Audi
A3 E Tron 40 S A
1,902 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where A3 E Tron 40 S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 8.4 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
85.9%
Pass-after-fix
1.7%
Fail
12.1%
Avg miles
38,459
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
The picture
A3 E-Tron 40 S-A: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 1,268 MOT tests, the A3 E-Tron 40 S-A returns 85.3% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a tyre with the cords showing. A seriously damaged tyre and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 29,889, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Group 20–36
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
20–36
out of 50
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A tyre cords visible or damaged
67 occurrences · 3.5% of tests
- 02
A tyre seriously damaged
45 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 03
A tyre seriously damaged
37 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
- 04
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
24 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
- 05
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
22 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
- 06
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
20 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
- 07
A tyre seriously damaged
11 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 08
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade defective
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 10
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
7 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£120–£190
If every one of this A3 E Tron 40 S A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
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Summit
Summit ADRG-215 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
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Summit
Summit ADRG-216 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£14.29
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Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
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Draper Expert Audi/VW Drain Plug Key, 1/2" Sq. Dr.
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Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
Sharp looks and classy interior, frugal engine line-up, impressive standard equipment levels.
Recent owner-reported faults
- 29 Sep 2021
Report of battery cut out on 2021 Audi A3 1.5 TSI. Dealer has suggested that the problem may be caused by driving over a hump or pothole in the road. Audi dealer says this is a "common problem which is being taken up with Audi as the switches are too sensitive". Compare new Audi A3 deals Buy new from £25,529(list price from £30,300) View offers
Source: honestjohn.co.uk · 1 reports indexed
Buying or keeping an A3 E Tron 40 S A?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own an A3 E Tron 40 S A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.