Audi S3
From 8,377 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer S3s fare better: 2017 models pass at 92.4% vs 80.2% for 2007.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 133 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.
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 133 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 111 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 103 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 100 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 86 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 85 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 79 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 68 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 67 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 67 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 19.8% of S3 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 33.3% 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 £120.
Audi S3 on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 1,576 newly registered in the past year with 460 leaving, a net gain of 1,116. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 35,698 | 3,039 | +464 | -174 | +290 |
| 2025 Q2 | 35,483 | 2,964 | +327 | -170 | +157 |
| 2025 Q1 | 35,315 | 2,975 | +350 | -115 | +235 |
| 2024 Q4 | 35,085 | 2,970 | +435 | -1 | +434 |
| 2024 Q3 | 34,774 | 2,847 | +492 | -157 | +335 |
| 2024 Q2 | 34,516 | 2,770 | +479 | -136 | +343 |
| 2024 Q1 | 34,222 | 2,721 | +612 | -244 | +368 |
| 2023 Q4 | 33,949 | 2,626 | +889 | -99 | +790 |
13 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 9,475 | 27% |
| S3 Black Ed Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 6,389 | 18% |
| S3 Quattro | Gas | 4,153 | 12% |
| S3 Quattro S-A | Petrol | 4,039 | 11% |
| S3 Black Edition Tfsi Quat Sa | Petrol | 3,248 | 9% |
| S3 Tfsi Quattro | Petrol | 2,076 | 6% |
| S3 Nav Quattro S-A | Petrol | 1,831 | 5% |
| S3 Vorsprung Tfsi Quattro S-A | Petrol | 1,697 | 5% |
| S3 S Line Black Edit Tfsi Quat | Petrol | 786 | 2% |
| S3 Quattro Auto | Petrol | 644 | 2% |
| S3 S Line Black Ed Tfsi Quat A | Petrol | 619 | 2% |
| S3 Nav Quattro | Petrol | 544 | 2% |
| S3 Black Ed Tfsi Quattro | Petrol | 197 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 92.4% | brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2016 | 92.9% | lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 2015 | 94% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2014 | 88.5% | tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
12 earlier years
| 2013 | 90.4% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2012 | 84.6% | lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, emissions test unable to be completed |
| 2011 | 81.8% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2010 | 81.2% | a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 84.1% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
| 2008 | 83.2% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2007 | 80.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2003 | 69.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2002 | 79.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 2001 | 71.5% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 2000 | 81.2% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a tyre cords visible or damaged |
| 1999 | 72.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
Typical mileage
Half of all S3s tested had between 66,018 and 124,735 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 97,832 median miles, the S3 has 0.016 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Audi models
Common questions
What is the Audi S3 MOT pass rate?
The Audi S3 has a 84.6% MOT pass rate based on 8,377 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Audi S3?
The most common MOT failure on the Audi S3 is a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 133 failures. Other common issues include a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened.
How many Audi S3s are on UK roads?
There are 35,698 Audi S3s currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,039 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Audi S3 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Audi S3 is 97,832 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 66,018 and 124,735 miles.
Buying a used S3?
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 84.6% pass rate and an average repair bill of £120 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.