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Audi A3 - 2012

229.6 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 2012. Sample size: 28,189 cars, 65,830 tests and 151,155 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 28,189 cars

The 2012 Audi A3 has an overall defect rate of 230 per 100 vehicles, which is 7% lower than the average for its year at 246 per 100. While tyre wear is not specifically mentioned, the model shows a notable improvement in several key areas, particularly in steering and body structure, where defects are significantly lower than average by 87% and 22% respectively. Additionally, the A3 performs better in equipment and other categories, with defects also below the yearly average. However, as mileage increases, the defect rate for the A3 does rise, particularly in the higher mileage segments.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 28,189 cars

More model years for Audi A3

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Other models from Audi

Audi A1 Audi A2 Audi A3 Audi A4 Audi A5 Audi A6 Audi A7 Audi A8 Audi ALLROAD Audi E-TRON Audi Q2 Audi Q3 Audi Q4 Audi Q5 Audi Q7 Audi Q8 Audi R8 Audi RS4 Audi S3 Audi S4 Audi TT

Categories

Brakes
▲ 16.0% better
87.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 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
▲ 87.1% better
1.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 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.
  • EPS MIL indicating a system malfunction
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 3.6% worse
19.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • 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
Lights & Electrics
▲ 10.7% better
55.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 4.9% worse
256.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 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 spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 26.7% better
19.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 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
▲ 24.2% better
4.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 36.9% better
14.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 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
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 402 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: 22,012
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 16,067
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,975
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 9,918
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,178
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,401
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,130
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: 3,975
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,829
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 3,516

Serious faults (Top 10)

A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 3,142
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,551
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,241
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,153
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,024
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,514
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,155
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,082
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,028
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 987