Tesla Model 3 – A Failure That’s No Longer Even Surprising

Good news: electric cars are taking over the roads. More and more vehicles now glide along in near silence, emitting nothing but smug satisfaction. Bad news: some of them are falling apart faster than an overripe banana. And one model stands out as a true disaster.

The Danish automobile association FDM (Forenede Danske Motorejere) has sounded the alarm, because Tesla Model 3—the car that Elon Musk once promised would revolutionize transportation and save the world—is now revolutionizing only one thing: the failure statistics. In short: the more of these cars go in for inspection, the more of them fail.

Shocking Numbers – Unless You Own a Tesla
Picture this: You own a Tesla Model 3. You proudly drive it to its first periodic inspection, convinced that your cutting-edge, software-driven, autopilot-equipped electric wonder will pass with flying colors.

Good news: at least the car made it there under its own power.
Bad news: every fourth Tesla Model 3 that underwent inspection in 2024 failed.

Of the 4,668 inspected 2020 Model 3s, a staggering 1,051 were deemed unfit for the road. That’s a 23% failure rate, more than double the 9% failure rate of all other EVs combined.

And it gets worse. These cars weren’t just failing on one minor issue. Inspectors found a total of 1,392 defects—which means that, on average, every failed Model 3 had at least three serious technical problems.

And if you’re thinking this is just a Danish problem, think again. Germany—the land of autobahns, precision engineering, and a national obsession with mechanical perfection—is seeing the exact same trend. The German TÜV, which inspects millions of cars every year, has also reported that the Tesla Model 3 performs in technical inspections about as well as a fish trying to ride a bicycle.

What’s Going Wrong?
If you imagine that these failures are due to minor issues—like the infotainment screen refusing to display a Christmas tree animation—you’d be mistaken. The problems are far more serious:

Brakes: EVs use regenerative braking, which means that the brake pads wear out less. Or at least, that’s the theory. In reality, Model 3’s brakes don’t seem to work properly even when they’ve had a break.
Headlights: Loose fittings, poorly aimed beams, lights that either blind every other driver on the road or illuminate nothing at all. If the Tesla Model 3 were a ship, it would be Titanic—with its lights shining brightly on the captain’s bridge while everyone else flails in the dark.
Suspension & Steering: Steering components and suspension should be tight and precise. In the Model 3, they aren’t. And at this point, we can no longer call this part of the "Tesla experience"—it’s just a serious problem.
What Happens Next?
In 2025, 62,000 EVs in Denmark will undergo their periodic inspection—45,000 of them for the first time. This includes the 2021 Model 3s and, for the first time, the Model Y—the cash cow that’s keeping Tesla afloat.

So, are we looking at yet another wave of failures? Possibly.

"We have no reason to believe that the younger Model 3s will perform better than the 2020 versions," says Lone Otto, head of FDM’s technical advisory division. And when she says "no reason to believe," what she really means is: brace for impact.

And here comes the great irony—Tesla offers a four-year warranty on its cars. Four years. The exact moment when the first mandatory inspection is due.

So if you own a Tesla and your warranty is running out, it might be a very good idea to get the car checked by an independent mechanic before the official inspection. Otherwise, you might find yourself walking home.

Because let’s face it: when even the Germans, who care more about brakes and steering racks than the perfect temperature of their morning coffee, say that the Model 3 is a mechanical nightmare, it’s time to accept the truth.

This isn’t just one of the most popular EVs. It’s also one of the most frequently towed EVs.

Safe travels! And if you own a Model 3, perhaps bring along a hammer and a roll of duct tape—just in case. Some of us remember the days when miracles were performed with spit and blue electrical tape!