Verdict
The Audi A3 passes its MOT first time on 74.4% of tests, against 68.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 77% of cars on UK roads: level with the Škoda Octavia, slightly behind the BMW 1 Series, and ahead of the VW Golf, Mercedes A-Class and Ford Focus.
2013–2018 cars beat about nine in ten cars. 2005–2012 cars and cars from 2019 on both beat about seven in ten.
From 6 to 12 years old, an A3 passes about 6–8 points more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage.
Steering and lights fail much less often than on a typical car. The weak spot is ball joint dust covers, at about 2.1 times the typical rate and almost all of it on cars from before 2013.
Watch these weak spots
MOT pass rate by age
First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.
Best and worst years
By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.
Engines
All years, most common first. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 70.7% | Beats 77% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 76.5% | Beats 79% | B |
| 1.4 Petrol | 82.9% | Beats 90% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 79.0% | Beats 89% | A |
| 1.9 Diesel | 58.4% | Beats 62% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 58.6% | Beats 53% | C |
| 1.5 Petrol | 88.7% | Beats 86% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 69.8% | Beats 77% | B |
| 1.0 Petrol | 86.3% | Beats 68% | B |
| 1.2 Petrol | 77.7% | Beats 76% | B |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 85.6% | Beats 77% | B |
| 2.5 Petrol | 89.3% | Beats 97% | A |
| 3.2 Petrol | 63.8% | Beats 82% | A |
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
- Ball joint dust covers
Fail about twice as often as on a typical car on 2004–2012 cars. Look behind the front wheels for split rubber boots on the suspension and steering joints. - Drive shaft (CV) joints
CV joint boots fail about 1.6 times as often as on a typical car on 2004–2012 cars. Look for split boots and grease inside the front wheels, and listen for clicking on full lock. - Coil springs
One of the most common fails on 2004–2012 cars, at about 1.3 times the typical rate. Look behind each wheel for a snapped coil and listen for clunks over bumps. - Tyres
Tyre damage is the A3's most common fail, and on cars from 2019 on it comes up about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car. Check both sidewalls of every tyre for cuts, bulges and cracking. - Shock absorbers
About 1.5 times the typical rate on cars from 2013 on, and twice from 2019 on. Push down hard on each corner: it should rebound once and settle. - Headlight aim
The second most common fail, at about the typical rate. Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
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 | 4.4% | 3.8% | 1.2× |
| Headlight aim | 3.4% | 3.6% | 1.0× |
| Tyre tread depth | 3.2% | 3.0% | 1.0× |
| Coil springs | 3.1% | 2.7% | 1.2× |
| Brake pads | 1.9% | 2.3% | 0.9× |
| Drive shaft (CV) joints | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2× |
| Ball joint dust covers | 1.7% | 0.8% | 2.1× |
| Windscreen washers | 1.5% | 2.3% | 0.6× |
| Headlight bulbs & units | 1.5% | 2.4% | 0.6× |
| Brake lights | 1.3% | 2.4% | 0.5× |
Specific defects found
Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.
| Defect | per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 34.2 |
| Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 31.6 |
| A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 30.9 |
| A tyre seriously damaged | 25.8 |
| A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 25.7 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 18.6 |
| A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 17.5 |
| Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction | 17.5 |
Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.
Every year and engine
Tap a year to see its 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.
2023 Audi A33 engines88.3% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Petrol | 89.9% | Beats 69% | B |
| 1.0 Petrol | 87.1% | Beats 43% | C |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 85.4% | Beats 56% | C |
2022 Audi A34 engines89.2% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Petrol | 90.2% | Beats 72% | B |
| 1.0 Petrol | 89.9% | Beats 74% | B |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 86.2% | Beats 58% | C |
| 2.0 Diesel | 88.4% | Beats 79% | B |
2021 Audi A34 engines88.3% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Petrol | 89.3% | Beats 73% | B |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 86.7% | Beats 62% | B |
| 1.0 Petrol | 89.3% | Beats 75% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 86.3% | Beats 67% | B |
2020 Audi A37 engines88.4% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Petrol | 89.8% | Beats 82% | A |
| 1.0 Petrol | 87.7% | Beats 67% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 86.8% | Beats 72% | B |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 83.8% | Beats 32% | D |
| 2.0 Petrol | 88.7% | Beats 73% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 84.8% | Beats 58% | C |
| 2.5 Petrol | 91.4% | Beats 93% | A |
2019 Audi A36 engines87.5% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Petrol | 88.6% | Beats 85% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 85.0% | Beats 71% | B |
| 1.0 Petrol | 85.3% | Beats 60% | B |
| 2.0 Petrol | 88.5% | Beats 82% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel | 86.3% | Beats 79% | B |
| 2.5 Petrol | 90.1% | Beats 88% | A |
2018 Audi A37 engines87.5% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 Petrol | 88.4% | Beats 90% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 89.0% | Beats 94% | A |
| 1.0 Petrol | 85.0% | Beats 64% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 83.7% | Beats 74% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 86.5% | Beats 91% | A |
| 2.5 Petrol | 90.3% | Beats 95% | A |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 87.6% | Beats 93% | A |
2017 Audi A38 engines86.8% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Petrol | 89.1% | Beats 97% | A |
| 1.4 Petrol | 87.1% | Beats 89% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel | 85.8% | Beats 92% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 84.5% | Beats 86% | A |
| 1.5 Petrol | 87.7% | Beats 89% | A |
| 1.0 Petrol | 84.5% | Beats 70% | B |
| 2.5 Petrol | 90.4% | Beats 97% | A |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 85.6% | Beats 89% | A |
2016 Audi A39 engines85.7% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 86.8% | Beats 93% | A |
| 2.0 Diesel | 84.5% | Beats 92% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 83.6% | Beats 88% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 88.8% | Beats 98% | A |
| 1.0 Petrol | 84.8% | Beats 81% | A |
| 2.5 Petrol | 88.9% | Beats 98% | A |
| 1.2 Petrol | 83.1% | Beats 74% | B |
| 1.4 Hybrid | 83.9% | Beats 86% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 87.5% | Beats 94% | A |
2015 Audi A38 engines83.8% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 Petrol | 85.9% | Beats 94% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel report → | 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 |
2014 Audi A36 engines81.2% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 79.9% | Beats 90% | A |
| 1.4 Petrol | 83.3% | Beats 93% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 78.8% | Beats 87% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 86.4% | Beats 99% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 84.8% | Beats 95% | A |
| 1.2 Petrol | 81.5% | Beats 87% | A |
2013 Audi A36 engines77.3% passA
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 76.8% | Beats 89% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 74.7% | Beats 82% | A |
| 1.4 Petrol | 80.5% | Beats 92% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 82.4% | Beats 95% | A |
| 1.2 Petrol | 78.1% | Beats 81% | A |
| 2.0 Petrol | 85.5% | Beats 99% | A |
2012 Audi A39 engines71.4% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 71.3% | Beats 79% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 68.9% | Beats 67% | B |
| 1.4 Petrol | 75.7% | Beats 83% | A |
| 1.2 Petrol | 72.6% | Beats 67% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 68.9% | Beats 56% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 78.1% | Beats 92% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 77.4% | Beats 87% | A |
| 1.9 Diesel | 68.0% | Beats 65% | B |
| 2.5 Petrol | 85.1% | Beats 99% | A |
2011 Audi A38 engines69.0% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 68.8% | Beats 78% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 66.7% | Beats 68% | B |
| 2.0 Petrol | 75.0% | Beats 89% | A |
| 1.6 Petrol | 66.8% | Beats 59% | C |
| 1.4 Petrol | 72.1% | Beats 78% | B |
| 1.8 Petrol | 72.4% | Beats 75% | B |
| 1.2 Petrol | 69.8% | Beats 66% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 65.9% | Beats 66% | B |
2010 Audi A38 engines65.9% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 65.9% | Beats 76% | B |
| 1.6 Diesel | 63.4% | Beats 65% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 63.4% | Beats 56% | C |
| 1.4 Petrol | 69.2% | Beats 78% | B |
| 2.0 Petrol | 73.7% | Beats 92% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 70.6% | Beats 79% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 63.8% | Beats 67% | B |
| 1.2 Petrol | 67.1% | Beats 65% | B |
2009 Audi A37 engines64.9% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Diesel | 63.7% | Beats 74% | B |
| 2.0 Diesel | 64.4% | Beats 76% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 62.7% | Beats 62% | B |
| 2.0 Petrol | 71.9% | Beats 92% | A |
| 1.4 Petrol | 68.2% | Beats 80% | B |
| 1.8 Petrol | 68.9% | Beats 81% | A |
| 1.6 Diesel | 63.4% | Beats 69% | B |
2008 Audi A36 engines61.4% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 61.3% | Beats 70% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 59.3% | Beats 64% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 58.9% | Beats 56% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 69.3% | Beats 89% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 66.0% | Beats 77% | B |
| 1.4 Petrol | 63.5% | Beats 70% | B |
2007 Audi A36 engines59.1% passB
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 59.5% | Beats 67% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 55.5% | Beats 56% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 57.4% | Beats 54% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 65.4% | Beats 82% | A |
| 1.8 Petrol | 63.8% | Beats 72% | B |
| 3.2 Petrol | 68.0% | Beats 86% | A |
2006 Audi A35 engines56.0% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 55.8% | Beats 61% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 54.4% | Beats 49% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 61.1% | Beats 72% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 53.1% | Beats 52% | C |
| 3.2 Petrol | 61.7% | Beats 73% | B |
2005 Audi A35 engines54.7% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 53.8% | Beats 59% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 52.3% | Beats 46% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 59.1% | Beats 68% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 52.7% | Beats 55% | C |
| 3.2 Petrol | 65.4% | Beats 86% | A |
2004 Audi A35 engines52.1% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Diesel | 51.3% | Beats 55% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 49.1% | Beats 40% | D |
| 2.0 Petrol | 53.6% | Beats 56% | C |
| 3.2 Petrol | 62.5% | Beats 81% | A |
| 1.9 Diesel | 51.1% | Beats 55% | C |
2003 Audi A35 engines51.3% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Diesel | 49.6% | Beats 49% | C |
| 2.0 Diesel | 50.4% | Beats 54% | C |
| 1.8 Petrol | 55.7% | Beats 62% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 50.8% | Beats 44% | C |
| 2.0 Petrol | 50.9% | Beats 50% | C |
2002 Audi A33 engines52.0% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 Diesel | 48.3% | Beats 44% | C |
| 1.8 Petrol | 56.0% | Beats 63% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 51.0% | Beats 42% | C |
2001 Audi A33 engines54.3% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 57.2% | Beats 65% | B |
| 1.9 Diesel | 49.1% | Beats 46% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 50.2% | Beats 37% | D |
2000 Audi A33 engines54.9% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 57.7% | Beats 64% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 52.3% | Beats 41% | C |
| 1.9 Diesel | 48.4% | Beats 40% | D |
1999 Audi A32 engines57.1% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 59.2% | Beats 65% | B |
| 1.6 Petrol | 51.6% | Beats 37% | D |
1998 Audi A32 engines54.9% passC
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 54.6% | Beats 42% | C |
| 1.6 Petrol | 55.5% | Beats 37% | D |
1997 Audi A31 engine53.6% passD
| Engine | Pass rate | Rank | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Petrol | 53.6% | Beats 32% | D |
FAQ
What is the Audi A3 MOT pass rate?
74.4% of Audi A3 MOT tests were passed first time, from 3.6 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 68.8%.
Is the Audi A3 reliable?
On MOT results it is well above average: it beats 77% of cars on UK roads, and 2013–2018 cars beat about nine in ten. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.
Which Audi A3 years are best?
2013–2018: these cars beat about nine in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.
Which Audi A3 years should I avoid?
No year does badly. Cars from before 2005 are only about average for their age.
Which Audi A3 engine is best?
The 2.5 petrol (RS 3) does best. Of the most common engines, the 1.4 and 2.0 petrol beat about nine in ten cars, with the 1.5 petrol close behind. The 1.6 petrol, sold until 2012, is around average, and the 1.9 diesel a little better.
What are the most common MOT failures on the Audi A3?
Tyre damage, headlight aim, tyre tread depth and coil springs.