Audi S3 years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

3,207 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2021–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Both Audi S3 years have MOT pass rates above the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use yearNone
Above the average for their first-use year2021–2022
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

90.5%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 89.4% to 91.4%.

Audi S3, all years90.5%
Same-age average, all vehicles87.9%

In 2025, 90.5% of the 3,207 initial MOT tests on Audi S3 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 87.9%. That is 2.6 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific S3

Its own MOT history, free.

Audi S3 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3		1,63122,300	90.1%±1.6	+1.6 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4		1,57631,100	90.9%±1.6	+3.7 ptsall: 87.2%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

Audi S3 first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

90.9% of Audi S3 tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 90.3% at 30,000 to 59,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 90.8% and 85.5%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
Under 30,000	2,009	90.9%±1.4	+0.1 ptsall: 90.8%
30,000–59,999	1,129	90.3%±1.9	+4.8 ptsall: 85.5%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, S3 tests were about average under 30,000 miles and above average at 30,000 to 59,999 miles.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all Audi S3 tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 60,000–89,999, 90,000–119,999 and 120,000 or more. Every test had a usable odometer reading. How we count

Common S3 problems at the MOT

Share of the 306 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Tyres65.0%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

What to check when viewing an S3

Based on the areas where Audi S3 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Tyres
In 65.0% of failed S3 tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check an S3's MOT history

Audi S3 questions

Which Audi S3 years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, no model year is clearly below average. Above average: 2021–2022. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the Audi S3 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 90.5% of initial MOT tests on Audi S3 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 87.9%. That is 2.6 points above average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common Audi S3 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure area is tyres (in 65.0% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old Audi S3?

At their 2025 MOT tests, Audi S3 cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 22,300 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific S3's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any Audi S3

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other Audi models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 18 Audi models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all Audi S3 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count