Audi
2,310 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Q3 S Line 35 Tdi S As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 13.3 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.8%
Pass-after-fix
1.6%
Fail
7.4%
Avg miles
35,197
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 · 2,310 tests
Pass rate climbs 1.1 points across the cohorts — newer Q3 S Line 35 Tdi S A examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
90.1%
Fail
7.2%
PRS
2.5%
Avg mileage at test
40,771 mi
Pass
91.3%
Fail
7.4%
PRS
0.9%
Avg mileage at test
31,553 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 520 MOT tests, the Q3 S Line 35 Tdi S-A returns 92.7% 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 30,290, 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 →
22–34
out of 50
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
63 occurrences · 2.7% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
50 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
46 occurrences · 2.0% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
29 occurrences · 1.3% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
13 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
10 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator
8 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
7 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
7 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
6 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
£200–£350
If every one of this Q3 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 →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.1-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Audi Q3 S Line 35 Tdi S A makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
91.3%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 91.3% — a 1.1-point improvement. Tests in this band average 31,553 miles — roughly 9K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm — 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
90.1%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 90.1% 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, tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and less than 1.5 mm thick. Average mileage on test for this band is 40,771 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (91.3% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (90.1% pass). That's a 1.1-point spread across 912 older tests and 1,398 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
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
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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 a Q3 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.
