2020 Audi A3 30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,789 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A3 30, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 91.3% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.7% | 332 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.7% | 96 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.3% | 75 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.1% | 64 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.6% | 37 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 131 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 86 |
| 3 | Washers | 54 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 47 |
| 5 | Wipers | 27 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 22.4% | 1,299 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.6% | 558 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 360 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.2% | 242 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.8% | 160 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 15 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 2,676 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,738 | 9.2% |
| 60-90k | 336 | 9.5% |
| 90-120k | 33 | 9.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,471 | 8.6% |
| Diesel | 318 | 10.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,934 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 1,922 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 1,929 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A3 30
Before buying a 2020 Audi A3 30, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (1.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.3% 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 2020 Audi A3 30s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 5,789 2020 Audi A3 30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A3 30?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.7%).
Does the 2020 A3 30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.0% in the 0-30k band to 9.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,789 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.