2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 Audi A3 MOT pass rate and common faults

21,749 MOT tests in 2024. 61.9% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

106Above average
Passed first time61.9%
Failed or needed repairs38.1%
Typical mileage at test121,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 21,749 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken6.3%
  2. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt4.2%
  3. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.9%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.4%
    1,144 marked dangerous
  5. Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction3.0%
  6. Service brake performance: excessively binding2.9%
  7. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.7%
    728 marked dangerous
  8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.4%
  9. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.3%
    696 marked dangerous
  10. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt2.0%

Problem areas

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

  1. Suspension22.1%
  2. Lights & electrics18.2%
  3. Brakes16.5%
  4. Tyres9.9%
  5. Body & chassis7.3%
  6. Emissions & leaks6.4%
  7. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.2%
  8. Seat belts & airbags2.2%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm20.4%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.3%
  3. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened12.0%
  4. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine10.2%
  5. Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened9.2%

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: 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 2009 Audi A3?

In 2024, 61.9% of 2009 Audi A3 cars passed their MOT first time, across 21,749 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 Audi A3?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2009 Audi A3 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 106, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).