2011 · 13 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2011 Audi S3 MOT pass rate and common faults

284 MOT tests in 2024. 75.3% passed first time, compared with 61.8% for all cars the same age.

122Well above average
Passed first time75.3%
Failed or needed repairs24.7%
Typical mileage at test90,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 284 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.3%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.6%
  3. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.8%
    8 marked dangerous
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.8%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.4%
    6 marked dangerous
  6. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits1.4%
  7. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened1.4%
  8. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak1.1%
  9. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases1.1%
  10. Linkage ball joints: ball joint excessively worn1.1%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension15.8%
  2. Brakes7.0%
  3. Lights & electrics7.0%
  4. Emissions & leaks5.6%
  5. Body & chassis3.2%
  6. Tyres2.5%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)1.1%
  8. Seat belts & airbags0.4%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.1%
  2. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick7.0%
  3. Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened6.0%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened5.6%
  5. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine5.6%

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: linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 S3?

In 2024, 75.3% of 2011 Audi S3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 284 tests. The average for all 13-year-old cars was 61.8%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2011 Audi S3?

The most common failure reasons were linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; coil spring: fractured or broken; brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2011 Audi S3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 122, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).