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Audi A3 - 2018

89.1 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2018 is 123.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 2018. Sample size: 30,624 cars, 68,774 tests and 61,280 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 30,624 cars

The 2018 Audi A3 has an overall defect rate of 89 per 100 vehicles, which is significantly better than the average of 120 per 100, representing a 26% improvement. Notably, as mileage increases, the defect rates for this model also rise, particularly in the highest mileage category where it reaches 232 defects per 100. The A3 stands out positively in several categories, including brakes and steering, where it shows much lower defect rates compared to the average. Overall, this model demonstrates a solid performance in terms of reliability, especially in areas like visibility and body structure, where it has notably fewer issues.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 30,624 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
▲ 23.0% better
53.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
  • Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
Steering
▲ 96.0% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.0 / 100 tests
  • 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
  • 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
▲ 31.7% better
9.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.9 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear 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
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 72.7% better
4.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.6 / 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
▲ 15.9% better
106.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 126.7 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
Body/Structure
▲ 82.4% better
0.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 5.1 / 100 tests
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Bumper: insecure or with damage likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted
Equipment
▲ 59.1% better
0.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.2 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt:
  • Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Other
▲ 65.7% better
2.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 7.0 / 100 tests
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • 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
0 307 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: 17,055
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 9,027
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7,783
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 5,114
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,374
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,970
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,852
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,748
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,689
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,389

Serious faults (Top 10)

A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,748
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,689
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 974
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 969
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 394
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 381
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 337
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 285
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 157
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 129