2001 · 23 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2001 Audi A3 MOT pass rate and common faults

872 MOT tests in 2024. 59.2% passed first time, compared with 59.4% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time59.2%
Failed or needed repairs40.8%
Typical mileage at test129,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 872 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.4%
  3. Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits3.3%
  4. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.2%
  5. Catalyst emissions: carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits2.9%
  6. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.9%
  7. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.9%
  8. Position lamp: not working2.9%
  9. Stop lamp: not working2.8%
  10. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.6%
    42 marked dangerous

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics31.0%
  2. Suspension20.2%
  3. Brakes18.5%
  4. Emissions & leaks18.2%
  5. Body & chassis8.4%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)7.2%
  7. Steering5.7%
  8. Tyres5.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded19.5%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine16.6%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened15.3%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm15.1%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.5%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2001 Audi A3?

In 2024, 59.2% of 2001 Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 872 tests. The average for all 23-year-old cars was 59.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2001 Audi A3?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2001 Audi A3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 100, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).