Audi A3 - 2021
75.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2021 is 80.0 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Audi A3, model year 2021.
Sample size: 22,557 cars, 52,260 tests and 39,181 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: 22,557 cars
The 2021 Audi A3 has a slightly lower overall defect rate of 75 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the average of 79 defects per 100 vehicles for cars of the same year, indicating a 4.6% improvement. This model shows a distinct trend of increasing defects with mileage, particularly in the highest mileage range, where it significantly exceeds the average. Notably, the Audi A3 performs exceptionally well in categories such as brakes, steering, visibility, and lights and electrics, exhibiting a much lower defect rate than the average. However, it stands out negatively in wheels, suspensions, and axles, where it has a higher defect rate than the average.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 22,557 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 52.0% better
19.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 100 tests
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
Steering
▲ 85.7% better
0.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 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
▲ 34.5% better
9.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.5 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: defective
- 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
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 70.5% better
3.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 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
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 32.1% worse
115.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
- 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
- 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
Body/Structure
▲ 76.2% better
0.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
- A main load-bearing structural member: fractured or deformed such that structural rigidity is significantly reduced
- A body panel or body component: damaged or corroded and likely to cause injury when grazed or contacted, or insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A door will not open using the relevant control or close properly
- Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
Equipment
▲ 13.3% better
1.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt:
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
Other
▲ 70.4% better
0.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
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: 13,395
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6,568
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,779
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,746
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 2,181
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,518
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,467
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 1,282
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 1,279
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 945
Serious faults (Top 10)
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,518
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 1,467
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 945
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 276
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 181
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 127
Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 97
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 86
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
FAIL
Occurrences: 85
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 74