2011 · 13 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2011 Audi A3 MOT pass rate and common faults

20,699 MOT tests in 2024. 65.2% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time65.2%
Failed or needed repairs34.8%
Typical mileage at test114,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 20,699 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.9%
  2. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.2%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.4%
    1,106 marked dangerous
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
    585 marked dangerous
  5. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.4%
  6. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.2%
    641 marked dangerous
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.0%
  8. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.0%
  9. Individual direction indicators: incorrect colour1.9%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.8%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension18.6%
  2. Lights & electrics16.7%
  3. Brakes13.7%
  4. Tyres9.8%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.3%
  6. Emissions & leaks4.0%
  7. Body & chassis3.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.4%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.2%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.7%
  4. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened7.7%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2011 Audi A3?

In 2024, 65.2% of 2011 Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 20,699 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Audi A3?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 Audi A3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).