2013 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2013 Audi S3 passed 89.1% of its 1,208 recorded MOT tests. Small family cars of a similar age fail 19.4% of the time, so this is 8.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (3.6%) and tyres (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, coil spring and catalyst emissions — tread depth alone was recorded 30 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2013 S3 fails 9.5% of the time in the 30-60k band and 12.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 3.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 17.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 9.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 3.6% | 43 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.4% | 41 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 37 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 33 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.7% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 30 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 28 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 15 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 14 |
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 | 17.0% | 205 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 179 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.3% | 100 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 62 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.6% | 44 |
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 | 304 | 9.5% |
| 60-90k | 552 | 10.9% |
| 90-120k | 264 | 13.3% |
| 120-150k | 55 | 12.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 250 | 9.2% |
| 2022 | 235 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 250 | 12.8% |
| 2024 | 243 | 13.2% |
| 2025 | 230 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2013 S3
On a 2013 S3, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (3.6% 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 (3.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 2013 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
89.1% of the 1,208 2013 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Audi S3?
Suspension, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by tyres (3.4%).
Does the 2013 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.5% in the 30-60k band to 12.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,208 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.