2009 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
152,691 MOT tests on the 2009 Audi A3 are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (25.4% fail rate), the 2009 A3 comes out 1.3pp better. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.8%) and lighting & signalling (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and linkage ball joint dust cover — coil spring alone was recorded 9,670 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.8% in the 0-30k band and 25.7% in the 150k+ band, a 11.9-point spread.
The petrol cars hold up better: 22.9% fail against 24.8% for diesel, a 1.8-point gap across 152,679 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 24.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.8% | 19,595 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.2% | 15,642 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 10,750 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 9,911 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.6% | 6,981 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 5,912 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 9,670 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,409 |
| 3 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 6,366 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 5,931 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 5,181 |
| 6 | Joints | 4,585 |
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 | 31.1% | 47,410 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.5% | 44,997 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.8% | 34,746 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 20,173 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 14,733 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 14,664 |
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 | 1,129 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 8,071 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 28,177 | 21.8% |
| 90-120k | 45,852 | 24.7% |
| 120-150k | 39,039 | 25.5% |
| 150k+ | 30,353 | 25.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 99,288 | 24.8% |
| Petrol | 53,391 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33,871 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 32,978 | 23.8% |
| 2023 | 31,430 | 24.5% |
| 2024 | 28,788 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 25,624 | 24.6% |
What to check before buying a 2009 A3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 2009 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 152,691 2009 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Audi A3?
Suspension, recorded in 12.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.2%).
Does the 2009 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 152,691 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.