Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 11.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 979 individual Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate88.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+11.9 points
Tests analysed979
Average mileage at test37,737 miles
Average year of manufacture2020
Reliability rank912 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 88.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 11 in every 100 Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-As 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 S Line 35 Tdi S-A tested had covered 37,737 miles and was built around 2020.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A sits 11.9 points above the national average, ranked 912 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. Or compare it against another model.

Looking at a specific Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-As at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A

  1. A tyre seriously damaged, 5.3% of tests (1.9x the national rate for this defect)
  2. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3% of tests (1.77x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 3.1% of tests
  4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 0.8% of tests
  5. Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, 0.5% of tests
  6. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 0.5% of tests
  7. A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative, 0.4% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 0.4% of tests
  9. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 0.2% of tests
  10. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 0.2% of tests

From 978 DVSA-tracked Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 8.71% of these flagged Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A 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 S Line 35 Tdi S-A

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 S Line 35 Tdi S-A before it actually fails on it.

  1. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 30.1% of tests, also fails
  2. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.1% of tests, also fails
  3. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 8.2% of tests, also fails
  4. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 7.2% of tests
  5. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.1% of tests, also fails
  6. Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn, 2.8% of tests
  7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 1.5% of tests
  8. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 0.4% of tests
  9. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 0.2% of tests
  10. A seat belt webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened, 0.2% of tests

From 978 DVSA-tracked Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A tests, 2024.

Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A pass rate by model year

From its 2020 to its 2021 model year, the Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A's first-time pass rate has risen 2.4 points, from 88.1% to 90.5%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A year:

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Models with a similar pass rate

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Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A MOT pass rate badge: 88.6%

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Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A most common MOT failure: A tyre seriously damaged (5.3% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate