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MOT reliability

Audi A3

586,036 vehicles · 7,407,377 completed MOT tests analysed
78%
MOT pass rate

Based on 586,036 Audi A3 vehicles and 7,407,377 completed MOT tests, the Audi A3 has an overall 78% pass rate, with an average recorded mileage of 112,882 miles.

586,036
Vehicles
7,407,377
MOT tests
8,140
Avg miles / year
1.8
Faults per test
3%
Dangerous-fault share

Audi A3 problem areas

Where faults occur most across all Audi A3 MOT tests:

  • Other53%
  • Tyres, wheels & suspension29%
  • Brakes13%
  • Lamps & electrical6%
  • Emissions & nuisance3%
  • Body & structure3%
  • Visibility3%
  • Steering1%

Audi A3 pass rate by age

How the Audi A3's MOT pass rate changes as it ages (buckets with 20+ tests).

Age (years)TestsPass rate
123590%
219,73789%
3619,36687%
4610,32886%
5618,92885%
6638,60083%
7644,72381%
8633,01979%
9606,03777%
10560,74375%
11505,28373%
12442,16372%
13380,12770%
14318,20069%
15256,93269%
16194,95668%
17137,11268%
1891,06167%
1956,65167%
2032,38167%

Fuel types: Diesel (309,698), Petrol (273,250), Hybrid Electric (Clean) (2,999), Other (58), LPG (20), Electric (7), Gas Bi-Fuel (2), CNG (1)

Most common Audi A3 MOT faults

These are the faults and advisories recorded most often across Audi A3 MOT tests:

  1. Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (235,887 times)
  2. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (229,346 times)
  3. Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (212,317 times)
  4. Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (208,945 times)
  5. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (167,278 times)
  6. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1) (151,479 times)
  7. Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (149,541 times)
  8. Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e)) (138,548 times)
  9. Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components (136,002 times)
  10. Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i)) (132,783 times)
  11. Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii)) (104,568 times)
  12. Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (103,239 times)
  13. Engine covers fitted obscuring some components in the engine bay (103,114 times)
  14. Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii)) (95,020 times)
  15. Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i)) (91,874 times)

Audi A3 pass rate by registration year

YearVehiclesTestsPass rateAvg mileage
2026 3 4 100% 23,962
2025 18 26 96% 41,256
2024 9 17 94% 45,922
2023 27 40 98% 30,817
2022 76 143 92% 41,135
2021 225 626 89% 41,372
2020 4,620 18,590 90% 45,705
2019 21,378 108,625 89% 53,853
2018 28,670 172,765 89% 60,761
2017 36,694 265,480 89% 70,092
2016 42,831 343,879 88% 78,475
2015 46,441 427,742 86% 88,199
2014 44,089 456,102 85% 97,492
2013 31,220 363,672 83% 108,154
2012 30,059 395,810 80% 116,913
2011 26,373 373,165 79% 125,200
2010 32,209 490,922 78% 125,317
2009 31,874 509,498 77% 131,368
2008 31,241 523,855 76% 136,846
2007 28,585 500,321 75% 144,484
2006 28,810 523,636 74% 146,373
2005 27,228 494,838 73% 149,289
2004 21,482 372,949 72% 145,810
2003 13,075 230,823 72% 143,306
2002 10,793 187,583 70% 147,210
2001 11,287 176,163 70% 140,063
2000 10,567 155,424 69% 140,381
1999 9,934 130,701 68% 137,581
1998 9,255 112,237 67% 137,667
1997 5,962 65,213 65% 134,930
1996 734 7,547 64% 132,014
1995 2 6 50% 133,761
1993 2 30 70% 118,705
1991 1 19 58% 144,229
1990 3 26 69% 106,918
1989 1 1 0% 222,164
1985 1 2 50% 79,148
1984 1 2 50% 118,706
1981 1 2 50% 107,071
1977 1 1 100% 70,502
1975 1 1 100% 219,718
1971 10 82 68% 138,568

Audi A3 reliability FAQ

Across 586,036 Audi A3 vehicles in our MOT data, 78% pass the MOT (a 22% failure rate), with about 1.8 faults or advisories recorded per test.

The most frequently recorded Audi A3 MOT issues are: 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).

The typical Audi A3 in our data has covered around 112,882 miles.

Compare the Audi A3

See how the Audi A3 stacks up against other Audi models on MOT reliability:

A3 vs A4 A3 vs A6 A3 vs A1 A3 vs Tt

Check a specific Audi A3

Enter a registration to see that exact vehicle's full MOT history, advisories and recurring faults.

See all Audi models · Learn about common MOT failures · what an MOT checks