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Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Tesla Model 3 I: the buying guide

Family car · since 2019 · Electric

✓ 27 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€412/month
Indicative prices
€21,000 – €47,000

4 known faults

Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Tesla Model 3 I, front three-quarter view

Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Electric saloon sold in France since 2019 and facelifted ("Highland") at the end of 2023, rated 5 stars by Euro NCAP. Its documented weak point is the front end: wear of the wishbones and bushes, and a recall for loosely tightened link-arm fixings on 2019 to 2021 examples. It is also at the bottom of the German MOT rankings (brakes, lighting, axles): have the front end and the brakes inspected before buying.

Reliability
4.0/5
Indicative prices
€21,000 – €47,000
Monthly cost
€412
Euro NCAP
5/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: Propulsion 275 ch (Highland 2023-), Grande Autonomie 441 ch.

  • Standard Range Plus 325 ch (2019-2021)

    Electric · Automatic · 325 hp · Crit'Air green

    Entry-level rear-wheel-drive version of the early years, quoted at 325 hp by Fiches-auto and Autotijd (the published battery capacities vary between sources and model years). Examples built between 2019 and mid-2021 may be affected by the front suspension link-arm recall.

  • Propulsion 275 ch (Highland 2023-)

    ✓ Recommended

    Electric · Automatic · 275 hp · 12.2 kWh/100 km · Crit'Air green

    Rear-wheel-drive version of the Highland facelift: 275 hp, 60 kWh gross LFP battery (57.5 kWh usable), WLTP range of 513 km and 578 L boot (front and rear) according to Fiches-auto. Built after the period covered by the suspension link-arm recall (January 2019 to June 2021).

  • Grande Autonomie 441 ch

    ✓ Recommended

    Electric · Automatic · 441 hp · Crit'Air green

    All-wheel drive, 441 hp and 493 Nm. 82 kWh gross battery (77 kWh usable) and 545 L boot (50 L front, 495 L rear) in 2021; 79 kWh battery and 578 L boot on the Highland version (Fiches-auto).

  • Performance 513 ch (2019-2023)

    Electric · Automatic · 513 hp · Crit'Air green

    All-wheel drive, 513 hp and 660 Nm, 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 s according to Fiches-auto (2021 version). The most powerful before the facelift.

Market prices

€21,000 – €47,000

Indicative range: 2019 to 2026, yearly medians of 411 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Premature wear of the front wishbones and bushes

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The bushes built into the suspension arms, especially at the front, are judged undersized: their wear creates play in the running gear, accelerates tyre and other component wear and can degrade handling. The typical symptom is squeaking or creaking when turning or over a speed bump. According to Car Verif, the problem can appear around 40,000 km, but many serious repairs take place between 70,000 and 120,000 km. Owners have obtained replacement of complete upper wishbones.

Versions
Standard Range Plus 325 ch (2019-2021), Propulsion 275 ch (Highland 2023-), Grande Autonomie 441 ch, Performance 513 ch (2019-2023)
Onset
between 40,000 km and 120,000 km
Repair
not documented

Faults found at the MOT: brakes, lighting, axles

Severity 2/3 · Costly

The Model 3 is ranked last in the German TÜV report, with a failure rate of 14.7% when it entered the ranking, then 14.2% at the first three-year inspection in the 2025 report; the faults relate mainly to brakes, lighting and axles. The TÜV attributes the braking faults to regenerative braking, which puts little strain on the discs and lets them degrade.

Versions
Standard Range Plus 325 ch (2019-2021), Grande Autonomie 441 ch, Performance 513 ch (2019-2023)
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Water ingress (rear lights, seals, side cameras)

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

Model 3s are fairly often affected by water ingress: rear lights filling with water, condensation on the glazing and inside the lamps, side cameras fogging up (with loss of driver assistance), or even water under the mats. Ingress through the door and window seals is also reported in heavy rain.

Versions
Standard Range Plus 325 ch (2019-2021), Grande Autonomie 441 ch, Performance 513 ch (2019-2023)
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

Front suspension link-arm fixings loosely tightened (recall)

Manufacturer recall

On some examples, the bolts fixing the lateral suspension link arms to the subframe may not have been tightened enough. They can loosen over time until the link arm separates, causing a sudden change in wheel geometry and a loss of stability. Tesla recalled Model 3s built between January 2019 and June 2021 to inspect and retighten or replace these bolts free of charge. Owners of affected cars have reported creaking or cracking from the front end.

Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).

Versions
Standard Range Plus 325 ch (2019-2021), Grande Autonomie 441 ch, Performance 513 ch (2019-2023)
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Tesla Model 3”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Electricity€27
Insurance€82
Maintenance€33
Depreciation€270
Total per month€412

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Maintenance: budget of a closely related model.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Electricity€27

Propulsion 275 ch (Highland 2023-) version: combined consumption of 12.2 kWh/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 0.194 €/kWh, for 1,000 km a month.

12.2 × 1.15 × 0.194 € × 10 = €27

Electricity price: EDF regulated Base tariff, home charging (as of 7 October 2026).

Insurance€82

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€33

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€270

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Test the car with the window down, at full steering lock and over a speed bump: a creak or crack from the front end signals worn wishbones or bushes.
  • Check with Tesla, using the serial number, that the front suspension link-arm recall (cars built from January 2019 to June 2021) has been carried out.
  • Have the brake discs and pads checked, which are often corroded from lack of use, as well as the lighting.
  • Look for traces of water in the rear lights, under the mats and on the side cameras.
  • Check tyre wear (uneven wear may mean a geometry problem) and ask for a report on the battery's state of health.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Have the recalls, in particular the front suspension link-arm recall, been carried out at Tesla?
  • Has the front end (wishbones, ball joints, bushes) already been repaired? Do you have the invoices?
  • Has the car had a re-test at the MOT, and for what reason?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

No alternative in our guides yet.

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Tesla Model 3 I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Euro NCAP rating of the Tesla Model 3?

5 stars in 2019, with 96% for adult protection, 86% for children, 74% for vulnerable road users and 94% for safety assist. The facelifted version again obtained 5 stars in 2025.

What is the weak point of a used Model 3?

The front end: wear of the wishbones and bushes (noises when turning or over a speed bump) and a recall for loosely tightened link-arm fixings on examples built from January 2019 to June 2021. Car Verif rates the electrical components rather well.

Why does the Model 3 often fail the MOT?

The German TÜV mainly finds brake, lighting and axle faults. Regenerative braking puts little strain on the discs, which degrade; according to the TÜV, axle wear is linked to the high weight of electric cars.

Found a listing?

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