1997 Audi A3 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

49.2%

Latest Pass Rate

26,006

Total Tests (All Years)

126,298 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Audi A3 as it ages.

12 yrs45.3%

→ ↑0.4%

13 yrs45.7%

→ ↓2.0%

14 yrs43.7%

→ ↓0.2%

15 yrs43.5%

→ ↓0.1%

16 yrs43.4%

→ ↑2.2%

17 yrs45.6%

→ ↓0.1%

18 yrs45.5%

→ ↑2.8%

19 yrs48.3%

→ ↑1.2%

20 yrs49.5%

→ ↓1.5%

21 yrs48.0%

→ ↑8.7%

22 yrs56.7%

→ ↓0.1%

23 yrs56.6%

→ ↓0.4%

24 yrs56.2%

→ ↑4.7%

25 yrs60.9%

→ ↓1.7%

26 yrs59.2%

→ ↓10.0%

27 yrs49.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	45.3%	4,830
13 yrs	45.7%	4,405
14 yrs	43.7%	4,024
15 yrs	43.5%	3,402
16 yrs	43.4%	2,593
17 yrs	45.6%	2,028
18 yrs	45.5%	1,506
19 yrs	48.3%	1,092
20 yrs	49.5%	742
21 yrs	48.0%	333
22 yrs	56.7%	254
23 yrs	56.6%	189
24 yrs	56.2%	194
25 yrs	60.9%	115
26 yrs	59.2%	120
27 yrs	49.2%	179

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Audi A3 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	49.2%	179
2023 (26 yrs)	59.2%	120
2022 (25 yrs)	60.9%	115
2021 (24 yrs)	56.2%	194
2020 (23 yrs)	56.6%	189
2019 (22 yrs)	56.7%	254
2018 (21 yrs)	48%	333
2017 (20 yrs)	49.5%	742
2016 (19 yrs)	48.3%	1,092
2015 (18 yrs)	45.5%	1,506
2014 (17 yrs)	45.6%	2,028
2013 (16 yrs)	43.4%	2,593
2012 (15 yrs)	43.5%	3,402
2011 (14 yrs)	43.7%	4,024
2010 (13 yrs)	45.7%	4,405
2009 (12 yrs)	45.3%	4,830

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

45.3%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 4,830Avg Mileage 107,788Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.9%

2010High Fail Rate

45.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 4,405Avg Mileage 113,854Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.4%

2011High Fail Rate

43.7%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 4,024Avg Mileage 118,792Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.0%

2012High Fail Rate

43.5%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 3,402Avg Mileage 122,408Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%

2013High Fail Rate

43.4%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 2,593Avg Mileage 124,119Top Failure Brakes — 81.8%

2014High Fail Rate

45.6%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 2,028Avg Mileage 126,344Top Failure Brakes — 88.4%

2015High Fail Rate

45.5%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 1,506Avg Mileage 126,900Top Failure Brakes — 83.5%

2016High Fail Rate

48.3%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 1,092Avg Mileage 126,532Top Failure Brakes — 83.1%

2017High Fail Rate

49.5%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 742Avg Mileage 124,333Top Failure Brakes — 77.0%

2018High Fail Rate

48.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 333Avg Mileage 123,492Top Failure Brakes — 77.5%

2019High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 254Avg Mileage 117,951Top Failure Brakes — 75.6%

2020High Fail Rate

56.6%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 189Avg Mileage 116,561Top Failure Brakes — 63.5%

2021High Fail Rate

56.2%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 194Avg Mileage 117,782Top Failure Brakes — 71.1%

2022High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 115Avg Mileage 121,261Top Failure Brakes — 90.4%

2023High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 120Avg Mileage 116,992Top Failure Brakes — 80.0%

2024High Fail Rate

49.2%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 179Avg Mileage 126,298Top Failure Brakes — 78.2%

MOT results for 1997 Audi A3 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	45.3%	4,830	107,788	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.9%
2010	13	45.7%	4,405	113,854	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.4%
2011	14	43.7%	4,024	118,792	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.0%
2012	15	43.5%	3,402	122,408	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%
2013	16	43.4%	2,593	124,119	Brakes — 81.8%
2014	17	45.6%	2,028	126,344	Brakes — 88.4%
2015	18	45.5%	1,506	126,900	Brakes — 83.5%
2016	19	48.3%	1,092	126,532	Brakes — 83.1%
2017	20	49.5%	742	124,333	Brakes — 77.0%
2018	21	48.0%	333	123,492	Brakes — 77.5%
2019	22	56.7%	254	117,951	Brakes — 75.6%
2020	23	56.6%	189	116,561	Brakes — 63.5%
2021	24	56.2%	194	117,782	Brakes — 71.1%
2022	25	60.9%	115	121,261	Brakes — 90.4%
2023	26	59.2%	120	116,992	Brakes — 80.0%
2024	27	49.2%	179	126,298	Brakes — 78.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Audi A3, with age trends.

Brakes

66.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

54.7%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

47.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

39.3%

— Consistent

Tyres

29.9%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	28.1% (12 yrs)	78.2% (27 yrs)	+50.1%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	26.4% (12 yrs)	57.0% (27 yrs)	+30.6%	🔴 ↑
Tyres	18.0% (12 yrs)	44.1% (27 yrs)	+26.1%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Audi A3 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Audi A3 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 26,006 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.