Common problems by part
Tesla Model 3 exhaust, emissions and leaks problems
DVSA MOT tests 2022–2025 · 81,840 MOT tests · Updated
At 3 years, 0.0 in 100 MOT tests of the Tesla Model 3 failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 81,840 MOT tests) [1].
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- Against all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years), 9 MOT tests with a fail
- By age: seen at 3 ages from 3 to 5 years, 182,179 MOT tests
- MOT tests at 3 years: 81,840 for the Tesla Model 3
Figures are for the model as a whole, not for one car.
What the MOT tests show
What we know
0.0 fails per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles tested at 3 (all test years). That is about average.
Why it matters
An exhaust, emissions and leaks fail stops the car passing until it is fixed.
What to check
Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.
Tesla Model 3 exhaust, emissions and leaks fails by age
| Age | MOT tests | Fails per 100 | All class 4 vehicles the same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 81,840 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 4 | 67,803 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
| 5 | 32,536 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
All first-use years of the Tesla Model 3 pooled at each age, against all class 4 vehicles at that age over all 2022–2025 test years.
What fails in the exhaust, emissions and leaks at 3 years
Advisories (not fails)
- Undertray: not fully secure: 0.1 advisories per 100 MOT tests, all class 4 vehicles 0.0. Undertray not fully secure MOT advisory
Buying a Tesla Model 3? Check that exact car before the viewing.
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- Model risks for this year and fuel
- What similar cars did at their next MOT
- Repairs ahead
- Viewing checklist
How to check on a test drive
Start the car from cold and look for smoke at the exhaust, listen for blowing joints, and look under the engine and gearbox for fresh oil or fluid drips.
The most common advisory here in MOT records: Undertray: not fully secure.
Check one Tesla Model 3, not the average
The figures here describe Tesla Model 3 cars as a group. These free tools answer for one car. Each line says what the tool reads.
- Check a Tesla Model 3's MOT history Every MOT test, fail item, advisory and mileage reading DVSA holds for that registration.
- MOT advisory checker Paste an advisory or defect to read DVSA's wording, its grade and what tends to happen at the next MOT.
Other Tesla Model 3 problems
Exhaust, emissions and leaks on rival models
- BMW 3 Series exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 0.4 per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.0 for the Tesla Model 3 (89,865 MOT tests)
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 0.2 per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.0 for the Tesla Model 3 (49,103 MOT tests)
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class exhaust, emissions and leaks problems: 0.2 per 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.0 for the Tesla Model 3 (43,819 MOT tests)
Questions people ask
Does the Tesla Model 3 have more exhaust, emissions and leaks problems than other cars?
0.0 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age: about average by our test (all test years; 81,840 MOT tests).
How common are Tesla Model 3 exhaust, emissions and leaks problems?
0.0 in 100 MOT tests at 3 years failed on exhaust, emissions and leaks, against 0.5 for all class 4 vehicles the same age (all test years; 81,840 MOT tests).
Sources
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2022 to 2025. DVSA MOT data, Open Government Licence v3.0, 192,551 MOT tests. Accessed 7 Oct 2026.
Parts: against all class 4 vehicles at the same age, all 2022–2025 test years pooled, not adjusted for mileage. Breakdowns and non-MOT faults are not in this data. How we compare