2010 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
2,126 MOT tests on the 2010 Audi S3 are in this dataset, and 81.8% of them passed. That is 6.1 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.3%. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests against 5.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, tread depth and catalyst emissions — coil spring alone was recorded 99 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 12.1% once past 150k.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.4% in 2021 to 17.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 8.7% | 185 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.0% | 107 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.4% | 94 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 93 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 93 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 42 |
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 | 99 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 85 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 82 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 61 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 34 |
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 | 20.3% | 432 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.6% | 417 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.1% | 343 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 190 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 128 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 117 |
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 | 37 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 253 | 17.8% |
| 60-90k | 729 | 17.6% |
| 90-120k | 818 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 256 | 16.4% |
| 150k+ | 33 | 12.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 453 | 19.4% |
| 2022 | 426 | 19.5% |
| 2023 | 416 | 16.4% |
| 2024 | 419 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 412 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2010 S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 8.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (8.7% 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.
- Tyres (5.0% 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.
- Brakes (4.4% 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.
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 2010 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
81.8% of the 2,126 2010 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Audi S3?
Suspension, recorded in 8.7% of tests, followed by tyres (5.0%).
Does the 2010 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 12.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,126 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.