Audi S3 MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Audi S3. Check any S3 by registration number below.

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83.6%

Avg Pass Rate

-6.2%

vs Audi Avg

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Audi S3 — MOT Reliability Overview

The Audi S3 has an average MOT pass rate of 83.6%, which is 6.2 percentage points below the Audi brand average of 89.7%. This is a strong result, indicating that the S3 is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Audi S3 fails its MOT are a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. If you are preparing your S3 for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Audi S3, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Audi S3 performs at MOT across different model years.

2019

Based on 54 vehicles

94.4%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

4.3%

Mileage at 5yr

54k mi

2018

Based on 122 vehicles

91.8%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

1.0%

Retest Rate

4.2%

Mileage at 5yr

61k mi

2017

Based on 178 vehicles

94.9%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

3.1%

Mileage at 5yr

68k mi

2016

Based on 244 vehicles

92.2%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

8.6%

2015

Based on 640 vehicles

93.6%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

5.3%

Mileage at 10yr

109k mi

2014

Based on 2,460 vehicles

90.2%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

1.8%

Retest Rate

11.6%

Mileage at 10yr

121k mi

2013

Based on 791 vehicles

89.5%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

1.6%

Retest Rate

8.1%

Mileage at 10yr

131k mi

2012

Based on 467 vehicles

85.2%Excellent

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

3.8%

Retest Rate

17.2%

Mileage at 10yr

134k mi

2011

Based on 1,006 vehicles

83.8%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

14.9%

2010

Based on 1,173 vehicles

81.2%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.9%

Retest Rate

23.8%

2009

Based on 838 vehicles

83.3%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

15.4%

2008

Based on 822 vehicles

82.1%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

2.8%

Retest Rate

14.6%

2007

Based on 894 vehicles

80.2%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

4.2%

Retest Rate

16.1%

2006

Based on 72 vehicles

75.0%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

4.1%

Retest Rate

10.2%

2003

Based on 314 vehicles

68.2%Average

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

5.6%

Retest Rate

19.3%

2002

Based on 474 vehicles

77.6%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

3.3%

Retest Rate

19.1%

2001

Based on 328 vehicles

79.6%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

4.3%

Retest Rate

12.9%

2000

Based on 207 vehicles

75.4%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

8.3%

Retest Rate

16.5%

1999

Based on 153 vehicles

69.9%Average

Audi average: 89.7%

Dangerous Defects

5.8%

Retest Rate

26.9%

0

Based on 4,103 vehicles

82.9%Good

Audi average: 89.7%

Mileage at 5yr

93k mi

Top MOT Failures — Audi S3

The most common reasons a Audi S3 fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

2.3%

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

2.2%

A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

1.8%

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

1.6%

A tyre seriously damaged

1.6%

Audi S3 Common Faults & Repair Costs

Other Audi Models

Compare MOT reliability across Audi models.

Audi A5 S Ln Blk Ed 35 Tfsi Mhev Sa

90.3% pass rate

Audi A6 Aroad Sport 55tfsi Mhev Q A

89.5% pass rate

Audi All Road Avant

82.6% pass rate

Audi Rs 4 Vorsprung Tfsi Quattro A

94.7% pass rate

Audi E-tron S Quattro

82.6% pass rate

Audi TT

69.5% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Audi S3

Audi S3 — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Audi S3 MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi S3?

The average MOT pass rate for the Audi S3 is 83.6% compared to the Audi average of 89.7%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

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

The most common MOT failures on the Audi S3 are: A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.3%), The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements (2.2%), A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (1.8%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.

Is the Audi S3 reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 83.6%, the Audi S3 is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Audi S3?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Audi S3?

Typical mileage for the Audi S3: 53,596 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used S3 to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Audi S3's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.