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Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI car check

Is the Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI reliable? We analysed 1,110 real MOT tests across 296 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,110 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.2%
Typical Mileage
41,363mi
Annual Mileage
8,412mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI.

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.5%
2022
91.9%
2021
88.3%
2020
88.8%
2019

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 35
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 8
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 8
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 5
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 3

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
5,613 mi/yr
Typical
8,412 mi/yr
Average
9,916 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,227 mi/yr

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 105 90.5% 32,582 54,052 68,582
2021 62 91.9% 26,910 46,507 71,104
2020 316 88.3% 30,904 42,878 60,598
2019 587 88.8% 26,594 37,534 53,557

How Long Does a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Last?

Based on 296 Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI vehicles on UK roads.

Average
4.6 years
Median
5.0 years

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
41,363 mi
75th Percentile
59,355 mi
95th Percentile
92,898 mi
Max Recorded
201,866 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2021

91.9% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
2020

88.3% MOT pass rate from 316 tests

The best year to buy a used Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.9% across 62 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 88.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI THIS CAR 89.2% 1,110 41,363 mi — yrs
Audi A3 78% 7,415,025 78,776 mi 29 yrs
Audi A4 76.1% 7,096,957 96,834 mi 31 yrs
Audi A6 78.4% 2,724,792 98,890 mi 31 yrs
Honda TL125 86.8% 514 7,092 mi 51 yrs

Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI you like?

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Should you buy a used Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI?

The Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% across 1,110 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI owner drives around 8,412 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI reliable?
Based on 1,110 MOT tests, the Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI has a 89.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI do per year?
The typical Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI does around 8,412 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Audi A3 S Line 35 TDI is 2021 with a 91.9% pass rate across 62 tests.