Does the Audi A3 fail the MOT on body, chassis and structure more than it should?
The Audi A3 records 6.72 body, chassis and structure failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 5.05 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.67, 95% interval +1.64 to +1.71). It ranks 187 of 663 models on body, chassis and structure (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on body, chassis and structure · check a Audi A3 by registration
What exactly fails on body, chassis and structure?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Audi A3 is “A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated”, recorded 75,539 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 75,539 | 3.09 |
| A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 54,392 | 2.23 |
| Exhaust system leaking or insecure | 13,360 | 0.55 |
| Fuel system leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap | 4,425 | 0.18 |
| A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly | 3,245 | 0.13 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,442,554 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Audi A3 gets a body, chassis and structure advisory, how often does it fail next time?
19.2% of Audi A3 MOTs with a body, chassis and structure advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 5,952 miles later (30,220 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 30,220 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Audi A3 1998 · Audi A3 1999 · Audi A3 2000 · Audi A3 2001 · Audi A3 2002 · Audi A3 2003 · Audi A3 2004 · Audi A3 2005 · Audi A3 2006 · Audi A3 2007 · Audi A3 2008 · Audi A3 2009 · Audi A3 2010 · Audi A3 2011 · Audi A3 2012 · Audi A3 2013 · Audi A3 2014 · Audi A3 2015 · Audi A3 2016 · Audi A3 2017 · Audi A3 2018 · Audi A3 2019 · Audi A3 2020 · Audi A3 in Finland · Audi A3 in the Netherlands · Audi A3 in Norway · Audi A3 by postcode area · Audi A3 brakes failures · Audi A3 vehicle identification failures · Audi A3 lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Audi A3 noise, emissions and leaks failures · Audi A3 road wheels failures · Audi A3 seat belts and airbags failures · Audi A3 steering failures · Audi A3 suspension failures · Audi A3 tyres failures · Audi A3 visibility failures