Audi A3 MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Audi A3 passed 74.2% of its first MOT tests, from 410,451 tests in Great Britain. That is 2.8 points above the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Audi A3 MOT failures
The area that failed most often was suspension, affecting 8.8% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Suspension 8.8% vs 8.9%
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 8.4% vs 11.3%
- Tyres 7.6% vs 6.3%
- Brakes 5.8% vs 6.8%
- Visibility 3.2% vs 4.8%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 3.2% vs 3.1%
- Body, chassis, structure 3.0% vs 3.4%
- Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems 1.1% vs 1.0%
- Tyres: condition 4.6% vs 3.7%
- Coil spring 3.6% vs 2.6%
- Headlamp aim 3.5% vs 3.3%
- Tread depth 3.2% vs 2.6%
- Brake pads 2.2% vs 2.1%
- Malfunction indicator lamp 1.9% vs 1.5%
- Joints 1.9% vs 1.4%
- Linkage ball joint dust cover 1.8% vs 0.7%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: Fractured or broken | 3.5% |
| Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm | 3.1% |
| Brake pads: Less than 1.5 mm thick | 1.9% |
| Linkage ball joint dust cover: Ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 1.8% |
| Joints: Constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt | 1.8% |
| Tyres: condition: Has ply or cords exposed | 1.7% |
| Headlamp aim: Projected beam image is obviously incorrect | 1.6% |
| Tyres: condition: Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords | 1.5% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 1.3% |
| Headlamp: Not working on dipped beam | 1.2% |
Audi A3 pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 88.4% for cars aged 3 to 5 years and 57.1% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 3 to 5 years 88.4% vs 71.4%
- 6 to 9 years 83.1% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 67.2% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 57.1% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 215,307 | 70.0% |
| Petrol | 192,347 | 78.7% |
| Hybrid | 2,788 | 84.3% |
Most common Audi A3 advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Tread depth 19.8%
- Brake discs 11.9%
- Tyres: condition 9.7%
- Brake pads 8.8%
- Pins and bushes 5.5%
- Vehicle 5.3%
- Shock absorbers 4.8%
- Engine oil leaks 3.9%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Audi models
- Audi A4 (72.4%)
- Audi A1 (78.2%)
- Audi A6 (78.8%)
- Audi A5 (78.4%)
- Audi TT (75.8%)
- Audi Q3 (83.1%)
- Audi Q5 (83.7%)
Similar popular models
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi A3?
In 2023, 74.2% of Audi A3 MOT tests were passed first time, from 410,451 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Audi A3?
The most common failure area was suspension, which caused 8.8% of tests to fail. Next came lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (8.4%) and tyres (7.6%).
Is the Audi A3 reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 74.2% is 2.8 points above the average and ranks 34 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Audi A3's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.