2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 4,944 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 90.1% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.2%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.1% in the 90-120k group versus 8.8% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

4,944

MOT tests analysed

9.9%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

3.5

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 — 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Tyres	8.0%	393
2	Lighting & signalling	1.6%	80
3	Visibility	1.1%	57
4	Suspension	0.8%	40
5	Brakes	0.4%	20
6	Seat belts & restraints	0.3%	17

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 — 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Tread depth	122
2	Headlamp aim	60
3	Shock absorbers	34
4	Washers	33
5	Wipers	30
6	Stop lamp	24

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Tyres	28.5%	1,410
2	Other defects	7.2%	358
3	Brakes	5.4%	265
4	Visibility	4.3%	214
5	Suspension	3.4%	170
6	Road wheels	0.9%	44

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 — 2021 A3 40 E S-A
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	1,986	8.8%
30-60k	2,324	9.9%
60-90k	538	13.4%
90-120k	86	15.1%

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 — 2021 A3 40 E S-A
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2023	47	4.3%
2024	2,464	10.5%
2025	2,431	9.4%

What to check before buying a 2021 A3 40 E S-A

Before buying a 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 8.0% of tests for this year.

Tyres (8.0% 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 (1.6% 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 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-As pass their MOT?

90.1% of the 4,944 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.9% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Audi A3 40 E S-A?

Tyres, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.6%).

Does the 2021 A3 40 E S-A get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 90-120k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 4,944 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.