Diesel Audi A3: MOT pass rate

75.1% of diesel Audi A3s pass the MOT first time, measured across 200,604 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 113,157.

Diesel against the other Audi A3 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Audi A3 specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 87.1%, and this diesel version sits 3.5 points below the 78.6% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Audi A3 fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Audi A3 had covered 113,157 miles at test, against 71,951 for the petrol and 71,494 for the hybrid. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Audi A3 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Audi A3

1. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 4.7% of tests (2.55x the national rate for this defect)
2. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.7% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect)
3. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.9% of tests (1.84x the national rate for this defect)
4. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 2.1% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this defect)
5. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.5% of tests (1.62x the national rate for this defect)
6. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 1.5% of tests (1.61x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 2.5% of tests (1.5x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 4.6% of tests (1.43x the national rate for this defect)
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.1% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
10. A tyre seriously damaged, 3.3% of tests (1.19x the national rate for this defect)

From 201,643 DVSA-tracked diesel Audi A3 tests, 2024, split out from the Audi A3's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 5.68% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Audi A3

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 12.4% of tests (2.4x the national rate for this defect)
2. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.8% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 7.3% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.1% of tests (1.53x the national rate for this defect)
5. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 4% of tests (1.52x the national rate for this defect)
6. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 18.5% of tests (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 15.9% of tests (1.3x the national rate for this defect)
8. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 33.6% of tests (1.26x the national rate for this defect), also fails
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 13.4% of tests, also fails
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 10.1% of tests

From 201,643 DVSA-tracked diesel Audi A3 tests, 2024.

Other Audi A3 fuel types

• Petrol Audi A3 - 82.1%
• Hybrid Audi A3 - 87.1%

All Audi A3 MOT data · Every model