Audi
1,961 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where A3 S Line 35 Tdi S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.7 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.2%
Pass-after-fix
1.6%
Fail
7.8%
Avg miles
36,016
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 1,961 tests
Pass rate drops 1.5 points across the cohorts — recent A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A examples are doing worse than the early cars at the same tested age.
Pass
90.7%
Fail
8.2%
PRS
0.9%
Avg mileage at test
37,421 mi
Pass
89.2%
Fail
7.0%
PRS
2.8%
Avg mileage at test
33,389 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 727 MOT tests, the A3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A returns 90.5% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Windscreen damage and a tyre with the cords showing round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 29,630, 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
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
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
56 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
50 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
34 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
30 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
Wiper blade defective
15 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
6 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative
5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
5 occurrences · 0.3% 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 3 failures
£140–£235
If every one of this A3 S Line 35 Tdi 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 →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.5-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Audi A3 S Line 35 Tdi S A makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
90.7%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 90.7% — a 1.5-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
89.2%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 89.2% pass rate against a fleet average of 90.7% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a cut in excess of the…, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and has ply or cords exposed. Average mileage on test for this band is 33,389 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (90.7% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (89.2% pass). That's a 1.5-point spread across 687 older tests and 1,274 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
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.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
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Owner reports · Honest John
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.
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
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 S Line 35 Tdi 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.
