2008 · 16 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2008 Audi A3 MOT pass rate and common faults

18,437 MOT tests in 2024. 59.6% passed first time, compared with 56.9% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time59.6%
Failed or needed repairs40.4%
Typical mileage at test127,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 18,437 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt6.4%
  2. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.1%
  3. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.4%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
    938 marked dangerous
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect2.9%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.9%
  7. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction2.8%
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.6%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.4%
    547 marked dangerous
  10. Stop lamp: not working2.3%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension23.4%
  2. Lights & electrics22.5%
  3. Brakes16.9%
  4. Body & chassis10.3%
  5. Tyres9.7%
  6. Emissions & leaks8.4%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.0%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.3%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.0%
  2. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.6%
  3. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine12.5%
  4. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.0%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. 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.

← 2007 A3All A3 years2009 A3 →

Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2008 Audi A3?

In 2024, 59.6% of 2008 Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 18,437 tests. The average for all 16-year-old cars was 56.9%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2008 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 2008 Audi A3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).