Audi S3 reliability: what 10k MOT tests show
Across 9,874 MOT tests on Audi S3 cars first used between 2010 and 2022, 88.2% passed first time. The figure for all cars is 71.7%. Allowing for age, the S3 beats a typical car tested at the same age by 8.7 points. That is the fairer test, and it puts the model well above average. At its first MOT, at three years old, 91.2% of S3s pass; the national figure for three-year-old cars is 87.9%. The most common reason for a fail is tyre tread below the legal minimum.
What fails a Audi S3 at its MOT
Tyre tread below the legal minimum is recorded on 14.5% of failed Audi S3 tests, followed by a tyre worn or cut to the cords at 14.1% and a tyre worn or cut to the cords at 10.3%. Percentages can add to more than 100 because one failed test often records several defects.
Tread is the one item a driver can check at home with a 20p coin: if the outer band of the coin shows above the tread, the tyre is close to the 1.6mm limit.
What testers flag before it fails
An advisory is the tester telling you what fails next year. On the S3 the usual suspects are tyre tread below the legal minimum (11.9% of tests) and brake pads worn below 1.5mm (5.1%). The advisory conversion table shows which of these are worth acting on first.
Audi S3 pass rate by year
Pass rates run from 76.9% for 2010 cars to 90.2% for 2022 cars. Most of that spread is age: a car tested at ten years old has had far more chances to wear something out than one tested at four.
| First used | Pass rate | Tests | Miles a year | First MOT pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi S3 2022 | 90.2% | 1,702 | 8,002 | 90% |
| Audi S3 2021 | 91.6% | 3,185 | 8,420 | 92% |
| Audi S3 2020 | 90.8% | 1,827 | 7,165 | 92.6% |
| Audi S3 2014 | 84.9% | 2,112 | 7,385 | – |
| Audi S3 2010 | 76.9% | 1,048 | 6,816 | – |
Mileage matters more than the badge
On the 2021 cars, a S3 under 40,000 miles passes 91.5% of the time; one over 100,000 passes 66.7%. When comparing two used S3s, the odometer tells you more than the year.
| Mileage at test (2021 cars) | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 91.5% | 2,625 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 92.1% | 495 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 90.7% | 54 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 75% | 8 |
| Over 100,000 | 66.7% | 3 |
Audi stablemates and rivals
Set against the rest of the Audi range, which averages 78.1%, the S3 at 88.2% is above par. Within the family, see Audi A3 reliability (75.2%), Audi A4 reliability (72.8%), A1 common problems (77.2%) and Q3 common problems (83.3%), or the Audi range at the MOT. Buyers weighing a S3 against other cars of similar popularity often compare it with the Skoda Enyaq (87.3%) and Mercedes-Benz AMG (86.7%). The full reliability table puts them side by side, and the national MOT statistics give the baseline.
Failure lists and mileage by year
Each year opens to show its own failure list and pass rate by mileage.
Audi S3 2022 90.2% pass 1,702 tests90% at first MOT
On a 2022 Audi S3, a tyre worn or cut to the cords appears on 18.6% of failed tests, with tyre tread below the legal minimum next at 17.4%.
2022 cars pass 90.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 0% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 90.4% | 1,587 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 91.1% | 101 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 58.3% | 12 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 100% | 1 |
| Over 100,000 | 0% | 1 |
Audi S3 2021 91.6% pass 3,185 tests92% at first MOT
On a 2021 Audi S3, a tyre worn or cut to the cords appears on 18.6% of failed tests, with tyre tread below the legal minimum next at 17.5%.
2021 cars pass 91.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 66.7% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 91.5% | 2,625 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 92.1% | 495 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 90.7% | 54 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 75% | 8 |
| Over 100,000 | 66.7% | 3 |
Audi S3 2020 90.8% pass 1,827 tests92.6% at first MOT
On a 2020 Audi S3, a tyre worn or cut to the cords appears on 26.2% of failed tests, with a bulging tyre next at 15.5%.
2020 cars pass 91.4% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 100% at 80,000 to 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 91.4% | 1,489 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 87.5% | 297 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 91.7% | 36 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 100% | 5 |
Audi S3 2014 84.9% pass 2,112 tests
On a 2014 Audi S3, tyre tread below the legal minimum appears on 9.7% of failed tests, with a broken coil spring next at 8.8%.
2014 cars pass 93.2% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 79.5% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 93.2% | 147 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 87.4% | 443 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 87.2% | 717 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 80.4% | 550 |
| Over 100,000 | 79.5% | 254 |
Audi S3 2010 76.9% pass 1,048 tests
On a 2010 Audi S3, a broken coil spring appears on 19% of failed tests, with tyre tread below the legal minimum next at 12%.
2010 cars pass 89.5% of the time at under 40,000 miles, falling to 72.6% over 100,000.
| Mileage at test | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 89.5% | 38 |
| 40,000 to 60,000 | 79% | 81 |
| 60,000 to 80,000 | 81.7% | 186 |
| 80,000 to 100,000 | 78.7% | 268 |
| Over 100,000 | 72.6% | 475 |
Questions people ask
Is the Audi S3 reliable?
On MOT evidence the Audi S3 is well above average. It passes 88.2% of tests against 71.7% for all cars, and beats cars of the same age by 8.7 points. 91.2% pass their first MOT at three years old. Figures from 9,874 DVSA tests.
What are the most common Audi S3 MOT failures?
Tyre tread below the legal minimum (14.5% of failed tests), a tyre worn or cut to the cords (14.1%) and a tyre worn or cut to the cords (10.3%). Tread is the one item a driver can check at home with a 20p coin: if the outer band of the coin shows above the tread, the tyre is close to the 1.6mm limit.
What advisories does a Audi S3 usually get?
Tyre tread below the legal minimum is the most frequent, noted on 11.9% of all S3 tests, then brake pads worn below 1.5mm (5.1%). An advisory passes the car today but marks the item most likely to fail next year.
How many miles a year does a Audi S3 do?
About 7,724 miles a year on average, calculated from the odometer readings recorded at consecutive MOTs. That is close to the UK average of roughly 7,400.
How do I check a particular Audi S3?
The figures describe the whole fleet. For one car, enter its registration in the free MOT check to see its own test history, advisories and mileage, set against these averages for its year.
Own a S3?
Enter the registration to see its own MOT history, advisories and mileage set against these figures, including whether it has done more or fewer than the 7,724 miles a year typical of the model.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 to 2025. Class 4 cars, normal tests only; a pass after rectification counts as an initial failure. Age-adjusted figures compare the model's pass rate at each age with the national rate at the same age. Methodology.