Audi A3: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Audi A3 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 1.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 392,491 individual Audi A3 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 78.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 22 in every 100 Audi A3s presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Audi A3 tested had covered 91,191 miles and was built around 2013.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Audi A3 sits 1.4 points above the national average, ranked 1,516 of 2,005 models. On one bought as repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.

Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. See how it stacks up against the Ford Fiesta.

Looking at a specific Audi A3 rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see the median recorded closing bid for a damaged Audi A3: £425 at UK salvage auction, from 72 ended listings, not independently confirmed sales.

Most common MOT failures on a Audi A3

1. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.8% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect)
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.5% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.4% of tests (1.48x the national rate for this defect)
4. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.4% of tests (1.4x the national rate for this defect)
5. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.1% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect)
6. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.1% of tests (1.27x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
8. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 1.6% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.3% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.7% of tests

From 392,171 DVSA-tracked Audi A3 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 5.77% of these flagged Audi A3 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Audi A3

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Audi A3 before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 9.7% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory)
2. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 6.1% of tests (1.56x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.8% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.4% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 1.6% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30% of tests, also fails
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 14.8% of tests, also fails
8. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 14.1% of tests
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 12.7% of tests, also fails
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.4% of tests

From 392,171 DVSA-tracked Audi A3 tests, 2024.

Audi A3 pass rate by model year

From its 1999 to its 2020 model year, the Audi A3's first-time pass rate has risen 21.2 points, from 69.2% to 90.4%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Audi A3 year:

• 1998 Audi A3 - 61% first-time pass, 246 tests
• 1999 Audi A3 - 69.2% first-time pass, 305 tests
• 2000 Audi A3 - 65.6% first-time pass, 550 tests
• 2001 Audi A3 - 66.9% first-time pass, 888 tests
• 2002 Audi A3 - 64.8% first-time pass, 1,219 tests
• 2003 Audi A3 - 66.4% first-time pass, 1,588 tests
• 2004 Audi A3 - 62.4% first-time pass, 3,426 tests
• 2005 Audi A3 - 63.7% first-time pass, 7,940 tests
• 2006 Audi A3 - 63.7% first-time pass, 11,790 tests
• 2007 Audi A3 - 66.4% first-time pass, 14,658 tests
• 2008 Audi A3 - 66.8% first-time pass, 18,949 tests
• 2009 Audi A3 - 67.9% first-time pass, 22,330 tests
• 2010 Audi A3 - 68.8% first-time pass, 24,765 tests
• 2011 Audi A3 - 70.5% first-time pass, 21,562 tests
• 2012 Audi A3 - 72.2% first-time pass, 25,744 tests
• 2013 Audi A3 - 78.1% first-time pass, 27,391 tests
• 2014 Audi A3 - 81.8% first-time pass, 39,051 tests
• 2015 Audi A3 - 84.9% first-time pass, 41,841 tests
• 2016 Audi A3 - 87.4% first-time pass, 39,116 tests
• 2017 Audi A3 - 88.1% first-time pass, 34,036 tests
• 2018 Audi A3 - 89.2% first-time pass, 27,197 tests
• 2019 Audi A3 - 89.9% first-time pass, 20,705 tests
• 2020 Audi A3 - 90.4% first-time pass, 4,581 tests
• 2021 Audi A3 - 91.5% first-time pass, 213 tests

Audi A3 by fuel type

The Audi A3's two most-tested fuel types split by 7 points: diesel passes first time 75.1% of the time (200,604 tests) against 82.1% for petrol (186,843 tests).

• Diesel Audi A3 - 75.1% first-time pass, 200,604 tests
• Petrol Audi A3 - 82.1% first-time pass, 186,843 tests
• Hybrid Audi A3 - 87.1% first-time pass, 2,768 tests

Other Audi models

• Audi A4 - 76.3%
• Audi A1 - 79.5%
• Audi A6 - 81.9%
• Audi A5 - 80.4%
• Audi Tt - 78.8%
• Audi Q3 - 83.5%
• Audi Q5 - 84.8%
• Audi Q2 - 91.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Jaguar Xjr - 78.3%
• Volkswagen Touareg - 78.2%
• Citroen C4 Picasso - 78.2%
• Honda Insight - 78.1%
• MINI First - 78.1%
• Subaru Impreza - 78%

If this car is a salvage or write-off

• What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
• What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
• Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate