Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 5,735 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 10.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a MOT Reliability Overview
The Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 5,735 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% and a failure rate of 10.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a presents for MOT with approximately 32,326 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2022 models achieve the highest pass rate at 93.3%, while 2020 models have the lowest at 87.9%. This 5.4 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a is Tyres, affecting 16.8% of all tests. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. The second most common issue is Visibility at 1.8%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 1.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Best Year to Buy
📈 How Each Vintage Ages
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 16.8% | 965 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.8% | 103 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.2% | 69 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 62 |
| 5 | Non-component Advisories | 0.9% | 50 |
| 6 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 0.9% | 49 |
| 7 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 0.3% | 19 |
| 8 | Road Wheels | 0.3% | 17 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 0.2% | 13 |
| 10 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.2% | 11 |
| 11 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 0.1% | 7 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 32,326 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 5.21 | 16.8% | 965 |
| Visibility | 0.56 | 1.8% | 103 |
| Suspension | 0.37 | 1.2% | 69 |
| Brakes | 0.33 | 1.1% | 62 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.27 | 0.9% | 50 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 0.26 | 0.9% | 49 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.10 | 0.3% | 19 |
| Wheels | 0.09 | 0.3% | 17 |
| Seat Belts | 0.07 | 0.2% | 13 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.06 | 0.2% | 11 |
| Body & Structure | 0.04 | 0.1% | 7 |
| Steering | 0.01 | 0.0% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a has 32,326 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.34% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a MOT Data
The Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a is a less common vehicle in the UK, with 5,735 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% and a failure rate of 10.8%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on tyres and visibility for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a is likely to perform.
Tyres — 16.8% of failures
Tyres issues account for 16.8% of MOT failures on the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Visibility — 1.8% of failures
Visibility issues account for 1.8% of MOT failures on the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.
Suspension — 1.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 1.2% of MOT failures on the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a?
Based on 5,735 MOT tests in our database, the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a has an overall pass rate of 89.2% (10.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a?
The top 3 reasons a Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a fails its MOT are: 1. Tyres (16.8%), 2. Visibility (1.8%), 3. Suspension (1.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a reliable?
With a 10.8% MOT failure rate, the A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Audi A3 S Line 40 Tfsi E S-a?
Based on failure data, focus on: Tyres (16.8%); Visibility (1.8%); Suspension (1.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.