Verdict
The 2015 Audi A3 1.6 Diesel passes its MOT first time on 80.8% of tests, against 75.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 82% of cars on UK roads. These cars cover about 11,300 miles a year, with about 67,000 miles at a typical MOT.
Its lead grows with age: about 2–3 points ahead of a typical car of the same age and mileage at 3 years old, about 5 points ahead at 5–6, and 7–8 points ahead at 9–11. Across all years of the 1.6 diesel it is about level under 20,000 miles, 6–7 points ahead from 60,000 to 100,000 miles and still about 5 points ahead at 120,000–150,000.
2016 cars with this engine do best, beating nearly nine in ten cars, with 2014 and 2017 close behind; 2009–2012 cars beat about two in three. In 2015 the 1.6 diesel does least well of the A3's engines, just behind the 1.2 petrol: the 1.4 petrol, the most common, beats more than nine in ten cars and the 2.0 diesel about nine in ten. The A3 as a whole beats about three in four.
Steering, suspension, brakes and lights fail far less often than on a typical car. The weak spots are warning lights and emissions: the engine warning light fails 2.6 times as often as on a typical car (about 1 in 32 tests), the airbag warning light 1.9 times, and emissions and leaks overall 1.6 times.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT.
Where it fails
Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.
Every MOT area
Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).
Buying one or MOT due? Check these
- Engine warning light
Its main weak spot: it fails 2.6 times as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 32 tests, making it the second most common fail. The light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts; if it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy. - Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
Fails on about 1 in 115 tests, a little below the typical rate. Make sure no tyre-pressure warning stays on after start-up. - Airbag warning light
Fails 1.9 times as often as on a typical car, though only on about 1 in 200 tests. The airbag light should go out a few seconds after start-up. - Tyres
Tyre damage is the most common fail, on about 1 in 25 tests, and tyre damage advisories come up 1.4 times as often as typical. Check both sidewalls of every tyre for cuts, bulges and cracking, and look for at least 3 mm of tread including the inner edge. - Headlight aim
Fails on about 1 in 35 tests, a little above the typical rate. Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left. - Shock absorbers
Rarely a fail, but an advisory on about 1 in 22 tests, 1.5 times as often as typical. Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. Look for oily dampers.
Pass rate by mileage
First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.
Most common MOT failures
| Item | This car | Typical | vs typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyre damage & cracking | 4.0% | 3.4% | 1.2× |
| Engine warning light | 3.1% | 1.2% | 2.6× |
| Headlight aim | 2.8% | 2.5% | 1.2× |
| Tyre tread depth | 2.6% | 2.8% | 0.9× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.0× |
| Brake pads | 1.5% | 2.4% | 0.6× |
| Windscreen washers | 1.5% | 1.8% | 0.8× |
| Coil springs | 1.3% | 1.8% | 0.7× |
| Windscreen wipers | 0.9% | 2.0% | 0.4× |
| Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) | 0.9% | 1.0% | 0.9× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 31.0 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 28.5 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 26.5 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 23.5 |
| A tyre cords visible or damaged | 15.2 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 14.8 |
| Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 14.8 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 13.5 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Advisories
Not a fail yet, but likely to need attention soon.
| Item | Share of tests | vs typical |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre tread depth | 17.8% | 1.0× |
| Brake discs | 11.3% | 1.1× |
| Tyre damage & cracking | 9.8% | 1.4× |
| Brake pads | 8.3% | 1.0× |
| Shock absorbers | 4.6% | 1.5× |
| Engine oil leaks | 2.2% | 1.1× |
| Number plates | 1.8% | 1.4× |
| Suspension arm bushes | 1.0% | 0.3× |
Best and worst years
A3 1.6 Diesel by year, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Other 2015 A3 engines
Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 85.9% | Beats 94% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 80.8% | Beats 82% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel | 82.5% | Beats 90% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 88.4% | Beats 99% | A |
| 1.2 Petrol | 83.1% | Beats 83% | A |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 84.8% | Beats 95% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 86.7% | Beats 94% | A |
| 2.5 Petrol | 88.9% | Beats 99% | A |
FAQ
What is the MOT pass rate of a 2015 Audi A3 1.6 Diesel?
80.8% of MOT tests on the 2015 Audi A3 1.6 Diesel were passed first time, from 104,607 tests between 2018 and 2026. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 75.3%.
Is the 2015 Audi A3 1.6 Diesel reliable?
On MOT results it is well above average: it beats 82% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and its lead over a typical car grows as it gets older. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
What are the most common MOT failures on the 2015 Audi A3 1.6 Diesel?
Tyre damage (about 1 in 25 tests), the engine warning light (about 1 in 32, 2.6 times the typical rate), headlight aim and tyre tread depth.
Which year of Audi A3 1.6 Diesel is best?
2016 cars do best, beating nearly nine in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, with 2014 and 2017 close behind. 2009–2012 cars beat about two in three.
Which 2015 Audi A3 engine is best?
All of them do well, but the 1.6 diesel does least well, just behind the 1.2 petrol. The 2.0 petrol and 2.5 petrol beat almost all cars, the 1.4 petrol more than nine in ten and the 2.0 diesel about nine in ten.
Does the Audi A3 1.6 diesel hold up at high mileage?
On MOT results, yes: across all years it passes 6–7 points more often than a typical car from 60,000 to 100,000 miles, and about 5 points more from 120,000 to 150,000.