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Tesla Model 3 / Model Y vs VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Tesla Model 3 / Model Y carries less risk than the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric: 24/100 (low risk) versus 30/100 (moderate risk). The Tesla Model 3 / Model Y has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Total failure of the traction battery in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y»; the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Damaged cells in the high-voltage battery (January 2021 recall)».

Risk index

Tesla Model 3 / Model Y

24

Low risk · 2 serious faults

Lower risk

Risk index

VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric

30

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

13 sourcesHow we work

Is the Tesla Model 3 / Model Y reliable?

The electric drivetrain of the Model 3 and Model Y has had few documented problems in Europe: ADAC puts the three-year-old Model 3 at 0.7 faults per 1,000 vehicles, and Aviloo measures battery health at around 89–90% at 150,000 km. There are only isolated cases of battery, motor and, somewhat more often, on-board charger or charging port failures.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the Tesla Model 3 / Model Y faults

Is the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric reliable?

The up! electric drivetrain has few documented faults: the only significant one is a January 2021 recall over damaged cells that affected 213 cars worldwide. The data is scarce because few units were sold.[4][5]

See the 2 of the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Tesla Model 3 / Model Y and VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric
Tesla Model 3 / Model YVW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelElectricalElectrical
Displacement——
Timing——
Power275–513 hp54–83 hp
Productionsince 2019[1][6][7][8]2013–2023[9][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)24Low risk30Moderate risk
Documented faults32
Of high or critical severity21
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Total failure of the traction battery in the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
  2. Medium severity: Failure of the on-board charger or charging port on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y
  3. High severity: Failure of the electric motor or traction unit on the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y that immobilises the car
  1. Critical severity: Damaged cells in the high-voltage battery (January 2021 recall)
  2. Low severity: High-voltage battery discharged after a long period parked
Most expensive documented repairup to €14,000Total failure of the traction battery in the Tesla Model 3 and Model YPublished figure[1]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • Rear-wheel drive (Model 3 276–325 hp, Model Y 275–347 hp)[1][3][6]
  • Long Range dual motor (441 hp)[1][11]
  • Performance dual motor (513 hp)[1][12]
None
With cautionVersions to be cautious aboutNone
  • e-up! 18.7 kWh, up to 82 hp (2013-2019)[4]
  • e-up!, Citigo e iV and Mii electric 36.8 kWh, 83 hp (2019-2023)[5][13]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

Tesla Model 3 / Model Y

VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric

Other comparisons

With the Tesla Model 3 / Model Y

With the VW e-up! / Škoda Citigo e iV / Seat Mii electric

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité Tesla Model 3 (2018-2023): 63 témoignages, problèmes connus et rappelsfiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  2. Ni un solo eléctrico baja del 86 % de batería: 500.000 tests miden la degradación de 20 modelos a los 150.000 kmtestcoches.es · Motoring press · published 4 September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
  3. ADAC-Pannenstatistik 2026: Die Patienten werden immer älterMotor1 Deutschland · Motoring press · published 23 April 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  4. Volkswagen e-up!: Probleme und SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  5. Rückrufaktion bei VW E-Up, Seat Mii und Skoda Citigoauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published January 2021 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  6. Fiabilité Tesla Model Y (2021-2025): 19 témoignages, problèmes connus et rappelsfiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  7. Tesla Model 3Wikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  8. Tesla Model YWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  9. VW e-up! (Wikipedia, alemán)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  10. Volkswagen e-Up! (Wikipedia, inglés)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  11. Tesla Model 3 und Model Y: Akku-Degradation nach 150.000 kmelektroquatsch.de · Motoring press · published 25 September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  12. Tesla delaying Model Y Performance deliveries from Giga Berlin over drive unit issuesDrive Tesla Canada · Motoring press · published 25 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
  13. Fiabilité Volkswagen Up (2011-2023) : pannes et avis des propriétairesFiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French