Audi
7,174 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where A3 S Line 35 Tfsis pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 14.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
92.3%
Pass-after-fix
1.0%
Fail
6.4%
Avg miles
27,636
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.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 7,174 tests
Pass rate is broadly flat across the cohorts — new and old A3 S Line 35 Tfsi examples track each other at the test bay.
Pass
92.2%
Fail
6.5%
PRS
1.1%
Avg mileage at test
30,061 mi
Pass
92.5%
Fail
6.3%
PRS
0.9%
Avg mileage at test
24,843 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,124 MOT tests, the A3 S Line 35 Tfsi returns 91.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Tyre tread under the limit and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 22,362, 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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Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
134 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
133 occurrences · 1.9% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
91 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
65 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
Wiper blade defective
37 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
28 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Tyre obviously under inflated
19 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Tyres on the same axle or on twin wheels are different sizes
15 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
14 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
13 occurrences · 0.2% 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 Tfsi'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. Pass rates barely move across bands here, so the year you buy Audi A3 S Line 35 Tfsi makes little measurable difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
92.5%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 92.5% — a 0.3-point improvement. Tests in this band average 24,843 miles — roughly 5K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, 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. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
92.2%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 92.2% pass rate against a fleet average of 92.5% 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 tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Average mileage on test for this band is 30,061 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (92.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (92.2% pass). That's a 0.3-point spread across 3,837 older tests and 3,337 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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Summit ADRG-215 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
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Draper Expert
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
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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 Tfsi 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.
