2003 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
724 MOT tests on the 2003 Audi S3 are in this dataset, and 75.8% of them passed. That is 3.9 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests against 9.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and joints — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 89 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2003 S3 fails 24.1% of the time in the 60-90k band and 25.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 34.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 16.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 100 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.8% | 71 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.1% | 66 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 65 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 60 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.4% | 32 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 89 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 67 |
| 3 | Joints | 36 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 35 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 28 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 24 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 34.8% | 252 |
| 2 | Suspension | 29.7% | 215 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.6% | 156 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 115 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 112 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.6% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 54 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 194 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 264 | 25.8% |
| 150k+ | 192 | 25.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 22.2% |
| 2022 | 162 | 26.5% |
| 2023 | 148 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 140 | 27.9% |
| 2025 | 103 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.8% 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.
- Suspension (9.1% 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.
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 2003 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
75.8% of the 724 2003 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Audi S3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by brakes (9.8%).
Does the 2003 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 60-90k band to 25.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 724 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.