2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 6,498 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 92.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 16.0% in the 60-90k group versus 6.0% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 365 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.0% | 67 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 62 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.9% | 58 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 29 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 21 |
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 | 177 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 73 |
| 3 | Washers | 43 |
| 4 | Wipers | 32 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 32 |
| 6 | Brake discs | 26 |
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 | 24.9% | 1,616 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 648 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.0% | 391 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 187 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 125 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.6% | 40 |
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 | 3,545 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 2,686 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 237 | 16.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 6,231 | 7.4% |
| Diesel | 267 | 9.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,133 | 6.4% |
| 2024 | 2,158 | 8.0% |
| 2025 | 2,194 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A3 S Line 35
Before buying a 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.6% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Visibility (1.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 S Line 35s pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 6,498 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.0%).
Does the 2020 A3 S Line 35 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 6,498 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.