2014 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
228,503 MOT tests on the 2014 Audi A3 are in this dataset, and 85.7% of them passed. That is 3.1 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 17.5%. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.8%) and suspension (5.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and coil spring — tread depth alone was recorded 7,359 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 18.1% versus 6.5%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 13.0% fail against 15.2% for diesel, a 2.2-point gap across 228,151 tests.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 25.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 12.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.8% | 13,245 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.0% | 11,461 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 11,055 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.0% | 6,822 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 4,829 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 4,783 |
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 | 7,359 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 7,000 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 5,777 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 5,014 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 4,268 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4,257 |
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 | 25.7% | 58,821 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.3% | 46,379 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.5% | 26,259 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.4% | 16,899 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.6% | 8,126 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 5,982 |
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 | 8,434 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 54,887 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 83,246 | 15.0% |
| 90-120k | 52,719 | 16.4% |
| 120-150k | 20,948 | 17.3% |
| 150k+ | 8,226 | 18.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 137,088 | 15.2% |
| Petrol | 91,063 | 13.0% |
| Hybrid | 352 | 12.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 45,824 | 12.5% |
| 2022 | 45,829 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 45,908 | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 45,774 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 45,168 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2014 A3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 5.8% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (5.8% 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.
- Suspension (5.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% 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 2014 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
85.7% of the 228,503 2014 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Audi A3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.8% of tests, followed by suspension (5.0%).
Does the 2014 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 228,503 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.