Audi
2,071 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where A3 S Line Edition 1 35 Tfsis pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 14.5 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
92.0%
Pass-after-fix
1.1%
Fail
6.6%
Avg miles
26,863
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 · 2,071 tests
Pass rate is broadly flat across the cohorts — new and old A3 S Line Edition 1 35 Tfsi examples track each other at the test bay.
Pass
92.5%
Fail
6.1%
PRS
1.4%
Avg mileage at test
29,192 mi
Pass
91.8%
Fail
6.8%
PRS
0.9%
Avg mileage at test
25,479 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 2,071 MOT tests, the A3 S Line Edition 1 35 Tfsi returns 92.0% 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 26,863, 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.
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A tyre seriously damaged
35 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
33 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
33 occurrences · 1.6% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
21 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
20 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
17 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
Wiper blade defective
9 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
8 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
4 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.
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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 Edition 1 35 Tfsi makes little measurable difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
92.5%
2018–2020 registration
the 2018–2020 band climbs to 92.5% — a 0.7-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a bulge, caused by separation or…, 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
91.8%
2021+ registration
On the 2021-on band, the data shows a 91.8% pass rate against a fleet average of 92.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and has a cut in excess of the…. Average mileage on test for this band is 25,479 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2018-2020 (92.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2021+ (91.8% pass). That's a 0.7-point spread across 1,301 older tests and 770 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.
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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 Edition 1 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.
