2021 Audi A3 35 S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 427 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A3 35 S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.7% in the 60-90k group versus 5.2% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

427

MOT tests analysed

10.5%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

3.4

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 35 S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	5.9%	25
2	Lighting & signalling	2.3%	10
3	Visibility	1.9%	8
4	Suspension	1.4%	6
5	Emissions & environmental	1.2%	5
6	Brakes	1.2%	5

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 35 S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	11
2	Headlamp aim	11
3	Malfunction indicator lamp	5
4	Shock absorbers	5
5	Wipers	5
6	Brake pads	4

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi A3 35 S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	22.9%	98
2	Brakes	12.9%	55
3	Other defects	7.7%	33
4	Suspension	6.8%	29
5	Visibility	6.3%	27
6	Seat belts & restraints	0.7%	3

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 35 S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	115	5.2%
30-60k	201	10.9%
60-90k	78	16.7%

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 35 S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2024	220	11.4%
2025	198	9.6%

What to check before buying a 2021 A3 35 S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi A3 35 S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.9% of tests for this year.

Tyres (5.9% 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 (2.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (1.9% 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 35 S-As pass their MOT?

89.5% of the 427 2021 Audi A3 35 S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A3 35 S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (2.3%).

Does the 2021 A3 35 S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 16.7% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 427 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.