2007 Audi A3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 109,632 MOT tests analysed for the 2007 Audi A3, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.0% was in line with the average for small family cars of a similar age (73.0%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.6% in the 150k+ group versus 15.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.9% | 15,257 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.6% | 14,857 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.0% | 8,806 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 8,016 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.8% | 7,397 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.3% | 5,779 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 8,380 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 7,058 |
| 3 | Joints | 6,191 |
| 4 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 5,239 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 4,718 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 4,354 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 35.8% | 39,204 |
| 2 | Tyres | 30.1% | 33,059 |
| 3 | Brakes | 24.1% | 26,447 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.8% | 16,247 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.0% | 15,325 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 14,428 |
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 | 420 | 15.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,534 | 18.2% |
| 60-90k | 12,568 | 22.5% |
| 90-120k | 27,410 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 31,925 | 27.1% |
| 150k+ | 33,692 | 27.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 71,114 | 26.6% |
| Petrol | 38,518 | 25.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,407 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 25,332 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 22,325 | 26.3% |
| 2024 | 18,971 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 15,597 | 26.1% |
What to check before buying a 2007 A3
Before buying a 2007 Audi A3, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 13.9% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (13.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (13.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2007 Audi A3s pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 109,632 2007 Audi A3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2007 Audi A3?
Suspension, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.6%).
Does the 2007 A3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.7% in the 0-30k band to 27.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 109,632 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.