Used car guide

2011 Audi A3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Audi A3s, from 20,514 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

20,514MOT tests in 2025
65%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
8,500typical miles a year
3.6×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Audi A3s than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Suspension arm3.6× usual
    Audi A3
    11.9% All 2011 cars
    3.3%
    Rough price £100–£300

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

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    Audi A3
    10.4% All 2011 cars
    5.9%
    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 covers2.5× usual
    Audi A3
    6.7% All 2011 cars
    2.7%
    Rough price £80–£200

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

  • Individual direction indicators2.2× usual
    Audi A3
    6.7% All 2011 cars
    3.1%
    Rough price £10–£80

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

  • Anti-roll bar link joints1.6× usual
    Audi A3
    6.2% All 2011 cars
    3.8%
    Rough price £50–£150

    At the viewing: Drive slowly over bumps and listen for a knock or rattle from the front. Worn anti-roll bar links are a cheap fix.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 0.3% here, against 6.1% of all 2011 cars. Track rod end: 0.6% here, against 5.3% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Audi A3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    46% 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
    27% 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
    27% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    7% 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%
201023,075Suspension 49%
200920,109Suspension 49%
200816,241Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Audi A3s registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score