2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD Electricity · LB69 FML

A borderline structural tyre failure sits at the centre of this Model 3's MOT narrative, with a dangerous nearside front tyre bulge recorded just one day before the vehicle subsequently passed on 29 January 2026, suggesting a same-visit replacement that secured the pass. That single failure aside, the broader pattern shows a vehicle that has otherwise met roadworthy standards across its short testing life, including a clean pass in January 2025. However, the January 2025 test also revealed two failures of greater mechanical concern: an electronic stability control warning lamp indicating a fault within the stability system, and excessive play in the offside front steering linkage ball joint. Both items are not the kind of defect expected on a four-year-old premium EV with under six thousand miles, and they point to either premature component wear from standing or an intermittent electrical/calibration issue within the stability control module. Together, these entries indicate a vehicle whose underlying mechanical state has not been entirely consistent with its low recorded mileage, and a buyer should treat the recent rectification of these items as essential to verify. With only 5,990 miles recorded over roughly seven years, this Model 3 has averaged about 856 miles per year, an unusually low accumulation for any passenger car, and there is a clear gap in testing between late November 2023 and mid January 2025 where no MOT was recorded, consistent with a vehicle that may have been either SORN or largely unused. While low annual mileage reduces wear on consumables such as brake pads, discs, tyres and the drive units, prolonged standing periods bring their own concerns: brake discs corrode and can judder on first application, brake callipers can seize, suspension bushes and ball joints can develop play or stiffness from lack of movement, and tyres can deteriorate or deform sidewalls even when within legal tread. The nearside front tyre bulge from separation or partial failure of structure recorded in January 2026 is particularly relevant here, as low-use vehicles are prone to sidewall deformation and premature structural fatigue regardless of tread depth, and the sidewall damage advisories on both nearside tyres in late 2023 reinforce this risk profile. A prospective buyer should focus a pre-purchase inspection on the components specifically flagged in the MOT record. The offside front steering linkage ball joint should be examined closely for any residual play; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front suspension over speed humps and rough surfaces, and feel for vagueness or looseness through the steering, particularly under load or on full lock. The electronic stability control system that triggered a warning lamp in 2025 should be confirmed as fully rectified by a diagnostic scan of all stability, ABS and traction modules, as intermittent ESC faults on Teslas can relate to wheel speed sensors, yaw sensor calibration, or hydraulic modulator issues. Tyres deserve particular attention given the structural failure on the nearside front: inspect both sidewalls carefully for any bulging, cracking or uneven deformation, check the manufacturing date codes, and confirm the replacements are a matched set appropriate for the Performance specification. Given the documented testing gap and the combination of a structural tyre failure plus steering and stability control defects, a thorough inspection by a Tesla-approved specialist or EV-experienced independent garage is strongly advisable before purchase. Pay particular attention to the condition of the high-voltage 12V auxiliary battery, as low-use EVs frequently suffer premature failure of this unit which can trigger a cascade of warning lights including those affecting stability systems. During the test drive, confirm straight-line stability without steering pull, check for any brake judder or pulling on first firm application from low speed, and verify that regenerative braking engages smoothly. Finally, request documented evidence that the steering linkage repair and any ESC-related work have been completed by a recognised workshop, as the combination of these defects on such a low-mileage vehicle warrants confirmation rather than assumption.