Audi RS3 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 15 model years and 2,244 tests, the Audi RS3 passes its MOT 91.9% of the time. Against small family cars of a similar age (10.6% fail rate), the RS3 comes out 2.6pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.4% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of emissions & environmental, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, registration plates and catalyst emissions — tread depth alone was recorded 31 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the RS3 fails 6.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 15.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.2% in 2021 to 7.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every RS3 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 79 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 169 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Suspension |
| 2015 | 69 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 193 | 89.1% | 10.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2017 | 60 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 99 | 95.0% | 5.1% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 39 | 97.4% | 2.6% | Tyres |
| 2021 | 239 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 1,217 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 48 | 93.8% | 6.3% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.4% | 121 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 31 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 28 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.9% | 20 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.8% | 17 |
| 7 | Visibility | 0.5% | 12 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 5 |
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 | 31 |
| 2 | Registration plates | 31 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 26 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 18 |
| 5 | Washers | 10 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 9 |
| 7 | Brake pads | 8 |
| 8 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 8 |
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 | 15.2% | 340 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 116 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.5% | 57 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.2% | 50 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.2% | 50 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 26 |
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 | 1,354 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 599 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 242 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 37 | 8.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115 | 12.2% |
| 2022 | 137 | 7.3% |
| 2023 | 135 | 5.2% |
| 2024 | 344 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 1,513 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a Audi RS3
- Tyres (5.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (1.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Audi RS3?
91.9% of the 2,244 Audi RS3 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.1% fail rate, across model years 2011–2025.
What does the Audi RS3 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 5.4% of tests, then emissions & environmental (1.4%).
How much does mileage affect RS3 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 8.1% for 90-120k, a 1.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,244 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.