Tesla Model 3 ranked least reliable EV in used-car testing

German reliability testing of late-model electric vehicles (EVs) has revealed the Tesla Model 3 is the country’s worst performer, with a significant number of such models failing their first inspection after three years on the road. Once a car being used on German roads turns three years old, the country’s Technischer Überwachungsverein – abbreviated to TÜV and translated to Technical Inspection Association – carries out a general inspection every 24 months to certify its roadworthiness. The organisation carries out checks on every part of the vehicle, including its brakes, steering, suspension, lights, and chassis.

10 electric vehicles (EVs) were included in a TÜV annual report for the first time ever with TÜV Report 2025, which covers testing conducted between July 2023 and June 2024. In the report, it was found 14.2 per cent of Model 3s failed the first inspection after three years with “significant defects” to suspension and braking components.



Moreover, in the ranking of 111 models, including combustion-powered vehicles, tested in the two- to three-year age group, the Model 3 placed last. 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal.

Browse now . It also ranked last in the four- to five-year age group. Despite the Model 3 having a higher average mileage – 53,000km – over three years than other similarly aged EVs, which overall averaged 42,000km, TÜV Association managing director Joachim Bühler says that isn’t an excuse.

“The high mileage cannot disguise the poor performance of the Model 3,” he said, in translated remarks. “In addition to defects in the brakes and axles, the Tesla also has a particularly high number of lighting defects. This indicates deficits in service and maintenance.

” For comparison, the EV with the next-highest defect rate, the Renault Zoe , had a 8.9 per cent defect rate, while the Volkswagen e-Golf was the top-rated EV at 3.4 per cent.

Similarly high-rated EVs include the Hyundai Kona Electric with a defect rate of 4.0 per cent and Mini Cooper SE with 4.4 per cent, followed by models including the Volkswagen ID.

3 (5.0 per cent), ID.4 / ID.

5 (5.9 per cent), and Peugeot E-208 (6.4 per cent).

Here’s a breakdown of the ratings for each of the 10 EVs tested: Model 3 examples delivered in Europe (including Germany) have been produced at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, China – the same location as models delivered in other markets like Australia and Japan – since 2020. The only other Tesla facility that produces Model 3s is in Fremont, California, which was initially where European-market models were sourced from. Similarly, Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg came online in Germany in 2022 and is currently only used to produce the brand’s Model Y SUVs.

According to the TÜV Association, the report shows that EVs built on internal-combustion platforms like the e-Golf and Cooper SE tend to record better reliability than dedicated EVs like the Model 3. Despite that, Dr Bühler says the report isn’t necessarily indicative of whether EVs are safe or unsafe, but it does highlight a series of typical defects found in such cars. “The axle suspensions in many electric cars cannot cope with the high weight of the drive battery and wear out prematurely,” he said.

“The brakes on electric cars are used less often due to recuperation. The result: The brake discs show defects and the braking function deteriorates.” Dr Bühler also suggested methods of EV reliability testing should be expanded and standardised across the industry, as “proof of battery health is an important factor in the development of the market for used electric cars”.

“So far, only a visual inspection of the drive battery has been carried out. The high-voltage system should be checked with additional test points to ensure protection against electric shock and overvoltage,” he said. The TÜV Association found the best-performing car in its 2025 report is the Honda Jazz , with a defect rate of 2.

4 per cent in two- to three-year-old examples. In the five groups from four to 13 years, the Porsche 911 Carrera consistently ranked in the top five. Of all the car models and age groups tested, a total of 20.

6 per cent of vehicles failed the general inspection with “significant” or “dangerous defects”, with one in five cars found to have significant technical defects. In the case of “significant defects”, the TÜV Association says repairs must be carried out within four weeks. Where “dangerous defects” are found (as was the case for around 160,000 vehicles in this latest data), drivers are only permitted to complete a direct trip to a mechanic to solve the defect immediately.

Around 15,000 vehicles were classified as “unsafe for road use” and immediately taken off the road. Reasons for such a classification include “cracked brake lines, a blocked steering system, or rust on load-bearing parts”. Below is a breakdown of the best-performing cars in the TÜV Report 2025: Below is a breakdown of the worst-performing cars in the TÜV Report 2025: MORE: The most reliable electric cars on sale today MORE: Electric cars are less reliable than petrol, hybrid cars, finds US study.