2008 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2008 Audi S3 passed 82.8% of its 1,682 recorded MOT tests. That is 9.1 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.4%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.3%) and lighting & signalling (6.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, coil spring and tread depth — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2008 S3 fails 14.3% of the time in the 30-60k band and 14.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.3% | 123 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.8% | 115 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 99 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 85 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.3% | 72 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.8% | 64 |
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 | 95 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 73 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 5 | Joints | 47 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 33 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 23.2% | 390 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.3% | 375 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.8% | 283 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 221 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 155 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 137 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 77 | 14.3% |
| 60-90k | 336 | 16.4% |
| 90-120k | 645 | 16.9% |
| 120-150k | 501 | 19.2% |
| 150k+ | 116 | 14.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 356 | 17.4% |
| 2022 | 357 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 337 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 320 | 16.6% |
| 2025 | 312 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 S3
On a 2008 S3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2008 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 1,682 2008 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Audi S3?
Suspension, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.8%).
Does the 2008 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.3% in the 30-60k band to 14.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,682 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.