2020 Audi A3 S Line 30 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,086 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A3 S Line 30, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, visibility and suspension. Its pass rate of 91.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 13.6% in the 60-90k group versus 6.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 173 |
| 2 | Visibility | 1.2% | 38 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.2% | 38 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 36 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 34 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 16 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 97 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 34 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 29 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 28 |
| 5 | Washers | 24 |
| 6 | Wipers | 19 |
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 | 24.1% | 745 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.2% | 315 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.7% | 206 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 195 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.6% | 80 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.2% | 6 |
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 | 1,465 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,443 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 155 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,704 | 8.1% |
| Diesel | 382 | 10.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,015 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 1,010 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 1,059 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A3 S Line 30
Before buying a 2020 Audi A3 S Line 30, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 5.6% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (5.6% 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.
- Visibility (1.2% 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.
- Suspension (1.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 S Line 30s pass their MOT?
91.7% of the 3,086 2020 Audi A3 S Line 30 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A3 S Line 30?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by visibility (1.2%).
Does the 2020 A3 S Line 30 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,086 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.