Audi A3
From 632,300 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer A3s fare better: 2021 models pass at 93.5% vs 66.8% for 1998.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened. The top issue, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, caused 14,921 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 14,921 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 14,341 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 12,873 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 12,072 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 10,358 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 9,170 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 8,064 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 7,951 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 7,910 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 6,347 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 20.1% of A3 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 36.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £111.
Fuel type matters
Hybrid versions pass at 87.9% while Diesel versions pass at 77.1%, a 11 percentage point gap.
Audi A3 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 20,323 newly registered in the past year with 19,234 leaving, a net gain of 1,089. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 433,575 | 27,424 | +6,334 | -4,996 | +1,338 |
| 2025 Q2 | 432,901 | 26,760 | +5,566 | -5,291 | +275 |
| 2025 Q1 | 432,955 | 26,431 | +4,827 | -4,497 | +330 |
| 2024 Q4 | 433,607 | 25,449 | +3,596 | -4,450 | -854 |
| 2024 Q3 | 435,100 | 24,810 | +5,246 | -4,900 | +346 |
| 2024 Q2 | 435,118 | 24,446 | +8,031 | -4,994 | +3,037 |
| 2024 Q1 | 432,494 | 24,033 | +9,643 | -4,658 | +4,985 |
| 2023 Q4 | 428,425 | 23,117 | +6,587 | -3,479 | +3,108 |
20 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| A3 Sport Tdi | Diesel | 35,401 | 14% |
| A3 S Line Tdi | Diesel | 26,455 | 10% |
| A3 Sport Tfsi | Petrol | 22,611 | 9% |
| A3 Se Tdi | Diesel | 20,196 | 8% |
| A3 S Line Tfsi | Petrol | 17,447 | 7% |
| A3 S Line 35 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 17,389 | 7% |
| A3 S Line 35 Tfsi | Petrol | 11,685 | 5% |
| A3 Sport 40 Tfsi E S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 11,130 | 4% |
| A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-A | Plug-In Hybrid Electric (Petrol) | 10,838 | 4% |
| A3 Se Tfsi | Petrol | 10,507 | 4% |
| A3 S Line Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 9,931 | 4% |
| A3 S Line 30 Tfsi | Petrol | 8,810 | 3% |
| A3 Sport Tfsi S-A | Petrol | 8,738 | 3% |
| A3 Sport 138 Tdi | Diesel | 8,145 | 3% |
| A3 S Line 30 Tfsi Mhev S-A | Petrol | 7,173 | 3% |
| A3 S Ln Blk Ed 35 Tfsi Mhev Sa | Petrol | 6,805 | 3% |
| A3 Se Technik Tdi | Diesel | 6,691 | 3% |
| A3 Sport 30 Tfsi | Petrol | 6,585 | 3% |
| A3 S Line Tdi S-A | Diesel | 6,086 | 2% |
| A3 S Line Sp Edtn Tdi 138 | Diesel | 5,588 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 93.5% | a tyre seriously damaged, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2020 | 91.4% | a tyre seriously damaged, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2019 | 91.1% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2018 | 90.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
21 earlier years
| 2017 | 89.3% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2016 | 88% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2015 | 85.6% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2014 | 83.4% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2013 | 80.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 76.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2011 | 74.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 72.8% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2009 | 72.5% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2008 | 70.6% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2007 | 69% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2006 | 67.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 66.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2004 | 65.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2003 | 65.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2002 | 67.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2001 | 68.1% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2000 | 65.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1999 | 67.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1998 | 66.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1997 | 64.5% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all A3s tested had between 59,802 and 127,626 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 98,621 median miles, the A3 has 0.02 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi A3 MOT pass rate?
The Audi A3 has a 80.5% MOT pass rate based on 632,300 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi A3?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi A3 is tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, which caused 14,921 failures. Other common issues include a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Audi A3s are on UK roads?
There are 433,575 Audi A3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 27,424 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi A3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi A3 is 98,621 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 59,802 and 127,626 miles.
Buying a used A3?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 80.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £111 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.