Audi A3 - 2016
113.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2016 is 154.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 2016.
Sample size: 43,724 cars, 94,163 tests and 106,423 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: 43,724 cars
The 2016 Audi A3 has a lower overall defect rate of 113 defects per 100 vehicles, significantly better than the average of 151 defects per 100 vehicles, representing a 25% improvement. Notably, the A3 excels in categories such as steering, where it has only 0.84 defects per 100 compared to the average of 7.5, and visibility, with a rate of 10.73 against an average of 14.95. However, its defect rates increase with mileage, showing a consistent rise across different mileage segments, particularly in the 124,000+ miles category, where the rate reaches 263. While tyre wear is common to many vehicles, the Audi A3's standout performance in key areas suggests it is a reliable choice compared to its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 43,724 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 13.7% better
67.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 78.2 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 90.1% better
0.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 8.1 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
Visibility
▲ 28.7% better
10.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 15.0 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- 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
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 57.5% better
10.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.4 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- 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
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 21.1% better
125.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 159.4 / 100 tests
- 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 shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
Body/Structure
▲ 75.8% better
2.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
- A transmission shaft flexible coupling: excessively deteriorated
- 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
Equipment
▲ 57.6% better
1.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 3.3 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt:
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 38.9% better
6.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.3 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
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: 23,982
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 14,078
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,877
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 10,142
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 4,378
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,872
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,569
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,518
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,482
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,479
Serious faults (Top 10)
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,482
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 2,479
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,303
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,031
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 939
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 604
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 485
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 460
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 447
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 393