2013 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Audi A3 passed 82.9% of its 165,904 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.3 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.5%) and tyres (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 8,482 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.0% in the 0-30k band and 19.7% in the 150k+ band, a 12.6-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 2.8pp more often than petrol ones (17.9% vs 15.1%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 26.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.5% | 12,422 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.1% | 10,144 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 9,772 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 6,246 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 3,746 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 3,257 |
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 | 8,482 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 6,002 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5,604 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 3,586 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 3,459 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 2,547 |
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 | 26.8% | 44,432 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.4% | 33,930 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.6% | 22,579 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.0% | 13,183 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.1% | 6,763 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 6,651 |
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 | 3,012 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 25,484 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 54,984 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 48,559 | 18.7% |
| 120-150k | 23,743 | 19.4% |
| 150k+ | 10,086 | 19.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 117,975 | 17.9% |
| Petrol | 47,929 | 15.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33,412 | 15.5% |
| 2022 | 33,357 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 33,490 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 33,090 | 18.2% |
| 2025 | 32,555 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2013 A3
On a 2013 A3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.5% 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.
- Tyres (6.1% 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 (5.9% 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 2013 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 165,904 2013 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi A3?
Suspension, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by tyres (6.1%).
Does the 2013 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 19.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 165,904 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.