Skip to main content

Audi A3 - 2011

254.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2011 is 274.4 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 2011. Sample size: 23,617 cars, 54,911 tests and 139,671 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 23,617 cars

The 2011 Audi A3 shows a lower overall defect rate, with 254 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the average of 271, making it 6% better than typical for its year. Notably, it excels in several categories, particularly in steering, where its defect rate is significantly lower at 1.37% versus the average of 14.79%. It also performs better in body/structure and other categories, with rates of 19.94% and 19.29%, respectively, compared to averages of 29.51% and 27.79%. However, as mileage increases, the defect rate tends to rise steadily, indicating a typical trend observed in vehicles. Overall, the Audi A3 demonstrates solid reliability relative to its peers.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 23,617 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 17.5% better
90.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 109.9 / 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
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
Steering
▲ 91.1% better
1.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.8 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • 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
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 3.3% worse
21.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 21.2 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 13.6% better
59.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.9 / 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
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 8.9% worse
290.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 266.4 / 100 tests
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
Body/Structure
▲ 36.4% better
19.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 31.3 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 21.6% better
5.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.4 / 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
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 30.6% better
19.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.8 / 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
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 421 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 18,407
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 14,056
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 13,565
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 8,785
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,145
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,366
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,850
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,682
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,514
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: 3,465

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,035
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,448
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,944
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,870
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,863
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,104
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 970
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 899
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 867
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 865