Used car guide

2010 Audi S3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2010 Audi S3s, from 355 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 355 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

355MOT tests in 2025
78%pass first time (all 2010 cars: 59%)
6,700typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2010 Audi S3s than on all cars registered in 2010.

  • Suspension arm2.3× usual
    Audi S3
    9.6% All 2010 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.4%, against 0.5% of all 2010 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.

By area

The share of 2010 Audi S3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    30% 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
    25% 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.

  • Brakes
    17% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    9% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    6% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,630Tyres 22%
20211,571Tyres 20%
2020629Tyres 23%
2015179Tyres 20%
2014730Tyres 19%
2013210Tyres 20%
2012183Suspension 26%
2011300Suspension 27%
2009260Suspension 28%
2008268Suspension 35%
2007290Suspension 35%
2002159Suspension 30%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2010 Audi S3s registered in 2010. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score