2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 470 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 90.6% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%).

Pass rate

470

MOT tests analysed

9.4%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	8.1%	38
2	Lighting & signalling	1.5%	7
3	Visibility	1.1%	5
4	Road wheels	0.2%	1
5	Emissions & environmental	0.2%	1
6	Brakes	0.2%	1

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	18
2	Headlamp aim	7
3	Attachment	4
4	Stop lamp	3
5	Washers	3
6	Tyre pressure monitoring system	2

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	29.6%	139
2	Brakes	5.5%	26
3	Other defects	5.3%	25
4	Visibility	4.0%	19
5	Suspension	1.5%	7
6	Road wheels	0.4%	2

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 2020 A3 40 E S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	95	7.4%
30-60k	311	10.0%
60-90k	57	7.0%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 2020 A3 40 E S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	137	7.3%
2024	174	11.5%
2025	158	8.9%

What to check before buying a 2020 A3 40 E S-A

Before buying a 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 8.1% of tests for this year.

Tyres (8.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Lighting & signalling (1.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Visibility (1.1% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.

Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.

Frequently asked questions

How many 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-As pass their MOT?

90.6% of the 470 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A3 40 E S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.5%).

Does the 2020 A3 40 E S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 7.0% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 470 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.