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Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a car check

Is the Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a reliable? We analysed 2,473 real MOT tests across 1,220 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,473 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.3%
Typical Mileage
33,900mi
Annual Mileage
9,075mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a 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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a.

Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.9%
2023
89.4%
2022
87.7%
2021
86.8%
2020

Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 42
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 18
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 17
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 11
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 10
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 10

Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
6,209 mi/yr
Typical
9,075 mi/yr
Average
11,212 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,860 mi/yr

Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 189 88.9% 22,495 31,099 42,863
2022 745 89.4% 22,774 29,733 39,956
2021 1,024 87.7% 25,901 35,911 49,550
2020 423 86.8% 27,688 36,274 48,211

How Long Does a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a Last?

Based on 1,220 Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a vehicles on UK roads.

Average
3.0 years
Median
3.0 years

Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
33,900 mi
75th Percentile
46,688 mi
95th Percentile
71,627 mi
Max Recorded
195,238 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a

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

Best year
2022

89.4% MOT pass rate from 745 tests

Year to avoid
2020

86.8% MOT pass rate from 423 tests

The best year to buy a used Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.4% across 745 tests. The 2020 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.8% — 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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a 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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a THIS CAR 88.3% 2,473 33,900 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
Kawasaki Zxr 79.4% 2,772 27,195 mi 37 yrs

Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a you like?

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Should you buy a used Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a?

The Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.3% across 2,473 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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a 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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a owner drives around 9,075 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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a reliable?
Based on 2,473 MOT tests, the Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a has a 88.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a do per year?
The typical Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a does around 9,075 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a?
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 Edition 1 35 TDI S-a?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TDI S-a is 2022 with a 89.4% pass rate across 745 tests.