Audi A3 - 2009
289.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2009 is 311.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 2009.
Sample size: 24,190 cars, 54,801 tests and 158,707 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 24,190 cars
The 2009 Audi A3 exhibits a lower overall defect rate compared to the average car of the same year, with 290 defects per 100 vehicles versus the average of 310. This model shows notable strengths in key areas, particularly in brakes, where it has a significantly lower defect rate of 97 compared to the average of 121, and in steering, where it performs exceptionally well at just 5 defects per 100. Additionally, it experiences fewer issues with lights and electrics, with a defect rate of 63 versus 80 on average. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, but the A3 maintains a more consistent performance across different mileage brackets compared to its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 24,190 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 17.4% better
97.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 117.5 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 71.8% better
4.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 16.3 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 6.8% better
21.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.4 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 22.1% better
63.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.9 / 100 tests
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- 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 only one lamp or all lamps not working
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- Beam image obviously incorrect
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 4.1% worse
312.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 299.8 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
- A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 10.6% better
37.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 41.5 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 6.0% better
7.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.3 / 100 tests
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
Other
▼ 4.4% worse
35.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 34.4 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18,011
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 15,157
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 14,101
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,558
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,856
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,717
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
MINOR
Occurrences: 5,624
A suspension joint dust cover: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 4,953
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,403
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 4,106
Serious faults (Top 10)
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,914
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,895
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,892
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,849
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,758
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,728
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,125
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,044
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 950
Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 830