Used car guide

2000 Audi A3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Audi A3s, from 446 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 446 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

446MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
5,200typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Audi A3s than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.6× usual
    Audi A3
    16.8% All 2000 cars
    6.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.2%, against 1.2% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Steering rack inner joints2.8× usual
    Audi A3
    10.8% All 2000 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
    Audi A3
    7% All 2000 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.4% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2000 Audi A3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    49% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    44% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    34% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    15% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at an Audi A3?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023951Tyres 21%
202217,771Tyres 32%
202120,621Tyres 30%
202015,780Tyres 29%
201920,857Tyres 29%
201826,892Tyres 29%
201733,712Tyres 29%
201638,712Tyres 30%
201541,485Tyres 30%
201438,607Tyres 31%
201326,952Tyres 33%
201224,856Suspension 41%
201120,520Suspension 46%
201023,082Suspension 49%
200920,114Suspension 49%
200816,251Suspension 51%
200712,204Suspension 52%
20069,748Suspension 55%
20056,094Suspension 54%
20042,576Suspension 54%
20031,234Suspension 52%
2002966Suspension 51%
2001725Suspension 48%
1999265Brakes 44%
1998185Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Audi A3s registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score