Used car guide

2003 Audi TT: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2003 Audi TTs, from 4,107 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,107MOT tests in 2025
61%pass first time (all 2003 cars: 59%)
4,900typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2003 Audi TTs than on all cars registered in 2003.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.1× usual
    Audi TT
    18.7% All 2003 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.8% of all 2003 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.

  • Sub-frame2× usual
    Audi TT
    11.3% All 2003 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

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

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints1.8× usual
    Audi TT
    12.1% All 2003 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    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.

  • Suspension arm2.1× usual
    Audi TT
    7.5% All 2003 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.3% of all 2003 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.

  • Engine warning light2× usual
    Audi TT
    5.1% All 2003 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 2.6% of all 2003 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.

Better than most

Rust around suspension or steering mountings: 2.1% here, against 6.6% of all 2003 cars. Number plates: 3.7% here, against 7.6% of all 2003 cars.

By area

The share of 2003 Audi TT MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    48% 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
    41% 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
    28% 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
    14% 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
    13% 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 a Audi TT?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20222,600Tyres 26%
20212,437Tyres 26%
20203,005Tyres 29%
20194,639Tyres 28%
20184,133Tyres 27%
20177,434Tyres 28%
20169,169Tyres 28%
20158,561Tyres 28%
20143,926Tyres 28%
20136,309Tyres 29%
20125,542Tyres 29%
20116,259Tyres 30%
20106,276Suspension 35%
20095,764Suspension 35%
20086,783Suspension 37%
20077,379Suspension 38%
20062,697Suspension 42%
20053,275Suspension 48%
20044,129Suspension 48%
20023,499Suspension 49%
20012,317Suspension 50%
20001,469Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2003 Audi TTs registered in 2003. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score