Audi A3 vs Audi S 3: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Audi A3
78%
MOT pass rate · 586,036 vehicles
Audi S 3
83%
MOT pass rate · 5 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Audi A3 (78%) and Audi S 3 (83%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Audi A3 | Audi S 3 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% | 83% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 22% | 17% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 | 1.2 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% ✓ | 7% |
| Average mileage | 112,882 mi | 62,848 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 586,036 | 5 |
Most common faults
Audi A3
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Audi S 3
- Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Tyre worn on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge tyre worn smooth on inside edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge Edges (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin Wearing off side brakes significantly faster than nearside. (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Audi A3 (78%) and Audi S 3 (83%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Audi A3 report Full Audi S 3 report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.