2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,795 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility. Its pass rate of 93.1% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.8% in the 60-90k group versus 5.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 5.6% | 322 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 53 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.9% | 51 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.5% | 28 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.3% | 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 | 117 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 61 |
| 3 | Washers | 30 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 28 |
| 5 | Wipers | 24 |
| 6 | Registration plates | 22 |
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 | 24.2% | 1,400 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.2% | 359 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.3% | 307 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.7% | 157 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.2% | 130 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.4% | 20 |
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 | 3,205 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 2,330 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 242 | 12.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,748 | 6.9% |
| Hybrid | 47 | 6.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,909 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 1,917 | 6.9% |
| 2025 | 1,958 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 2020 A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A
Before buying a 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A, 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.9% 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 S Line 35 Mhev S-As pass their MOT?
93.1% of the 5,795 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Audi A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A?
Tyres, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.9%).
Does the 2020 A3 S Line 35 Mhev S-A get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 12.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,795 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.