2020 Audi A3 E-Tron 40 S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,705 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A3 E-Tron 40 S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 87.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 9.7% | 361 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 143 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 68 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.7% | 27 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 15 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.4% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 76 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 65 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 50 |
| 4 | Washers | 48 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 27 |
| 6 | Shock absorbers | 23 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.1% | 931 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.7% | 435 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 282 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 220 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 92 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,542 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,669 | 12.9% |
| 60-90k | 385 | 15.8% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 15.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 33 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 1,265 | 12.0% |
| 2024 | 1,219 | 13.0% |
| 2025 | 1,188 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A3 E-Tron 40 S-A
Before buying a 2020 Audi A3 E-Tron 40 S-A, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 9.7% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (9.7% 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 (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (1.8% 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 E-Tron 40 S-As pass their MOT?
87.4% of the 3,705 2020 Audi A3 E-Tron 40 S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A3 E-Tron 40 S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2020 A3 E-Tron 40 S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,705 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.