2006 · 18 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2006 Audi A3 MOT pass rate and common faults

11,533 MOT tests in 2024. 55.7% passed first time, compared with 56.1% for all cars the same age.

99About average
Passed first time55.7%
Failed or needed repairs44.3%
Typical mileage at test136,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,533 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt8.4%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken4.6%
  3. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.4%
  4. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.3%
  5. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn3.8%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.7%
    659 marked dangerous
  7. Stop lamp: not working3.5%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.3%
  9. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.3%
  10. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.2%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension26.0%
  2. Lights & electrics25.5%
  3. Brakes21.2%
  4. Body & chassis13.5%
  5. Emissions & leaks11.7%
  6. Tyres10.5%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.9%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.7%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm22.2%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn17.5%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.1%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine12.1%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.2%

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.

← 2005 A3All A3 years2007 A3 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2006 Audi A3?

In 2024, 55.7% of 2006 Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,533 tests. The average for all 18-year-old cars was 56.1%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2006 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; linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2006 Audi A3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 99, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).