2002 · 22 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2002 Audi A3 MOT pass rate and common faults

1,208 MOT tests in 2024. 57.0% passed first time, compared with 58.1% for all cars the same age.

98About average
Passed first time57.0%
Failed or needed repairs43.0%
Typical mileage at test136,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 1,208 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt5.3%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken5.2%
  3. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.1%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  5. Position lamp: not working3.4%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.2%
    60 marked dangerous
  7. Stop lamp: not working3.1%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  9. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded2.5%
  10. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.4%

Problem areas

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

  1. Lights & electrics36.3%
  2. Suspension20.4%
  3. Brakes20.3%
  4. Emissions & leaks13.7%
  5. Body & chassis11.8%
  6. Steering7.8%
  7. Tyres7.5%
  8. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)6.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded20.9%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine19.9%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.1%
  4. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened16.0%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn11.8%

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: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. 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 2002 Audi A3?

In 2024, 57.0% of 2002 Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 1,208 tests. The average for all 22-year-old cars was 58.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2002 Audi A3?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; coil spring: fractured or broken; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2002 Audi A3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 98, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).