2010 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Audi A3 passed 76.1% of its 167,101 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests against 8.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 9,353 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.8% in the 0-30k band and 25.6% in the 150k+ band, a 12.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 23.1% of the time against 24.4% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 25.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.5% | 22,598 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 14,253 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.2% | 12,063 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.5% | 10,890 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 5,531 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 5,423 |
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 | 9,353 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 7,822 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7,280 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 6,677 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 6,243 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 4,454 |
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 | 31.9% | 53,239 |
| 2 | Tyres | 29.1% | 48,679 |
| 3 | Brakes | 21.9% | 36,684 |
| 4 | Other defects | 9.2% | 15,320 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 13,982 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 11,219 |
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 | 1,268 | 12.8% |
| 30-60k | 11,828 | 19.1% |
| 60-90k | 38,755 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 51,549 | 24.4% |
| 120-150k | 38,033 | 25.3% |
| 150k+ | 25,620 | 25.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 101,112 | 24.4% |
| Petrol | 65,989 | 23.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 35,829 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 35,268 | 23.1% |
| 2023 | 34,325 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 31,949 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 29,730 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 2010 A3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.5% 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 (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.2% 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 2010 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
76.1% of the 167,101 2010 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi A3?
Suspension, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.5%).
Does the 2010 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.8% in the 0-30k band to 25.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 167,101 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.