Audi S3: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Audi S3 passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 3.7 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 3,506 individual Audi S3 tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 80.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 20 in every 100 Audi S3s 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 S3 tested had covered 94,886 miles and was built around 2010.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Audi S3 sits 3.7 points above the national average, ranked 1,427 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 S3 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 S3s at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Audi S3

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 1.8% of tests (4.98x the national rate for this defect)
2. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.5% of tests (2.88x the national rate for this defect)
3. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.9% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
4. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 3.2% of tests (1.41x 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 (1.38x the national rate for this defect)
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.2% of tests (1.2x the national rate for this defect)
7. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 2.6% of tests
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 2.3% of tests
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 2.2% of tests
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.1% of tests

From 3,465 DVSA-tracked Audi S3 tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 4.5% of these flagged Audi S3 defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Audi S3

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 S3 before it actually fails on it.

1. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 10.9% of tests (2.1x the national rate for this advisory)
2. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 2.1% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 7.9% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this advisory)
4. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.9% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory)
5. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 5.5% of tests (1.17x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
6. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 26.2% of tests, also fails
7. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 10.2% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 8.5% of tests, also fails
9. A tyre seriously damaged, 8.1% of tests, also fails
10. a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, 6.5% of tests

From 3,465 DVSA-tracked Audi S3 tests, 2024.

Audi S3 pass rate by model year

From its 2007 to its 2014 model year, the Audi S3's first-time pass rate has risen 7.8 points, from 78.8% to 86.6%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. First-time pass rate for each Audi S3 year:

• 2007 Audi S3 - 78.8% first-time pass, 321 tests
• 2008 Audi S3 - 80.7% first-time pass, 274 tests
• 2009 Audi S3 - 82.1% first-time pass, 263 tests
• 2010 Audi S3 - 78.4% first-time pass, 347 tests
• 2011 Audi S3 - 78.8% first-time pass, 293 tests
• 2013 Audi S3 - 85% first-time pass, 214 tests
• 2014 Audi S3 - 86.6% first-time pass, 702 tests

Other Audi models

• Audi A3 - 78.1%
• 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%

Models with a similar pass rate

• Audi A5 - 80.4%
• Tesla Model S - 80.4%
• Ford Transit Custom 300 Trend Eblue - 80.4%
• Vauxhall Corsa E Elite Nav - 80.4%
• Lexus Gs450h - 80.4%
• Skoda Yeti - 80.3%

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