2011 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,710 MOT tests, the 2011 Audi S3 recorded an 82.9% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 23.0% of the time, so this is 5.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.8%) and lighting & signalling (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, linkage ball joint dust cover and headlamp aim — coil spring alone was recorded 76 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 25.4% versus 11.2%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 21.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 13.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.8% | 133 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 103 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.0% | 68 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.5% | 60 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 57 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 27 |
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 | 76 |
| 2 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 53 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 4 | Tread depth | 43 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 38 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 25 |
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 | 21.9% | 374 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.0% | 325 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.7% | 268 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 138 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 129 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 103 |
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 | 287 | 11.2% |
| 60-90k | 692 | 16.9% |
| 90-120k | 561 | 18.5% |
| 120-150k | 118 | 25.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 328 | 13.1% |
| 2022 | 328 | 16.5% |
| 2023 | 346 | 19.1% |
| 2024 | 351 | 17.9% |
| 2025 | 357 | 18.5% |
What to check before buying a 2011 S3
On a 2011 S3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.8% 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 (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.0% 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.
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 2011 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
82.9% of the 1,710 2011 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Audi S3?
Suspension, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.0%).
Does the 2011 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.2% in the 30-60k band to 25.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,710 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.