2009 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
1,603 MOT tests on the 2009 Audi S3 are in this dataset, and 82.1% of them passed. That is 7.6 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.5%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.9%) and lighting & signalling (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 70 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.1% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 22.8% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.9% | 126 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.9% | 111 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.9% | 79 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.7% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 59 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 41 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 70 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 61 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 53 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 44 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 30 |
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 | 21.4% | 343 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.0% | 321 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.4% | 247 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.8% | 157 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.1% | 114 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 102 |
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 | 119 | 15.1% |
| 60-90k | 541 | 16.8% |
| 90-120k | 629 | 19.1% |
| 120-150k | 222 | 17.6% |
| 150k+ | 79 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 331 | 18.4% |
| 2022 | 317 | 18.0% |
| 2023 | 343 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 304 | 15.5% |
| 2025 | 308 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2009 S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (7.9% 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 (6.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.9% 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.
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 2009 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
82.1% of the 1,603 2009 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2009 Audi S3?
Suspension, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.9%).
Does the 2009 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 30-60k band to 22.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,603 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.