2004 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Audi A3 passed 70.7% of its 31,713 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 18.2% of all tests — 3.1 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and coil spring — headlamp aim alone was recorded 3,751 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.7% once past 150k.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.5pp more often than petrol ones (30.0% vs 28.5%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.2% | 5,765 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.0% | 4,773 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 3,237 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 8.8% | 2,790 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 2,564 |
| 6 | Tyres | 6.9% | 2,185 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 3,751 |
| 2 | Joints | 2,102 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 1,765 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 1,676 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 1,507 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 1,440 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 39.8% | 12,631 |
| 2 | Tyres | 31.2% | 9,906 |
| 3 | Brakes | 30.4% | 9,645 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 21.8% | 6,898 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 5,285 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 3,999 |
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 | 107 | 26.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,039 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 3,340 | 25.1% |
| 90-120k | 7,215 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 8,958 | 30.3% |
| 150k+ | 10,981 | 30.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 16,942 | 30.0% |
| Petrol | 14,771 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,964 | 29.4% |
| 2022 | 7,839 | 29.2% |
| 2023 | 6,075 | 29.8% |
| 2024 | 4,488 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 3,347 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a 2004 A3
On a 2004 A3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (18.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (15.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.2% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2004 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
70.7% of the 31,713 2004 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Audi A3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by suspension (15.0%).
Does the 2004 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.2% in the 0-30k band to 30.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 31,713 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.