Audi
2,609 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where A3 S Line ED 1 35 Tfsi Mhev SAs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 13.0 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.5%
Pass-after-fix
1.6%
Fail
7.4%
Avg miles
25,951
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 · 2,609 tests
Pass rate is broadly flat across the cohorts — new and old A3 S Line ED 1 35 Tfsi Mhev SA examples track each other at the test bay.
Pass
91.3%
Fail
7.1%
PRS
1.7%
Avg mileage at test
29,225 mi
Pass
90.5%
Fail
7.4%
PRS
1.6%
Avg mileage at test
25,618 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,609 MOT tests, the A3 S Line Ed 1 35 Tfsi Mhev Sa returns 90.5% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A seriously damaged tyre and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 25,951, 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.
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
53 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
52 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
28 occurrences · 1.1% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
26 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
24 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
23 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
Wiper blade defective
17 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
17 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
Windscreen or window excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver's view
16 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
11 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.
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 ED 1 35 Tfsi Mhev SA makes little measurable difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
91.3%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 91.3% — a 0.8-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, not working — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band.
Band to be cautious about
90.5%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 90.5% pass rate against a fleet average of 91.3% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the…, and has a tear, caused by separation or…. Average mileage on test for this band is 25,618 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (91.3% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (90.5% pass). That's a 0.8-point spread across 2,369 older tests and 240 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.
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Summit
Summit ADRG-215 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
View at My Motor World →
Summit
Summit ADRG-216 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£14.29
View at My Motor World →
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
View at My Motor World →
Draper Expert
Draper Expert Audi/VW Drain Plug Key, 1/2" Sq. Dr.
£21.99
View at My Motor World →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
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 ED 1 35 Tfsi Mhev SA 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.
