorated resulting in excessive movement
- 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
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Audible warning:
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 92.6% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Fluid: leaking continuously and likely to pose a serious risk to road safety
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: 32,321
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,202
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,322
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5,332
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,236
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,332
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,454
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,136
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,387
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,267
Serious faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5,332
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,332
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,136
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,387
Tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 664
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 352
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 202
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 159
Any fracture or welding defect on a wheel
FAIL
Occurrences: 126
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
FAIL
Occurrences: 121