Tesla Model 3: common problems, best years and what to check
Britain's best-selling used EV: quick, efficient and with the Supercharger network. Covers 2019–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Tesla Model 3 a good used buy?
Best buy
2021+ Long Range with heat pump
Avoid
early 2019 cars with suspension knocks and no warranty left
Who it suits: Drivers who can charge at home and want an efficient, quick EV.
What's good
- Supercharger network
- Very efficient
- Quick
- Cheap to run if charged at home
What's not
- Firm, noisy ride
- Build quality variable
- Touchscreen for everything
- Insurance group very high
By the numbers
- #77 most common model on UK roads, with about 112k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2021: 32.2k cars still licensed.
- The most expensive common fault: Suspension knocks / upper control arms (up to £900).
Tesla Model 3 common problems by generation and engine
Tesla Model 3 Model 3 (2019–2023) · saloon EV
How to spot it: 19 plate to 23 plate. Smooth, grille-less nose and chrome window trim (black from 2021).
Standard Range Plus / RWD (electric, electric, 2019–2023)
Efficient
Long Range / Performance AWD (electric, electric, 2019–2023)
Long range; fast
Faults on any Model 3 (2019–2023) engine
- Suspension knocks / upper control arms£300–£90030k+
- Panel gaps and paint chips£0–£500any
- 12V battery failure£100–£3003+ yrs
Tesla Model 3 Highland (2023–) · saloon EV
How to spot it: 23 plate onwards. Slimmer headlights and a C-shaped rear light bar.
RWD / Long Range (electric, electric, 2023–)
Quieter, more range
Faults on any Highland (2023–) engine
- No indicator stalks — buttons on steering wheel—any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Tesla Model 3 years
How many Tesla Model 3s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2019+ cars)
Tesla Model 3s pass their MOT first time 2 points less often than the average UK car of the same age (84% vs 87%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 82% | 84% | 56k miles |
| 2020 | 82% | 86% | 51k miles |
| 2021 | 86% | 87% | 44k miles |
| 2022 | 85% | 89% | 36k miles |
| 2023 | 93% | 92% | 43k miles |
Most common MOT failures
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm7.28 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed4.97 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut3.46 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.03 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn1.35 per 100
- Headlamp aim: too low0.98 per 100
- Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative0.98 per 100
- Tyres: has a bulge0.71 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm37.17 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened14.6 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.05 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm5.34 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn3.92 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear3.85 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut3.81 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.96 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Tesla Model 3 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world efficiency
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Tesla Model 3 ULEZ compliant?
- Electric: always compliant.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Electric / hybrid
Tesla Model 3 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 112k | 48–50 | 542 l | 2021+ Long Range with heat pump |
| Polestar 2 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| BMW i4 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Kia EV6 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| VW ID.3 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Tesla Model 3
- Get a battery health check
- Check tyres — EVs wear them fast
Tesla Model 3 FAQ
›Is the Tesla Model 3 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2021+ Long Range with heat pump. Avoid: early 2019 cars with suspension knocks and no warranty left.
›What is the Tesla Model 3 MOT pass rate?
84% of Tesla Model 3s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (76,626 tests), below the 87% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.
›What are the most common Tesla Model 3 problems?
The costliest known faults are . Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Tesla Model 3 have a timing belt or chain?
No. It's electric, so there's no timing belt or chain to replace.
›What is the best year Tesla Model 3 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2022, 2023, 2024 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Tesla Model 3 cost to run?
Real-world economy: Standard Range / RWD 3.8–4.5 mi/kWh; Long Range 3.6–4.2 mi/kWh. Insurance groups 48–50. A minor service is about £100–£180 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Tesla Model 3?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Tesla Model 3 ULEZ compliant?
Electric: always compliant.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.