2014 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2014 Audi S3 passed 89.5% of its 3,876 recorded MOT tests. Against small family cars of a similar age (17.6% fail rate), the 2014 S3 comes out 7.1pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.9%) and suspension (2.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — tread depth alone was recorded 90 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.2% in the 0-30k band and 17.8% in the 120-150k band, a 12.6-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 18.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 12.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.9% | 152 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.8% | 110 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 101 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.3% | 89 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 79 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.2% | 45 |
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 | 90 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 68 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 65 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 57 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 47 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 42 |
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 | 18.6% | 722 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.7% | 532 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.3% | 282 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 198 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 126 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.7% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 155 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,299 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,742 | 10.7% |
| 90-120k | 582 | 14.1% |
| 120-150k | 90 | 17.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 742 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 759 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 774 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 799 | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 802 | 12.0% |
What to check before buying a 2014 S3
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Suspension (2.8% 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 (2.6% 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 2014 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 3,876 2014 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2014 Audi S3?
Tyres, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by suspension (2.8%).
Does the 2014 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.2% in the 0-30k band to 17.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,876 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.