2020 Audi S3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 Audi S3 passed 92.5% of its 1,978 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.5 percentage points better than small family cars of a similar age, which fail at 9.0%. Failures cluster in tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Tyres dominates the failure mix at 5.6% of all tests — 4.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and brake pads — tread depth alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2020 S3 fails 6.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 8.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 16.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.8% of tests failed in 2023 against 8.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.1% | 21 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.9% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 8 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 16 |
| 4 | Washers | 14 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 12 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 12 |
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 | 16.6% | 329 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.9% | 177 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.9% | 96 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 63 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.8% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 14 |
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 | 1,141 | 6.4% |
| 30-60k | 789 | 9.0% |
| 60-90k | 46 | 8.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 619 | 5.8% |
| 2024 | 676 | 7.4% |
| 2025 | 675 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 S3
On a 2020 S3, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.6% 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 (1.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% 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 2020 Audi S3s pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 1,978 2020 Audi S3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi S3?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by brakes (1.1%).
Does the 2020 S3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.4% in the 0-30k band to 8.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,978 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.