Used car guide

2008 Audi A3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2008 Audi A3s, from 16,241 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

16,241MOT tests in 2025
59%pass first time (all 2008 cars: 57%)
7,600typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2008 Audi A3s than on all cars registered in 2008.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    Audi A3
    18.4% All 2008 cars
    7.2%
    Rough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Number plate lights1.8× usual
    Audi A3
    15.7% All 2008 cars
    8.9%
    Rough price £5–£40

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Sub-frame1.6× usual
    Audi A3
    12.5% All 2008 cars
    7.8%
    Rough price £300–£1,000

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Link ball joint covers2.1× usual
    Audi A3
    7.5% All 2008 cars
    3.5%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Ball joint dust cover1.6× usual
    Audi A3
    7.7% All 2008 cars
    4.8%
    Rough price £80–£200

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.2% here, against 9.6% of all 2008 cars. Headlamp: 5.3% here, against 10.7% of all 2008 cars.

By area

The share of 2008 Audi A3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    51% 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.

  • Tyres
    36% 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.

  • 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.

  • Brakes
    30% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% 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.

Looking at a Audi A3?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
201920,535Tyres 29%
201826,884Tyres 29%
201733,702Tyres 29%
201638,701Tyres 30%
201541,476Tyres 30%
201438,595Tyres 31%
201326,942Tyres 33%
201224,851Suspension 41%
201120,514Suspension 46%
201023,075Suspension 49%
200920,109Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2008 Audi A3s registered in 2008. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score