2023 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Audi A3 passed 94.1% of its 1,006 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (6.0% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.7%) and lighting & signalling (1.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and shock absorbers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 20.6% once past 60-90k — 4.9× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 17.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.7% | 37 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.6% | 6 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.3% | 3 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.3% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Washers | 4 |
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 | 17.0% | 171 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.8% | 38 |
| 3 | Other defects | 3.2% | 32 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 3 |
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 | 716 | 4.2% |
| 30-60k | 253 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 34 | 20.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 830 | 5.3% |
| Hybrid | 131 | 7.6% |
| Diesel | 45 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2023 A3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.7% 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 (1.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% 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 2023 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
94.1% of the 1,006 2023 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Audi A3?
Tyres, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.3%).
Does the 2023 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.2% in the 0-30k band to 20.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,006 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.