Used car guide

2021 Tesla Model 3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Tesla Model 3s, from 35,199 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

35,199MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
11,300typical miles a year
1.7×the usual rate for tread depth

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Tesla Model 3s than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Tread depth1.7× usual
    Tesla Model 3
    24.8% All 2021 cars
    15%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.2%, against 1.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints6.1× usual
    Tesla Model 3
    6.7% All 2021 cars
    1.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Ball joint5.8× usual
    Tesla Model 3
    3.5% All 2021 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Brake pads: 0.6% here, against 6.8% of all 2021 cars.

By area

The share of 2021 Tesla Model 3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    32% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Suspension
    11% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    9% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    3% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

Looking at a Tesla Model 3?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023712Tyres 19%
202219,138Tyres 37%
202022,205Tyres 33%
201910,343Tyres 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Tesla Model 3s registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score