One in four Tesla Model 3 vehicles do not pass safety inspections in Denmark | Carscoops

      Denmark's vehicle inspectors identified three times as many issues with MY2020 Model 3s compared to competing electric vehicles.

      As of last year, approximately 23% of MY2020 Tesla Model 3s did not pass a mandatory safety inspection. Inspectors reported a total of 1,392 defects, which is triple the number found in other electric vehicles. Common issues included problems with lighting, braking, steering, and suspension.

      Electric vehicles typically have fewer moving parts than traditional combustion vehicles, so they are expected to be less prone to malfunctions. However, this does not seem to apply to the Model 3, as nearly one in four units of this electric sedan failed safety tests in Denmark last year.

      MY2020 Model 3s required inspection by the Danish Road Traffic Authority starting in 2024. Out of 4,668 tested vehicles, 1,051 failed, resulting in a failure rate of 23%, which is significantly higher than the 9% failure rate of competing EVs, according to the Federation of Danish Motorists (FDM).

      Additionally, inspectors reported 1,392 defects in the Teslas, which is three times greater than the defects recorded in other electric vehicles. Issues with lighting, braking, steering, and suspension were frequently observed. A similar reliability assessment by Germany's TÜV found comparable problems with Model 3s in their market. The Model 3 ranked last in the TÜV reliability study for both 2023 and 2024.

      Regarding newer Model 3s, the recent Danish data only pertains to MY2020 vehicles, but FDM’s Lone Otto anticipates that recent models might face similar issues. "We have no reason to believe that newer versions of the Tesla Model 3 will significantly differ from the 2020 model in terms of defects and failure rates," said the manager of the technical advisory team. "It will be interesting to see how the Tesla Model Y performs."

      The Model Y has been a top seller in Denmark, leading the list of the most popular electric vehicles in the country, which means a significant number will be included in the inspection process in 2025. A total of 62,000 electric vehicles will undergo testing, with 45,000 being inspected for the first time, demonstrating the rapid growth of the EV market from 2020 to 2021.

      Recently, in the US, Tesla had to recall 380,000 vehicles after reports from some Model 3 and Model Y owners regarding loss of steering assistance. The automaker issued an over-the-air (OTA) update to resolve this issue.