2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range + Electricity · GF71 XHO

This Tesla Model 3 has demonstrated a broadly sound roadworthiness record across its three MOT tests, passing on each occasion, but the 2025-12-11 examination flagged a cluster of advisories that warrant close scrutiny from any prospective buyer. The most recent test on 2026-05-18 returned a clean pass with no defects recorded, suggesting the issues identified five months earlier may have been addressed, though the absence of any advisories in 2026 does not confirm whether remedial work was actually carried out or simply whether the components remained on the borderline of acceptability. The advisory pattern in late 2025 is notably symmetrical: both rear tyres were worn close to the legal limit and worn on the edge, and both rear upper suspension arm ball joints exhibited slight play. Symmetrical wear and play on both sides of the rear axle is a meaningful signal, as it typically points to either a systemic issue such as alignment geometry, suspension geometry deterioration, or simply the cumulative effect of higher-than-average use on the rear axle. With 60,059 miles recorded over roughly five years, this vehicle is accumulating approximately 12,000 miles annually, which sits comfortably above the national average and represents sustained higher-than-typical usage for a Model 3 of this age. Higher annual mileage accelerates wear on the consumable and chassis components that have already drawn advisories on this car, particularly the tyres, suspension bushes and ball joints, brake discs and pads, and any rubber or elastomeric components throughout the underbody. The continuous annual testing pattern with no significant gaps indicates the vehicle has been in regular service rather than left standing, which is mechanically favourable for an electric powertrain but means wear-related advisories should be expected at each examination. The mileage progression between tests suggests steady, consistent use rather than any sudden spike that might point to towing, track use, or commercial operation. For a prospective buyer, the rear suspension ball joint play flagged in late 2025 should be the primary mechanical concern during inspection. On a test drive, listen for any clonking or knocking from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly when traversing speed bumps or potholes at low speed, and feel for any vagueness or wandering from the rear end during direction changes. Pay close attention to tyre wear on both rear tyres, as edge wear specifically can indicate either camber misalignment, which may have been corrected or may persist, and inspect the inner and outer edges of the rear tyres for feathering or scalloping. Beyond the flagged items, given the mileage and the Model 3's known component sensitivities, it is worth inspecting the rear brake discs for corrosion or lipping, checking the underbody and subframe mounting points for corrosion, and examining all four shock absorbers for signs of fluid seepage. The windscreen damage noted as a minor in late 2025 should also be visually checked to confirm it has not propagated into the driver's primary line of sight, as any worsening since that test would reclassify it as an advisory or failure at the next examination.