2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 2,286 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 11.4% in the 60-90k group versus 6.3% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

2,286

MOT tests analysed

7.7%

Fail rate

better than

vs cars of similar age

3.5

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	6.3%	144
2	Lighting & signalling	2.1%	47
3	Visibility	1.1%	26
4	Road wheels	0.3%	7
5	Suspension	0.3%	7
6	Seat belts & restraints	0.3%	6

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	61
2	Headlamp aim	32
3	Stop lamp	21
4	Washers	16
5	Wipers	11
6	Position lamp	10

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	22.4%	513
2	Other defects	6.6%	151
3	Suspension	6.4%	147
4	Brakes	4.3%	99
5	Visibility	3.9%	88
6	Body, structure & corrosion	0.4%	9

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2021 A3 30 Mhev S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	1,308	6.3%
30-60k	881	9.5%
60-90k	79	11.4%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2021 A3 30 Mhev S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	1,123	7.6%
2025	1,135	7.9%

What to check before buying a 2021 A3 30 Mhev S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.3% of tests for this year.

Tyres (6.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Lighting & signalling (2.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (1.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-As pass their MOT?

92.3% of the 2,286 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A3 30 Mhev S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.1%).

Does the 2021 A3 30 Mhev S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 2,286 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.