Audi A3 - 1997
420.7 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1997 is 338.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 1997.
Sample size: 112 cars, 237 tests and 997 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 112 cars
The 1997 AUDI A3 has a significantly higher overall defect rate of 421 per 100 vehicles compared to the average of 335 per 100, which indicates it performs 26% worse than similar cars from the same year. Notably, the model shows a concerning trend with defects increasing at higher mileages, particularly in the 0–31,000 miles range where it stands out with 700 defects per 100 vehicles. While the A3 excels in visibility, body structure, and equipment, it struggles particularly with brake issues, showing a defect rate nearly double that of the average, as well as higher rates in steering and suspension categories. Overall, while it has some areas of strength, the A3's higher defect rates in critical components highlight potential reliability concerns.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 112 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 88.4% worse
265.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 141.1 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 47.8% worse
40.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.4 / 100 tests
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 43.3% better
14.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.2 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 5.6% worse
69.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.5 / 100 tests
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- Stop lamp(s): with a multiple light source up to 1/2 not functioning
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 31.3% worse
329.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 250.7 / 100 tests
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 39.6% better
50.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.8 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 73.3% better
5.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.1 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Audible warning:
Other
▼ 7.9% worse
65.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.0 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 114
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 93
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 59
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 57
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 56
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 55
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 53
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 37
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 30
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Warning device shows system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 5