Audi S3 - 2021
57.3 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 S3, model year 2021.
Sample size: 1,876 cars, 4,965 tests and 2,845 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: 1,876 cars
The 2021 Audi S3 has an overall defect rate of 57 per 100, which is significantly lower than the average rate of 79 per 100 for cars of the same year, marking a 27% improvement. This model shows a notable increase in defect rates with mileage, particularly in the 93,000 to 124,000 miles segment. The S3 excels in several key areas, including brakes, where it has 27% fewer defects compared to the average, and visibility, with 46% fewer issues. Other categories where the S3 stands out positively include steering and lights and electrics, both showing substantial improvements over the average. Overall, this model demonstrates a strong performance in maintaining reliability compared to its peers.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,876 cars
More model years for Audi S3
Other models from Audi
Categories
Brakes
▲ 33.3% better
26.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 40.0 / 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 down to wear indicator
Steering
▲ 42.9% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 0.7 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Power steering pipe, hose or wiring: excessively damaged or corroded
Visibility
▲ 45.5% better
7.9 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 or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen or window excessively tinted: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- An obstruction: materially affecting the driver’s view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen or an obligatory external mirror not visible
Lights & Electrics
▲ 76.8% better
2.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.2 / 100 tests
- Headlamp cleaning device: inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
- A lens defective: such that the emitted light is adversely affected
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 14.8% better
74.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.3 / 100 tests
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
- 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
Body/Structure
▲ 90.5% better
0.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.1 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 73.3% better
0.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 1.5 / 100 tests
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- Audible warning:
- 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
▲ 22.2% better
2.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 2.7 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer: missing, obviously modified or obviously defective
- Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions test unable to be completed
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: 1,113
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 293
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 236
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 217
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 178
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 116
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
MINOR
Occurrences: 109
Brake disc or drum: significantly and obviously worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 83
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 71
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 68
Serious faults (Top 10)
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 116
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 71
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 68
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Brake lining or pad: worn down to wear indicator
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
A wheel: with a loose or missing wheel nut, bolt or stud
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Headlamp cleaning device: inoperative in the case of LED or gas discharge systems (HID)
FAIL
Occurrences: 6