2017 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
189,219 MOT tests on the 2017 Audi A3 are in this dataset, and 90.3% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (11.9% fail rate), the 2017 A3 comes out 2.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.9% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, brake pads and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 5,520 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.2% in the 0-30k band and 15.0% in the 150k+ band, a 8.8-point spread — more than double.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 9.3% of the time against 10.5% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 23.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.9% | 11,200 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.9% | 3,648 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 3,528 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 3,468 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 1,964 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 1,228 |
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 | 5,520 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 3,332 |
| 3 | Washers | 2,535 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 2,209 |
| 5 | Wipers | 1,316 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 1,010 |
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 | 23.4% | 44,370 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.4% | 30,965 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 11,733 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.9% | 7,332 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 5,485 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 1,486 |
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 | 35,283 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 93,843 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 45,284 | 11.9% |
| 90-120k | 11,643 | 13.6% |
| 120-150k | 2,535 | 14.7% |
| 150k+ | 620 | 15.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 122,244 | 9.3% |
| Diesel | 63,749 | 10.5% |
| Hybrid | 3,226 | 10.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 38,463 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 37,766 | 8.7% |
| 2023 | 37,819 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 37,667 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 37,504 | 11.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 A3
On a 2017 A3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.9% 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.
- Brakes (1.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% 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 2017 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 189,219 2017 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Audi A3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by brakes (1.9%).
Does the 2017 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 15.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 189,219 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.