2022 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,010 MOT tests, the 2022 Audi A3 recorded a 91.3% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail at 7.9%, so the 2022 A3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 6.9% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and washers — tread depth alone was recorded 444 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.5% in the 0-30k band and 12.7% in the 90-120k band, a 5.3-point spread.
Split by fuel, hybrid examples fail 3.2pp more often than petrol ones (11.2% vs 8.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.9% | 1,371 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.1% | 231 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.0% | 195 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 106 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 91 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 63 |
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 | 444 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 214 |
| 3 | Washers | 108 |
| 4 | Wipers | 100 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 97 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 65 |
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 | 25.8% | 5,162 |
| 2 | Other defects | 6.3% | 1,271 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.1% | 1,218 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 700 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 610 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 91 |
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 | 12,457 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 6,583 | 10.4% |
| 60-90k | 852 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 110 | 12.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,572 | 8.0% |
| Hybrid | 3,568 | 11.2% |
| Diesel | 1,870 | 9.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 771 | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 19,216 | 8.7% |
What to check before buying a 2022 A3
On a 2022 A3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (6.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 2022 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
91.3% of the 20,010 2022 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2022 Audi A3?
Tyres, recorded in 6.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.1%).
Does the 2022 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,010 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.