MOT Risk Index.co.uk

Audi A3 — MOT statistics 2024

All Audi A3 variants tested in Great Britain in 2024 — 654,933 MOT tests, every generation and engine together.

MOT risk index
82.1
100 = normal for its age

This car fails its MOT about 18% less often than expected for its age.

Rank 2 of 25 families published so far · margin of error ±1 points

What this means for buyers

Checklist when viewing a used A3:
  1. Check wipers, washers and windscreen chips in the driver's view
  2. Listen for knocks over bumps — worn suspension joints are common
  3. Try every light and switch — lamps are a top failure
  4. Ask the seller about: A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely d

Top specific failures

Exact defect wording from test records, per 100 tests.

What failedper 100
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view6.49
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated5.75
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources5.63
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated5.61
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements4.83
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc4.29
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened4.16
A tyre seriously damaged3.72
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn3.45
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements3

Failures by component area

Suspension 21.7 Lamps & electrical 19.1 Tyres 12.1 Brakes 11.9 Visibility 11.9 Body & structure 9.8

Early warnings (advisories)

Advisories are wear the tester noted but didn't fail — what will need money soon.

Tyres 83.4 Brakes 61.7 Suspension 58.6 Emissions & leaks 10 Non-component advisories 9.7 Body & structure 5.3

How it ages

3579111315171947%car age, years

Takeaway: a 10-year-old A3 has roughly a 20% chance of failing its MOT; from about age 19 it does worse than the average car.

Data table
AgeAudi A3All cars
37.2%10.9%
49.2%11.6%
510.1%13.5%
610.6%15.6%
712.3%18.2%
813.8%21.3%
916.8%24.4%
1019.7%27.7%
1123.2%30.6%
1230.3%33.4%
1332.2%36.0%
1435.2%38.6%
1535.3%39.9%
1637.6%41.5%
1739.9%41.5%
1842.4%42.4%
1943.3%42.2%
2042.9%37.5%

Petrol, diesel, hybrid — which ages best?

FuelTests% failing
Petrol326,54218.6%
Diesel324,11127.8%
Hybrid4,26013.5%

Where they fail most

Every dot is a postcode area — size = how many were tested there, colour = share failing. Raw rates: coastal and rural areas run older fleets and salted roads.

Torquay (TQ): 36.7% failing, 2,563 testsExeter (EX): 35.9% failing, 6,867 testsDorchester (DT): 34.5% failing, 2,685 testsSalisbury (SP): 33.4% failing, 3,283 testsBrighton (BN): 32.1% failing, 6,215 testsTruro (TR): 31.4% failing, 3,947 testsBath (BA): 30.7% failing, 6,234 testsBristol (BS): 30.2% failing, 10,142 testsBournemouth (BH): 29.9% failing, 6,763 testsPlymouth (PL): 28.5% failing, 6,618 testsTaunton (TA): 27.8% failing, 4,735 testsCanterbury (CT): 27.6% failing, 4,029 testsPortsmouth (PO): 27.4% failing, 7,780 testsCardiff (CF): 27.2% failing, 12,699 testsGloucester (GL): 27.1% failing, 7,955 testsNorthampton (NN): 27.1% failing, 7,317 testsRedhill (RH): 27.1% failing, 6,614 testsSwansea (SA): 27% failing, 8,169 testsLancaster (LA): 26.8% failing, 3,037 testsIpswich (IP): 26.5% failing, 7,222 testsKirkcaldy (KY): 26.1% failing, 4,158 testsSouthampton (SO): 26.1% failing, 6,111 testsGuildford (GU): 25.9% failing, 8,116 testsMedway (ME): 25.8% failing, 5,920 testsNewport (NP): 25.7% failing, 6,395 testsBlackpool (FY): 25.6% failing, 1,808 testsOxford (OX): 25.5% failing, 7,574 testsSwindon (SN): 25.4% failing, 5,020 testsNorwich (NR): 25.4% failing, 8,362 testsLlandudno (LL): 25.3% failing, 6,800 testsChester (CH): 25.3% failing, 5,778 testsColchester (CO): 25% failing, 4,095 testsInverness (IV): 24.7% failing, 3,309 testsLincoln (LN): 24.7% failing, 3,813 testsDundee (DD): 24.3% failing, 3,258 testsTonbridge (TN): 24.2% failing, 7,954 testsLiverpool (L): 24.2% failing, 4,410 testsNottingham (NG): 24% failing, 11,589 testsStoke-on-Trent (ST): 24% failing, 6,874 testsWigan (WN): 23.9% failing, 2,639 testsShrewsbury (SY): 23.8% failing, 4,243 testsManchester (M): 23.6% failing, 12,260 testsWorcester (WR): 23.6% failing, 3,147 testsDudley (DY): 23.6% failing, 3,535 testsMilton Keynes (MK): 23.3% failing, 6,186 testsCambridge (CB): 23.3% failing, 4,614 testsDarlington (DL): 23.2% failing, 3,182 testsHull (HU): 23.1% failing, 4,037 testsEdinburgh (EH): 23.1% failing, 7,759 testsDoncaster (DN): 23.1% failing, 8,118 testsHuddersfield (HD): 23.1% failing, 3,248 testsPaisley (PA): 22.9% failing, 2,539 testsWalsall (WS): 22.9% failing, 4,218 testsPreston (PR): 22.8% failing, 5,611 testsReading (RG): 22.8% failing, 10,052 testsYork (YO): 22.6% failing, 5,302 testsAberdeen (AB): 22.4% failing, 7,337 testsWatford (WD): 22.4% failing, 2,430 testsHemel Hempstead (HP): 22.4% failing, 7,560 testsBolton (BL): 22.4% failing, 5,784 testsCrewe (CW): 22.3% failing, 3,511 testsWarrington (WA): 22.2% failing, 5,390 testsCarlisle (CA): 22.1% failing, 3,910 testsSt Albans (AL): 22.1% failing, 2,583 testsStevenage (SG): 21.9% failing, 4,109 testsPeterborough (PE): 21.9% failing, 12,358 testsLondon SW (SW): 21.8% failing, 3,597 testsDerby (DE): 21.6% failing, 9,450 testsGalashiels (TD): 21.5% failing, 1,248 testsLeicester (LE): 21.5% failing, 11,615 testsKingston upon Thames (KT): 21.5% failing, 4,718 testsHalifax (HX): 21.5% failing, 1,987 testsCoventry (CV): 21.3% failing, 9,384 testsIlford (IG): 21.3% failing, 2,319 testsStockport (SK): 21.3% failing, 6,907 testsSlough (SL): 21.3% failing, 4,741 testsCroydon (CR): 21.3% failing, 3,495 testsPerth (PH): 21.1% failing, 1,900 testsSunderland (SR): 21.1% failing, 2,451 testsLondon SE (SE): 20.9% failing, 4,826 testsWolverhampton (WV): 20.9% failing, 5,098 testsLondon W (W): 20.7% failing, 1,821 testsDurham (DH): 20.7% failing, 2,992 testsLeeds (LS): 20.6% failing, 9,139 testsFalkirk (FK): 20.6% failing, 2,743 testsChelmsford (CM): 20.6% failing, 6,942 testsCleveland (TS): 20.4% failing, 6,135 testsHereford (HR): 20.4% failing, 2,929 testsHarrogate (HG): 20.3% failing, 1,814 testsLondon N (N): 20.3% failing, 4,207 testsBlackburn (BB): 20.1% failing, 8,334 testsLuton (LU): 20.1% failing, 4,340 testsBromley (BR): 20.1% failing, 2,426 testsMotherwell (ML): 20.1% failing, 3,993 testsTelford (TF): 20% failing, 2,920 testsLondon NW (NW): 19.8% failing, 4,188 testsNewcastle (NE): 19.8% failing, 10,761 testsWakefield (WF): 19.6% failing, 7,561 testsDumfries (DG): 19.1% failing, 1,369 testsSheffield (S): 18.8% failing, 16,569 testsDartford (DA): 18.7% failing, 3,463 testsOldham (OL): 18.7% failing, 6,811 testsBirmingham (B): 18.6% failing, 23,965 testsKilmarnock (KA): 18.6% failing, 4,781 testsRomford (RM): 18.3% failing, 3,564 testsSouthend-on-Sea (SS): 18.1% failing, 4,247 testsTwickenham (TW): 18.1% failing, 5,688 testsBradford (BD): 18% failing, 12,529 testsGlasgow (G): 17.9% failing, 12,823 testsHarrow (HA): 17.6% failing, 3,124 testsLondon E (E): 17.4% failing, 5,781 testsUxbridge (UB): 17.3% failing, 4,706 testsSutton (SM): 16.9% failing, 1,109 testsEnfield (EN): 15.9% failing, 3,885 tests % failing 18% 31%
Toughest areas% failing
Torquay (TQ)36.68%
Exeter (EX)35.85%
Dorchester (DT)34.53%
Salisbury (SP)33.38%
Brighton (BN)32.15%
Easiest areas% failing
Enfield (EN)15.93%
Uxbridge (UB)17.32%
London E (E)17.44%
Harrow (HA)17.64%
Glasgow (G)17.94%

Does the test month matter?

Takeaway: the spread between best and worst month is 2.6 percentage points — booking month barely matters for this family.

24.26% in month 1 J24.09% in month 2 F22.47% in month 3 M22.84% in month 4 A22.24% in month 5 M21.7% in month 6 J22.46% in month 7 J22.39% in month 8 A22.63% in month 9 S23.8% in month 10 O23.77% in month 11 N24.14% in month 12 D 29% 20%

bars: Audi A3 · dashed: all class-4 cars

Month-by-month table
MonthAudi A3All cars
Jan24.26%27.37%
Feb24.09%26.14%
Mar22.47%24.75%
Apr22.84%26.01%
May22.24%25.01%
Jun21.7%25.01%
Jul22.46%26.04%
Aug22.39%25.79%
Sep22.63%25.19%
Oct23.8%27.13%
Nov23.77%27.2%
Dec24.14%26.29%

Is the mileage normal?

A typical 8-year-old A3 has ~64,980 miles on the clock. Much more — ask why; much less — check for gaps in the MOT history.

369121518car age, years 176k mi 0

line: median · band: middle half of the fleet (p25–p75)

Mileage by age (p25 / median / p75)
Agep25Medianp75Tests
315,65821,57331,199515
422,17431,13241,6419,249
528,85639,24151,07737,527
635,53146,48260,33549,145
743,02855,77871,73261,047
849,91064,98081,86767,526
956,78474,64794,70570,580
1065,06885,142108,14966,007
1174,65196,649121,04346,104
1282,040105,355130,86841,170
1388,551114,028141,78034,446
1489,419114,451141,45038,526
1596,772121,978149,31635,726
16101,223127,206154,50030,054
17108,272135,439163,10423,348
18109,258137,125166,16618,314
19110,778138,970167,33412,086
20+102,231133,348164,52013,493

Quick answers

What most commonly fails on a Audi A3 MOT?
The most frequent specific failures in 2024 were: windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view; a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated; a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources.
Is the Audi A3 reliable for its age?
Across 654,933 initial tests in 2024, it fails its MOT about 18% less often than expected for its age (MOT Risk Index 82.1, where 100 = normal for its age).
Are diesel A3s worse than petrol at the MOT?
27.8% of diesel tests found a failing defect vs 18.6% of petrol.
What mileage is normal for a 8-year-old A3?
The median is about 64,980 miles; the middle half of the fleet sits between 49,910 and 81,867.
How often are dangerous defects found on the Audi A3?
About 14 dangerous defects were recorded per 100 initial tests in 2024 — with a dangerous defect the car legally cannot be driven away.

Compare with

Mercedes C Class · 83.6BMW 3 Series · 75.6Toyota Yaris · 95.6Mercedes A Class · 91.3

Data details & how to cite

Scope: class-4 vehicles (cars), initial tests only, outcomes pass / fail / fixed-on-the-spot at the station (PRS counts towards the failure rate — the defect was present at arrival). Index = observed initial failures ÷ failures expected for this fleet's exact age profile, ×100; margin of error is a 95% confidence interval. Covers ALL generations together — a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old are very different cars; a generation split is on the roadmap. Dataset release dvsa-2024-v1, frozen baseline. Full method: methodology.

Cite: MOT Risk Index (2026). Audi A3 MOT statistics 2024 (dvsa-2024-v1). https://motriskindex.co.uk/cars/audi-a3/ · Published 2026-07-30.